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2009 National ICT Careers Week 27 July – 1 August 2009 Start Here Go Anywhere

What is the National ICT Careers Week During one week in July 2009 and across Australia, we want to show the opportunities available to young people in information and communications technology. We want to encourage young people to consider studying ICT after their schooling and to consider a career in ICT. We want them to see studying computing and communications is the start to a rewarding, interesting and social career anywhere in the world.

Our reason for National ICT Careers Week ICT people are in demand Young people may not know that ICT people are in demand The Australian ICT industry (and its customers) require people with the appropriate ICT qualifications and training in the short and long term. Australian governments need people with ICT skills to add to the nations capabilities.

ICT - impacts everything, everywhere In Australia, the application of technology helps drive significant upswings in economic productivity. Technology impacts every part of our economy – from health, education, environment and security to research & development, oil & gas exploration, manufacturing, tourism and transport.

ICT connects with state and national priorities Our nation and state face many challenges in: Climate change & energy Global economic climate Investment in technologies Employment constraints Education Health Security An ageing population The application of ICT is vital for enabling the solutions to these pressing, key issues.

ICT - driving the Australian economy ICT is the fundamental driver of employment in both the ICT industry and across other industries, employing over 500,000 Australians. ICT accounts for around 6% of Australias total GDP. Australias ICT revenue is currently around $85 billion pa. 514,000 people work in ICT related and professional roles. ICT also contributes AUD$4.6 billion in export. $50 million worth of ICT jobs are expected to be created over the next 12 to 18 months. The Australian ICT industry comprises 25,562 companies.

Our messages to young people ICT = great jobs + great money + great lifestyle ICT is a truly global career – your work in ICT can take you round the world ICT – be part of the solution for climate change ICT is about working with people, helping people, solving peoples problems and making changes ICT is entertainment = movies, music, games, animation and fashion ICT is truly a large part of our daily lives

ICT jobs in the global financial crisis Demand for ICT employment is expected to grow quickly and strongly once the current world economic conditions improve. The ICT industry is being affected by the current financial crisis. ICT will continue to be in demand in many areas vital to our economy and communities. ICT professional employment has continued to grow steadily over the past 20 years, and our expectations are that it will continue to grow in the future. That means that now is the time to be studying ICT at and after school.

Participating organisations Industry and business associations ICT industry ICT professional associations Women in ICT Groups Science, ICT school teachers groups Tertiary educators VET educators Federal Government State Government agencies Careers advisers Other groups and organisations

Types of activities and functions These include: having State Premier release a supportive media release re-branding an existing career activity happening in that week school ICT student visits demonstrations of ICT in use visits to ICT companies and ICT faculties and schools briefing of journalists ICT study information on company web sites briefing to ICT school teachers promoting ICT study on the front page on university and TAFE web sites

Keynote events Keynote events will be arranged to have the campaign endorsed by key people/organisations such as State Premiers, relevant Federal and State Ministers of education and innovation, heads of peak organisations, influential young celebrities. These keynote events/stunts will help draw attention to the campaign for parents, teachers and other influencers. If possible, these keynote events will draw TV coverage. Participating organisations will be asked to either suggest keynote events, or to arrange a keynote activity.

Media engagement Journalists with interests in ICT careers and studies will be identified and contacted about the National ICT Careers Week. Participating organisations will be encouraged to use their existing media relationships. Journalists will be encouraged to contact the participating organisations to allow for individual media relationships for the National ICT Careers Week. Journalists will be briefed about the campaign, the participating organisations, and the collection portal. In addition, information and data on ICT employment etc will be provided so they have a common set of data points.

A single brand The Career Week will use the Start Here Go Anywhere brand. The immediate advantages of having single and national brand to market ICT study and careers to young people are that: the clutter of images associated with ICT marketing is reduced, and various groups can use the brand within a relaxed and distributed regime of deployment while achieving an overall integrated marketing appearance.

Coordination and support The Careers Week is managed under the auspices of the Industry Leadership Group. The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) and the Australian Computer Society (ACS) are providing the coordination and back office functions to support the National ICT Careers Week. A private Wake has been established to allow people in participating organisations to have access to materials and resources, and to exchange information and ideas.

Contact Michel Hedley Australian Information Industry Association Phone Seni Murni Australian Computer Society Phone