Digital Skills Cadetship Trial

Under the Trial, industry-led cadetship projects are testing the effectiveness and benefits of innovative and diverse approaches to meet the digital skills needs of employers.

The projects are being driven by employer demand for skills in emerging and priority digital fields, including cybersecurity, web development, data analytics and cloud computing.

A variety of cohorts are being targeted, with some having a specific emphasis on supporting women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or migrants into the tech workforce.

Each organisation will trial a different approach to rapidly upskill people for digital roles over a 4-6 month period. The projects will blend formal training with on-the-job learning and mentoring. Cadets will put their newly acquired digital skills into practice with employers who will be matched with the tech talent they need.

The projects will test a range of training strategies using accredited and non-accredited vocational education and training and industry recognised courses offered by global technology companies.

Three projects are actively training cadets and placing them with employers. Interested employers are encouraged to read the project information below and contact providers regarding opportunities to host cadets.

• MEGT Australia is providing up to 200 cadets with training in data analytics, cyber security and cloud computing using Microsoft certifications and specialist micro credentials. The project is being delivered in partnership with the Institute of Applied Technology in Digital Tech (IAT), Prodigy Learning, Women in Technology and is supported by Microsoft Australia. The target cohort is women entering and/or returning to the workforce, workers displaced due to COVID, and disadvantaged women.

If you are interested in hiring a cadet from MEGT, please email rmssupport@megt.com.au or call  13 47 67.

• Goanna Solutions Education is delivering digital skills training for up to 260 cadets in various digital career pathways. This includes but is not limited to data analytics, cloud computing, web development, project support, Salesforce Administrator, and Salesforce Developer. Goanna aims to close the digital gap by targeting under-represented and underemployed people in the digital sector. Participants are typically career changers, parents with prior IT skills returning to the workforce, recently arrived migrants with prior qualifications, women, and people with disabilities. Of the 260 cadets, 25% will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

If you are interested in hiring a cadet from Goanna Solutions Education, please email education@goanna.edu.au or call on 1300 402 582.

• Community Corporate is providing cloud computing skills for up to 65 cadets using globally recognised vendor certifications that are selected to meet the needs of employer partners. The target cohort is refugees and humanitarian migrants with permanent residence who have overseas IT qualifications but are unemployed or under-employed.

If you are interested in hiring a cadet from Community Corporate, please email careers@communitycorporate.com.au or call 0401 030 698.

All projects will run until the end of 2023.

Government funding will cover the costs involved in identifying skills needs, developing training programs and materials, delivering training, and facilitating mentoring support. Host employers will be responsible for all employment related costs (e.g. salary).

The Trial is expected to generate valuable insights into approaches to strengthen collaboration between employers and education and training providers and identify opportunities to enhance Australia’s national education and training system.