121/05
19 October 2005

ICT skills essential to international competitiveness

Australia’s position among the top ten most economically competitive nations will largely depend on its ability to build on the current strength of its information and communications technology (ICT) industries, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, will tell IT professionals at the launch of a new IT body tonight.

Speaking at the Australian launch of IT Pro Australia, a new organisation of ICT industry professionals, Senator Coonan will point out that the changing needs of industry and the community as ICT transforms the Australian economy means that skill sets also need to evolve.

“ICT plays a key role in sustaining Australia’s international competitiveness and our skilled ICT workers drive this competitiveness,” Senator Coonan said before her speech.

“Australians must have high-level ICT skills to be a sophisticated creator and user of ICT as well as the skills to manage technology innovatively in the workplace.

“That is why I have established a joint government, industry and education ICT Skills Foresighting Working Group that will report back to me later this year on how to improve the ICT skills available in Australia.

“The hallmarks of the ICT professional will soon include creative, interpersonal and project management skills, as well as expertise in specific areas such as health and education and the ability to effectively mesh hard and soft skills. ”

Senator Coonan said changing the way that ICT is perceived by young people will be vital for developing the profession and maintaining skills, and ITPro will be one of those organisations in a position to change that perception.

“In coming years, Australia will need to deal with an ageing population and a smaller pool of young adults entering the workforce,” Senator Coonan said.

“It is particularly important that we work to attract women and young, Generation Y people into the profession.”

Senator Coonan said i ndustry has a key role in developing skills and drawing people into ICT, in particular through professional organisations such as CompTIA, the organisation behind ITPro.

“The IT Pro Australia program provides its members with the opportunity to benefit from networking and peer mentoring,” the Minister said.

“Support from leading organisations—including Apple, Cisco, CompTIA, Hewlett Packard and Microsoft—can only strengthen its ability to promote the value of ICT professionals.

“I congratulate CompTIA on the launch of the initiative in Australia and wish it every success.”