Digital Knowledge Exchange (DKX)
Last updated: 26 March 2026
STATUS: ACTIVE
Commencement date: June 2024
End date: June 2026
Overview
By connecting state and territory government initiatives, this project will share lessons and priorities to support stronger digital-skills development nationally.
The demand for digital skills in technology occupations has grown at least three times faster than other occupations on average, according to the Initial Workforce Plan.
The need to enhance digital capability extends beyond specialist roles, impacting the broader finance, technology, and business workforces.
State-based compacts and initiatives are essential for responding to the challenges of growing the digital workforce at a national level.
Sharing good practice from trials of new initiatives and approaches across states and territories can inform system-level changes and reforms needed to ensure scale and sustainability nationally.
The Digital Knowledge Exchange project establishes a mechanism to share knowledge and lessons across states and territories from the development and trial of digital skills initiatives to address the digital-skills shortage.
Project scope includes:
- Identify opportunities across current state and territory digital compacts to amplify good practice and support gaps, shared via a national web portal.
- Support and trial prioritised initiatives across one or more states and territories.
- Report findings and scale successful approaches to inform national reform.
This project establishes a national mechanism to scale digital-skills initiatives across states and territories, and to strengthen digital‑capability development nationally.
Impact
State and territory governments: Practical visibility of successful initiatives and gaps, helping sector partners refine programs and align digital-skills investment.
For learners: Access to training that reflects industry change, with stronger digital skills and clearer career pathways.
For training providers: Guidance on where qualifications and programs may need review, with insights into how industry shifts are likely to affect delivery.
For industry: A clearer picture of how training pipelines are adapting to digital capability needs.
Background Information
The Initial Workforce Plan highlights the rapid growth in demand for digital skills compared to other occupations. This demand is not limited to specialist technology roles but extends across finance, business, and broader workforce sectors.
State-based initiatives have already begun to respond to these challenges, but greater national coordination is required to ensure scale, sustainability, and system-level reform.
The Digital Knowledge Exchange project provides a mechanism to share insights, amplify good practice, and support the trial of initiatives across multiple jurisdictions.
This project contributes to building a sustainable national skills system by strengthening digital capability across learners, training providers, and industry.
Meet the DKX Governance Group
Representatives from State and Territory Governments work together to oversee DKX initiatives, promote collaboration, and share digital knowledge and best practices across Australia.
Refer to the “Documents” tab for the Terms of Reference.
Chair
Sylvia Celima, Digital Knowledge Exchange Lead, FSO
New South Wales
Jane Artup, Project Manager, NSW Digital Skills and Workforce Compact, NSW Department of Education
Northern Territory
Donald Young, Senior Director, Digital Strategy and Advisory, Department of Corporate and Digital Development
Queensland
Filippa Ross, Manager, Industry Engagement, Department of Trade, Employment and Training
Rachel Emery, Industry Engagement Manager, Department of Trade, Employment and Training
Luisa Grant, Industry Skills Advisor to the Queensland Government, Australian Computer Society (ACS)
South Australia
Ruth Conry, Principal, Industry and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, SA Skills Commission
Michael Luchich, Chair, Finance, Tech & Business ISC, SA Skills Commission
Tasmania
Lynda McKay, Industry Partnerships Manager, Skills Tasmania, Department of State Growth
Victoria
Louise Pearce, Senior Skills Advisor, Victorian Skills Authority, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
Clare Verberne, Industry Engagement, Victorian Skills Authority, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
Western Australia
Morena Stanley, Associate Director Skills Policy, Department of Training and Workforce Development
Tracey Farrow, Chief Executive Officer, Financial, Administrative and Professional Services Training Council