Attracting women into careers in ICT is a business imperative rather than any form of affirmative action.

“Women are needed in the ICT sector in greater numbers so that the industry reflects the diversity of our society and has a wider skill set to draw upon,” Senator Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, told a large audience at an International Women’s Day luncheon on 8 March.

Governments and industry need to work together to help young people, and particularly young women, to understand the opportunities that gaining technology skills can bring, Senator Coonan said.

“We need to help women understand that a career in information and communications technology is a career full of challenges and rewards and can be pursued within practically any sector they care to choose,” she said.

More than 350 people attended the luncheon hosted by Females in Information Technology and Telecommunications (FITT), an AIIA special interest group.

Michelle Tredenick and Senator Helen Coonan

Senator Coonan was joined by Michelle Tredenick, Chief Information Officer of the National Australia Bank and Caroline Heinze, Nortel’s National Manager, Enterprise Channels and Marketing, who also presented their thoughts on how to attract more women into the ICT industry.

Michelle Tredenick said that as the CIO of a large organisation in the middle of a major transformation agenda, her motivation for encouraging women to enter ICT was to ensure a diversity of skills and approaches in the workforce. “I think it is absolutely critical we give all young women good, practical reasons to get into the industry and realistic expectations right from the start. It also needs to be a career where you can come and go – a key challenge for us, as this is increasingly what school leavers and also women want from their careers.”

Nortel’s Caroline Heinze spoke of her personal experiences within the ICT industry, Nortel’s initiatives to encourage greater participation by women in the workplace, and of the need to counter the antisocial ‘geeky programmer’ image. “Clearly, one of the key areas where we still have work to do is in lifting the profile of the ICT industry amongst the next generation entering the workforce and countering the narrow stereotypes. This is an area where we’ve been investing effort at a local level in Nortel.”

Caroline Heinze with Senator Helen Coonan

AIIA is concerned about the continuing low participation rate of women in ICT – both in education and employment. The under-representation of women in ICT is a national as well as an industry issue.

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that women comprise only 20 per cent of ICT employees, and make up only 25 per cent of university students who choose to study ICT – with the trends indicating that this figure is falling.

To address this imbalance, the industry needs to focus in on its strengths as a flexible and dynamic work environment, change the outdated perceptions of a technology career and foster the careers of talented individuals when they enter the profession.

Rob Durie, AIIA’s Chief Executive Officer says: “Australia’s ICT industry contributes 4.6 per cent of Australia’s GDP and is the driving force behind the economy’s productivity growth. Australia has the potential to be a substantial supplier of innovative ICT goods and services in our region and to the world; but to fulfil these opportunities, AIIA must have a skilled and competent workforce that includes women.

“We need firmer actions and initiatives from governments, industry and professional bodies, education institutions, and representatives groups of women to improve the female participation rate in ICT education and employment,” Mr Durie says.

The International Women’s Day breakfast was just one of many events hosted by Females in Information Technology and Telecommunications (FITT), a network of women who encourage and support women and girls who want to reach their full potential in the ICT industry.

FITT Steering Committee member, Jessica Maxwell, said the event was a success on a number of levels. “Having more than 350 female ICT professionals turn up to such an event shows a genuine commitment by those in the industry to encourage women to enter, remain in, and succeed in ICT. Additionally, to have such ‘from the heart’ addresses from such high-profile and successful speakers, was inspiring.”

For more information on FITT, visit: www.fitt.org.au

Australia’s ICT labour market remains in balance, with a stable approach to ICT salaries suggesting claims of an overall skills shortage are inaccurate.

Results from AIIA’s latest Survey of Salaries and Remuneration Packaging in the Australian ICT Industry showed salary increases of 5.2 per cent over the period March 2005 to March 2006. Read more

Under the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement signed in 2003, Australian exporters now have greater opportunities for business growth in the region.

Government and corporate initiatives to encourage growth in Singapore's technology industries are paying off, with the country now on top of the world in technology adoption and network readiness. It is also perfectly placed geographically, with China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and India all short connections by plane, phone or the Internet. Read more

Global TeleHealth
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21 and 23 March: Sydney and Melbourne - Global Connect
5 April: Melbourne - Health-e-Nation 2006
6 April: Queensland - SME Marketing Workshop
12 April: Sydney - Powering the Participation Age breakfast
1-3 May: Texas - Special registration price for WCIT 2006
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