Talent and jobs
Innovation would not be possible without the talented people and businesses working to turn bright ideas into breakthroughs and commercial products.
Our highly skilled, business savvy, multilingual and culturally aware workforce gives us a competitive advantage and helps us collaborate and build productive commercial relationships across the globe.
We’re giving Victorians exciting opportunities to develop new skills and capabilities in fields such as medical research, digital, creative technologies, entrepreneurship and agtech so they can thrive in our economy.
Initiatives and investments
We’re backing innovation with new programs and investments that are creating jobs and opportunities for Victorians now and for generations to come.
Our $63.8 million Digital Jobs program is building Victoria’s digital workforce by training and upskilling 5,000 mid-career Victorians and helping them transition into digital careers. The program aims to meet the growing demand for digital skills by helping Victorian businesses find great people. The first of its kind in Australia, Digital Jobs delivers value to both Victorians and businesses, creating opportunities for newly trained digital talent and their employers to help drive Victoria’s economic growth. Learn more
Our FreeTAFE initiative reduces financial barriers for students and enables them to train in priority courses that lead to in-demand jobs. Courses offered through the Free TAFE initiative include cybersecurity, building and construction, education support, agriculture, and community services. Learn more
Victoria’s Tech Schools initiative delivers innovative education programs which give secondary students opportunities to work side-by-side with industry and subject experts. Tech Schools challenge students to solve problems in a real-world context and help prepare them for the future, delivering the advanced education and STEM skills they need to compete in the future job market. Learn more
SummerTech LIVE is an innovative approach to developing the digital skills needed to support the businesses and workforce of the future. The program operates as a paid 10- to 12-week studentship, matching tertiary ICT students and recent graduates with Victorian businesses to solve digital challenges and boost competitiveness. Learn more
We’ve invested $191.5 million in a transformational, whole-of-government plan to invigorate Victoria’s screen industry, create jobs, foster new talent and generate significant economic returns. This investment includes funding to build a highly skilled workforce to solidify Victoria’s reputation as a global destination for VFX and screen production. Learn more
Apprenticeships Victoria (AV) coordinates and oversees Victorian apprenticeships including the thousands of apprentices joining Victoria’s Big Build, ensuring our record infrastructure investment delivers a skills legacy for our state. AV also works with industry to develop new apprenticeship and traineeship pathways to support the workforce of the future. Learn more
The newly established Victorian Skills Authority will bring together leading education and training providers, employers, unions and communities to co-design innovative approaches to skills development in established and emerging industries. It will strengthen the link between industry needs, training delivery and student attraction and outcomes. Learn more
The Victorian Government’s $550 million Connecting Victoria program is focusing on getting more Victorians access to business-grade broadband and upgrading mobile coverage, improving 4G mobile coverage, helping more places become 5G ready, and improving access to safety information during bushfires and other emergencies. New mobile and broadband infrastructure will mean more jobs and a boost for local businesses and will help Victorians stay connected to loved ones. It will give more Victorians the opportunity to participate in the online world, with better mobile coverage at home and when out and about. Learn more
We’re investing in dedicated world-class precincts to drive innovation and create new opportunities, bolstering the innovative work happening in businesses and communities right across the state. Our seven National Employment and Innovation Clusters include Parkville, Fishermans Bend, Monash, La Trobe, Sunshine, Dandenong and Werribee, as well as sector-specific innovation precincts emerging in Geelong, Gippsland, Warrnambool, Arden and Cremorne.
Digital Innovation Futures Victoria (DIF) offers businesses and individuals many ways to stay connected, share ideas and keep learning through its annual Digital Innovation Festival and online hub. Delivered in collaboration with a network of partners, the festival showcases our local tech sector, promotes innovation, and encourages businesses and individuals to make a difference through digital technologies. Learn more
The Victorian Government has committed $12 million to anchor the ongoing development of Cremorne as a global innovation and technology precinct with support to establish a flagship digital hub in Cremorne. The hub will deliver programs and activities aimed at lifting capability, stimulating tech adoption and problem-solving, supporting business growth, attracting investment and creating jobs and build connections with Victoria’s leading technology firms and institutes to businesses, researchers, and education providers across the state, nationally and globally, supported by complementary initiatives such as the recently announced Australian Sports Innovation Centre of Excellence. Learn more
As a major procurer of products and services, Victorian Government procurement processes can open the door for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to thrive. Our Local Jobs First policy gives Victorian SMEs a fair opportunity to compete for work on all types of Government contracts. This can help growing companies scale-up and attract investors and new customers. Learn more
The Victorian Government has made a $10 million investment to meet the skills and training needs required to decarbonise the economy and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The Clean Economy Workforce Capacity Building Fund enables training providers and industry to work together to develop the skills needed for the clean economy. Learn more
Updates and announcements
Visit the Innovation newsroom for the latest announcements, news and opportunities.
Spotlight on: The Digital Jobs program building Victoria’s digital workforce
The demand for workers with digital skills in Victoria is strong and growing, with an estimated 33,000 more technology workers needed by 2024.
To help address this need, the Victorian Government is investing $63.8 million to build a new talent pool of industry trained Victorians through its new Digital Jobs program.
The first of its kind in Australia, Digital Jobs will upskill 5,000 mid-career Victorians over the next three years and support them to transition into digital careers.
Participants complete a six-month program that includes 12 weeks of industry-backed digital skills training followed by 12 weeks in a digital job with a Victorian business.
Since launching in August 2021, the Digital Jobs program has attracted thousands of applications from Victorians seeking the opportunity to transition into a digital career. The first cohort of candidates will graduate in January 2022.
The Victorian Government has partnered with leading training providers to deliver the digital skills training, with La Trobe University, RMIT Online, the University of Melbourne, General Assembly and more providing courses in skills such as software development, UX design, data analysis and cyber security.
Some of the state’s top employers are hosting candidates for their 12-week wage subsidised internships, including ANZ, PwC, HESTA, Carsales, Zendesk, Amazon and MYOB.
Applications are invited from motivated candidates over the age of 30 who are ready to retrain and shift into a digital role, and businesses searching for great people with digital skills.
Learn more at djpr.vic.gov.au/digital-jobs
Page last updated: 26 November 2021