Partnership to bring more women to burgeoning space industry

The new Tech Start program from Modis Tech Academy (in collaboration with Microsoft) is designed to attract South Australian women into the state’s space, defence and technology sector.

In partnering with the South Australian Government as one of seven projects to expand and scale under the Workforce Innovation Projects program, Tech Start aims to provide women with access to industry-recognised credentials, professional mentoring and career development support.

Tech Start aligns with the state’s ambition to develop a local skilled workforce ready to unlock the employment opportunities associated with the Australian Space Agency national strategy — which includes the ambition to grow the workforce by an additional 20,000 jobs by 2030. Many of these space industry jobs will require knowledge and experience in technology, including data analytics, cybersecurity and software development.

“We are extremely proud that our Tech Start program has been supported by the South Australian Government and that, together with our partners at Microsoft, we can create a direct pathway for women to take up entry-level data analytics and cybersecurity roles at leading tech companies, with a focus on serving South Australia’s flourishing space and defence industries,” said Anatoli Kovalev, VP Modis Tech Academy.

The Workforce Innovation Projects will deliver tailored and innovative skills and workforce development solutions to enhance critical capabilities for growth and competitiveness. The targeted program focuses on increasing skill levels and improving workforce supply in partnership with the South Australian Government by exploring new ideas and innovative solutions that deliver effective and relevant workforce outcomes.

The inaugural Tech Start program, launched in February 2022, opened to 20 female students who were among over 200 applicants to the program. The program helped participants acquire the skills and industry-recognised credentials necessary to step into an entry-level data analyst role, paving the way for more diverse representation across tech in Australia.

Expressions of interest for the latest round are now open here.

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