ICT training to meet the needs of the evolving tech sector
27 May 2025
Australia’s tech sector is growing, driving demand for an extra 650,000 digital workers by 2030.
This presents both challenges and opportunities for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system, which must adapt to keep pace with rapid technological innovation and industry demands.
The evidence we need to build relevant and responsive ICT training
As the Jobs and Skills Council for finance, technology and business, we consistently hear from industry and the training sector that vocational ICT training lacks relevancy and responsiveness to learner and employer skills needs. A key aspect of our role is the development and ongoing maintenance of training packages, including the ICT Training Package. This comprehensive package includes 11 qualifications, 108 skill sets, and 650 units of competency, and is utilised by around 1,500 Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) across Australia.
Recognising the critical role of this training in skilling the workforce, and the significant cost and impact of each training package update on RTOs, it’s essential any changes are carefully considered, evidence-based and aligned with emerging skills needs.
To ensure this, we have undertaken a comprehensive review, Towards Effective ICT Training: A Needs and Gaps Analysis of the ICT Training Package. This draws on robust data, in-depth research and extensive stakeholder engagement to inform our approach and guide meaningful, lasting improvements across the sector.
Defining a purpose for ICT training
As digital skills become essential across all jobs, the ICT training landscape has become increasingly complex. As a result, clearly defining the purpose of the ICT Training Package is an important first step.
Our report identifies the need for the training package to distinguish between general digital skills, which are essential for everyone, and the specialised digital skills required for technology-focused roles.
It recommends the ICT training package should be focused on technical and specialist skills and for tech careers, while suggesting digital uplift and generalist skills may be better placed within the BSB (Business Services Training Package).
The need to combine core generalist and technology skills to effectively meet industry demands is also highlighted. This includes fostering capabilities such as problem-solving, communication and adaptability, alongside technical expertise.
Aligning training with the skills learners and employers need
There's a mismatch between current ICT training and industry skills requirements, with industry stakeholders reporting that graduates are not job ready.
Ideally every product within the ICT Training Package – from units of competency to skill sets to diplomas – should align with relevant employment pathways and job roles.
Our report recommends structuring the training package to ensure qualifications are clearly mapped and aligned with the real-world skills required for specific job roles.
As a starting point, we have begun working with industry to define and map entry-level pathways into tech careers. By identifying industry needs, we can create clear entry points that enable learners to embark on diverse and flexible training and employment pathways.
Flexible training for learners, flexible delivery for RTOs
The report recommends structuring the training package to allow students to select pathways that suit their individual career goals
This flexible approach allows students to ‘stack’ modules vertically to achieve a full qualification, or horizontally to progress across different specialisations, facilitating career growth and adaptability.
For example, a software developer with foundational programming and AI skills could horizontally stack modular credentials – such as machine learning applications, data preparation for AI systems, and AI ethics and governance – to unlock new career opportunities in AI implementation and support.
The Australian Government's VET Qualification Reform aims to reduce the prescriptive nature of training, providing Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) with greater flexibility to contextualise content and adapt to emerging technologies. Our report recommends exploring the feasibility of adding a generic skill set focused on new and emerging technologies. This would also help to prepare students for industry certification exams and support the formal recognition of their skills.
RTOs would have the flexibility to deliver these skill sets either as standalone options for upskilling or as components within broader qualifications, enabling them to introduce new technologies to students more rapidly.
A faster response to critical skills gaps
We recognise the need to improve the speed-to-market of ICT training products – as one stakeholder noted, “ICT can change in months, not years”.
To address urgent skill gaps, we are trialling and evaluating a more agile approach that aims to deliver training products and teaching materials to trainers and learners more quickly.
Other projects to address skills gaps include updating training for cyber security, developing specialist AI training and uplifting digital capability.
Our plan to strengthen ICT training for the future
The findings from this report will directly inform our upcoming ICT Training Package Update project.
This project will focus on clearly defining the purpose of the training package and addressing urgent skills gaps, while identifying clear pathways and job role outcomes. It will also prioritise flexibility and contextualisation to ensure effective delivery across diverse learning environments.
Our recommendations highlight the importance of strong industry engagement, as well as ongoing dialogue with RTOs to ensure their feedback and perspectives are incorporated. Your continued support and collaboration are essential to the success of this work.
To engage with us and stay up to date with our projects, become an FSO Collaborator.
To read our full findings and recommendations, download the report.
By Dorien Erasmus, VET + Innovation Lead, Future Skills Organisation.
First published in Future Skills News, FSO’s LinkedIn newsletter. Subscribe here.