The Digital Skills Program gives workers the expertise they need for the manufacturing and construction industries. Photo: Anna Stills.
The Victorian Government is initiating a new Digital Skills Program, aiming to support workers and businesses in key sectors.
Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson announced that applications were open for the newly extended $4.25 million program.
The scheme provides 1000 free places in training courses over the next two years for Victorian workers who want to learn new skills in the sectors of construction and advanced manufacturing, in an effort to provide access to high-skilled work.
Part of the government’s Economic Growth Statement, the Digital Jobs Program is one of more than 40 initiatives that seek to create a stronger, inclusive and sustainable economy for the state.
It prepares workers for the development of digital skills, which the government says are critical in emerging industries. Training courses, endorsed by industry, will cover computer-aided manufacturing, modern methods of construction, digital marketing, the use of AI and data analytics, among other subjects.
“This program is ensuring Victoria’s workforce has the critical digital skills we need in key sectors like construction and advanced manufacturing now and into the future – supporting workers and businesses to keep pace with a rapidly evolving digital landscape,” Mr Pearson said.
Training for the sectors of advanced manufacturing and construction aims to build on the success of a previous program, launched in 2021, which has supported more than 5500 Victorians in the move to digital careers. The previous program has also upskilled more than 500 workers in the manufacturing sector.
In 2023, iBuild upskilled six workers and supported the award-winning kit home business to digitally improve its capabilities across areas such as production, design and manufacturing, enabling the company to hire more staff and undertake additional work.
“The change for our business has been phenomenal; our higher capabilities have boosted our capacity, allowing us to produce structural components for much-needed housing with the push of a button,” iBuild CEO Jackson Yin said.
