Launching careers in space, defence and technology with Modis and Microsoft

ADELAIDE Australia – 18 February 2022: Modis, the global technology and smart industry solutions business unit of the Adecco Group in partnership with Microsoft, whose mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more, is launching Tech Start.

Designed specifically for and with the South Australian space, defence and technology industry, Tech Start helps South Australian women gain industry recognised micro-credentials, professional mentoring, and career development support.

Tech Start will provide the connections, pathways, and confidence to help women pursue a career in an exciting and growing space and defence industry. The first Tech Start program will help candidates acquire the skills and industry recognised micro-credentials necessary to step into an entry level data analyst role. Future Tech Start programs, commencing in later 2022, will focus on Cyber Security and Software Development. All three of these roles have been identified as entry level roles across the space, defence and technology sector in South Australia. 

The program is open to any woman interested in developing experience in data analytics regardless of their academic and work background and is a free 10-week program.  Targeting women who are current students or who have recently graduated from university or TAFE courses, applications are open now for the first program, which will commence in March 2022.  Training is delivered through a variety of formats including self-paced learning paths, study groups, instructor-led online and campus sessions. In addition to technology training, women will also hear first-hand from professionals across the space and defence industry, offering an exciting opportunity to develop professional connections – especially other women in the industry who have developed exciting careers in these industries.

Tech Start aligns to the South Australian 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, cyber security and software development.

Tech Start also aims to build a pipeline of qualified women to address the lack of gender diversity in the IT industry. According to the Tech Council of Australia Jobs Opportunity Report, gender diversity remains a weakness for Australia’s tech sector, with only around 1 in 4 workers being women. Despite the relatively low share of women working in the industry, the gender pay gap in tech is half that of other highly paid sectors such as finance or professional services. There are both compelling social and economic benefits in supporting more women to enter the IT industry.

Tech Start aims to bring many industry and educational partners together to achieve a shared vision of helping South Australian women access the hundreds of technology jobs opportunity that exist. To date, the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide, and TAFE SA have pledged their support in helping promote the program to new graduates and their alumni networks. International organisations like Avanade and PwC Australia will support the program with guest speakers and industry projects. National organisations like Stone and Chalk will help women to access some of South Australia’s newest entrepreneurs and start ups. Local space industry partners, like Inovor Technologies, Electro Optic Systems and Saber Astronautics, will inspire women with industry insights. Australian data specialists like Modis Tech Consulting, Chamonix, Empired and Expose will support women graduates by providing roles within the IT industry.

Modis Tech Academy and the Tech Start Program are also highly aligned with the Lot Fourteen vision and specifically to the innovation district’s $60 million Digital Technologies Academy, which will offer digital technologies and cyber related education and training.