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tim johnson

Pilot helps First Nations peoples

By Improving training deliveryNo Comments

The Batchelor Institute partnered with the DSO to run a pilot program to teach digital literacy skills to First Nations peoples in remote communities, who can face some of the greatest challenges in terms of confidence and skills for digital inclusion.

This pilot commenced with engaging stakeholders like the Central Land Council and community groups at Santa Teresa to identify needs to ensure the most appropriate training model was delivered in the area.

The pilot program was designed to increase the digital literacy of residents in remote areas of the Northern Territory. It was completed by 32 students in Santa Teresa and Tennant Creek.

After completing the course, students were better equipped to use computers, mobile phones and tablets – skills that not only support everyday tasks like banking transactions or medical appointments, but also enable further study or work prospects.

The lessons from this pilot model are expected to be expanded to other remote Territory communities.

“Fundamental digital skills are a step towards learning lots of other new things. They can improve confidence in people from First Nations and remote communities to use technology for everyday life, learning and work”

Palwinder Grewal
Batchelor Institute lecturer

June 26, 2023

North star guides the way to digital skills for all

By Relevance and transferability of skillsNo Comments

The Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance and DSO have joined forces with industry, community, training providers, government and unions to establish a single benchmark for the skills required to be digitally capable.

The term ‘digital literacy’ means different things to different people, and currently, there is no widely accepted standard to unify around.

A simple national benchmark that defines what it means to be digitally capable will provide the ‘North Star’ to close the nation’s digital literacy gap by identifying learning pathways for individual cohorts to reach the benchmark.

This will help to inspire all Australians to get the digital skills needed to fully participate in the community, the workforce and in all aspects of life.

“Our vision is an Australia where everyone is equipped to meaningfully participate in the economy and society. Our partnership with DSO takes us towards a national common language around digital capability, and a shared understanding of what it means to have the essential digital capabilities to engage online, access services and opportunities.”

Ishtar Vij
Convenor, Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance

June 26, 2023

Innovative approach helps get tech careers on track

By Awareness and pathwaysNo Comments

For many careers it is possible to map a typical pathway, along with appropriate qualifications and entry level jobs. With tech, and other careers however, it is less clear and unfamiliar terminology can be confusing.

Therefore, to help those wanting a tech career, DSO defined roles, skills and pathways, working with industry and TAFEs. The career information is shared via a dynamic visual that mimics a metro map, encouraging students and career transitioners to explore their options in an engaging way.

The innovative resource, co-created with SkillSchema, was tested with students. There was an immediate connection with the dynamic metro map and tech jobs as stations. All were intrigued as to how to navigate the lines and access the job role information.

“Students and career counsellors find tools like this valuable. There’s a good opportunity to broaden this tool to include jobs that aren’t specialist tech roles, but still require an element of tech and digital skills.”

 

Mark Samaha
Director of Customer and Stakeholder Relations 
TAFE NSW Western Sydney Region

 

 

“Early findings from the research suggests the pathways model has clear potential in bridging the gap between industry and education and training; building awareness of digital jobs and pathways that young people currently do not discover until after they enter the workforce.”

 

Madelyn Sands
Research Specialist, YouthInsight (Student Edge)

June 26, 2023

Students inspired by Tech Expo

By Awareness and pathwaysNo Comments

Informing and inspiring young people to consider a technology career is vital for Australia’s economic future. A recent survey found 45% of students say they did not learn enough about digital skills in high school – despite the ever-increasing demand for technology across the Australian economy.

For this reason, the DSO partnered with school leaver service Year13 to create Tech Expo. Its aim was to inspire young people with the opportunities available to them in technology, and the pathways to get them into great tech careers.

Tech Expo provided rich digital and social content that showcased the breadth of opportunity in technology as well as the need for digital skills in every industry.

The tech expo received over 15,500 visitors and 1.3 million reached on the audience’s preferred channels – Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

“Love hearing real stories from people that have different paths and showing there are such a range of careers in tech.”

Student

 

“This is awesome, I had no idea about the different options.”

Student

 

“Love it, an easy hub with real and practical advice for students.”

Student

June 26, 2023

Pilot boosts consideration of digital careers by 29%

By Awareness and pathwaysNo Comments

Every young Australian has been born into the age of the Internet, PCs and smartphones. Despite this, many don’t think of a career as a digital professional or know where to start.

Therefore, the DSO ran a pilot for young Australians aged between 17 and 24 to showcase what it is like to have a career as a digital professional.

Run in partnership with school leaver service Year13 and presented through a series of online courses and social content, it equipped young people with the knowledge required to pursue a career as a digital professional.

The program resulted in a rise of 29% in the consideration of digital careers, from 27% to 56%, amongst the 4,200 participants. In addition, 95% of the participants reported their understanding of digital careers and of the technology sector had improved somewhat or significantly.

 

“It [DigiSkills] taught me there are multiple pathways and digital skills can actually involve more than just software and programming.”

21 year-old participant
Queensland Metropolitan

 

“This DigiSkills Academy course greatly impacted my understanding of the industry, as before I was uneducated and quite stagnant to the concept of working in the digital industry.”

16 year-old participant 

Victoria, metropolitan

June 26, 2023

Partnership and purpose drives scale and efficiency

By Industry consultation and collaborationOne Comment

The digital skills training space comprises many initiatives across Commonwealth, state and territory governments. Although all focussed on digital skills training, these are often developed independently and in different ways. This has prevented digital training programs from scaling up.

To begin to change the way in which digital skills are designed, delivered and assessed, the DSO has acted as the bridge between governments, industry, and key training providers to find a more coordinated approach.

Off the back of the 2022 Australian Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit, the DSO brought together over 40 leaders, from across the states and territories, to explore opportunities for collaboration. Topics included how to increase awareness of job opportunities in technology and how to improve education, training products, and pathways. The outcome was an agreement to get behind three initiatives in 2023 and make them more efficient, scalable and easier to deliver successfully. The first is focussed on digital literacy.

 

“The roundtable has played an important role at this critical time. It has been an opportunity to build upon the work of the ‘Getting to 1.2 million’ report and enabled identification of issues and opportunities for national action. Only by working together can we truly hope to scale up proven programs and work on solutions.”

Trish Mullins

Director Skills Policy, NSW Department of Education

 

“The responsibility for developing digital skills cannot be solely placed on any one group, be it government, industry, education institutions or community. Instead, it is essential that these groups come together and collaborate to surface best practices and practical solutions to address the issues. By working together, we can build the digital skills needed to thrive in the modern economy and ensure Australia remains globally competitive.”

Tiffany Wright
Director Education Australia, Microsoft

June 9, 2023