Victorians now have more opportunities to start their digital careers thanks to the state government’s $63.8 million Digital Jobs program. 

This week, Minister for Industry and Innovation Ben Carroll visited Victoria University to witness the program’s success and welcome new recruits for its sixth round. 

“Victorian businesses are in need of workers with digital skills, and this program is delivering a skilled workforce equipped for jobs of the future,” Minister Carroll said. 

Check out: Victoria’s Digital Jobs program brings new talent to local businesses 

The latest round of the program used its $2.5 million investment will support 800 more candidates to complete their digital training. A separate $5,000 wage subsidy was also provided to eligible Victorian employers towards the cost of employing candidates during 12-week internships. 

“We’re supporting Victorians to transition into digital careers and open the door to exciting new work opportunities, by backing them with the training they need and a foot in the door,” Minister Carroll said. 

The Digital Jobs program, launched in August 2021, has supported over 740 local businesses with over 2,500 candidates, improving the country’s pool of digital talent by offering a range of experience, talents and transferrable skills. 

In the program, mid-career Victorians are supported through intensive training courses to gain qualifications and skills in cyber security, IT support, digital marketing and business analytics before they are matched with a business for a 12-week job placement. 

“Digital skills have never been in such high demand – particularly across Melbourne’s west,” Victoria University Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said. 

“Victoria University is very proud to provide this essential training through our award-winning VU Polytechnic.” 

Check out: Tech professionals urge Labor to work on rebooting digital economy 

The program has supported mid-career, women, regional and culturally diverse Victorians in the digital economy. GrantGuru CEO Adrian Spencer, one employer who benefitted from the program, was able to take on several new employees such as former hospitality worker David Nicholson, who now works full-time as a developer. 

Around 87 per cent of current jobs in Australia require digital literacy skills, with Deloitte forecasting that Victoria will need an extra 33,000 technology workers by 2024. 

Source: Premier of Victoria media centre. Content has been edited for style and length. 

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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