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Victorian ICT plan boosts skills

Victoria plans to allocate nearly AU$2 million to an industry skills package for the state's technology students under measures announced today in its five year plan for the information technology and communications (ICT) sector. The AU$1.
Written by Steven Deare, Contributor
Victoria plans to allocate nearly AU$2 million to an industry skills package for the state's technology students under measures announced today in its five year plan for the information technology and communications (ICT) sector.

The AU$1.9 million ICT scholarship package is part of the Victorian ICT Industry Plan 2005-2010, released this morning by the state's ICT Minister, Marsha Thomson.

The package will be aimed at "arming university students with the skills they need to drive Victoria's ICT industry", according to the plan.

The government would "pursue a coordinated, national approach to the promotion of ICT careers to young people with industry, the higher education sector and other Australian governments".

It would also ensure that secondary school curricula was in line with industry requirements.

Also announced was an AU$1 million ICT Linkages Program designed to establish and promote industry clusters and networks.

There was funding for exporters too, with the government providing AU$700,000 for a renewed ICT Trade Events and Export Assistance Program.

An Emerging Markets Strategies series would also be held to help local companies identify opportunities in overseas markets.

Also outlined in the plan was the state's recent decision to cap liability for contracting companies, and allow those contractors to retain any intellectual property they may have developed in the course of a government contract.

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