On Thursday 4 April, 35 TAFE NSW students graduated from the inaugural NSW Government IT Traineeship; an innovative program aimed at equipping young people with the skills and experience needed to conquer the booming tech industry.

With national demand for IT workers expected to surpass 1.2 million by 2030, this program co-designed with the Institute of Applied Technology Digital provided students with a two-year paid traineeship at a NSW Government Agency. Students also received industry-recognised certifications and a Certificate III/IV in Information Technology or Certificate IV in Cyber Security.

Training Services NSW developed and funded the program in response to industry feedback which identified a shortage of 22,000 IT professionals per year in the state. The traineeships provide the public sector a direct role in developing future IT professionals by combining a formal qualification with paid work.

Graduate Stephanie Wu was motivated to apply for the NSW Government IT Traineeship as after working in hospitality for 10 years, she was looking to pursue a career pathway in a growing industry where she could apply her problem-solving and communication skills.

“During my traineeship at the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), I worked on the IT Service Desk as a Service Desk Analyst. It involved a lot of interaction with people, handling their enquiries through phone calls, live chat, and a ticketing system. I'm thrilled to say that thanks to the traineeship, I've landed a full-time job at the DCJ!,” Stephanie said.

"There's a misconception that you need to be a maths or a computer genius to work in IT, but that's simply not true. The industry is massive and there are many different pathways. If you're not technical, you could go into IT management. If the technical side is what interests you, there's development and programming. Even project management skills are in high demand within IT.

“One of the best aspects of the traineeship is that I got to earn while I learned, and the course didn’t cost me a cent. It was a fantastic way to gain a qualification as well as experience,” Stephanie said.

TAFE NSW IT Head Teacher Dean Nguyen emphasised the valuable practical experience students gained through the NSW Government IT Traineeship.

“Our students not only gain technical expertise in programming, complex networking, and cybersecurity – which are all in high demand – but also develop essential workplace skills like meeting deadlines and collaborating effectively with their peers,” Dean said.

Executive Director of Training Services NSW David Collins congratulated the graduates and said their hard work has set them up for success.

“Not only have they earned certification from their IT traineeship, but also valuable work experience and life skills that will set up their future in the IT industry. I’m proud to say that a number of these students have been offered ongoing employment with host agencies as a direct result of the program.

“The program successfully blended and workplace learning experience for students aligned to NSW TAFE and IAT education delivery. It has informed development of the NSW Government’s commitment to employ an additional 1,000 apprentices and trainees in NSW Government agencies over the next three years,” David said.

The Institute of Applied Technology Digital (IATD) is a technology-focused institute at TAFE NSW Meadowbank, and is a collaboration between TAFE NSW, industry, universities, supported by the Department of Education.