Promoting ICT Employment and Careers
On 16 February 2009, Finance introduced a third cohort of 42 apprentices to the public service (in Canberra and Adelaide), continuing its whole-of-government ICT Apprenticeship Program. The program provides apprentices with on-the-job experience working in government while studying towards a Certificate IV in ICT. Each program runs over two years, with high performing apprentices able to complete the program in 18 months.
Apprentices who complete the program are able to apply for a permanent position in the APS through a whole-of-government recruitment exercise. Of the 42 apprentices who completed the two-year program commencing in 2007, 39 were recruited in 2008-09 as ongoing APS employees.
On 4 March 2009, Finance launched the whole-of-government ICT School-Based Apprenticeship Program in Canberra. Five school-based apprentices worked for one day each week in an APS agency while studying towards a Certificate II in ICT during the school year. School-based apprentices will transition to the APS ICT Apprenticeship Program upon successful completion of the school-based program.
Finance also established a new whole-of-government APS ICT Cadetship Program which started on 9 February 2009, with 28 second or third-year university students placed across the APS in Canberra, Adelaide and Sydney. Cadets combine a minimum of two days per week working in a government agency with part-time university study. On the successful completion of their undergraduate degree, cadets transition to full-time on-going employment in their host agency.