Over the last year or so we have posted information on the ICT Entry Level Programs when there have been specific events we’ve held – such as interview week or graduation. But what we haven’t done is to provide you with information on just how successful these programs have been in building the ICT capability of the Australian Government.

The ICT Entry Level Programs are a suite of programs that are run by the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) on behalf of all Australian Government agencies. The Programs include an Australian School Based Apprenticeship program, an ICT Apprenticeship program and an ICT Cadetship program. All of these programs offer participants the opportunity to combine work and study – gaining an ICT qualification while obtaining work experience in an Australian Government agency.

In 2013 we will be adding a new program to the ICT Entry Level Programs suite – an Australian Government ICT Graduate Program – and I will outline this program in another blog post in a few weeks time.

The Apprenticeship and Cadetship programs have been running for around six years and in that time we have had over 150 people graduate, with 153 participants still completing their programs. In 2013 an additional 85 people will commence one of our programs – in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne or Canberra.

The programs have a really high retention rate – over 90% for cadets and around 70% for apprentices – well above industry standards. At the end of their program (between 18 months and three years) the ICT Apprentices and Cadets transition into permanent, full time roles within their agency and are well on track to a successful career in the Australian Government.