With devices in the hands of every generation and an increasing number of businesses adopting new technologies, the information technology sector in Australia is overflowing with opportunities. From automated checkouts in supermarkets to QR code check-in’s at brick and mortar stores nationwide, technology continues to solidify its presence in our day-to-day living. But what does it mean to work in the information technology sector, and do you need to be a total tech whiz? In this article, we’ll explore the opportunities, pathways and skills presented by information technology and how you can begin your journey on this illustrious career path.

Programmers cooperating at IT company developing apps

Is Information Technology a Good Career?

Information technology, also known as IT, is one of the highest-paid industries in Australia, with 33,000 jobs created in the last three years. IT embodies many areas and specialisations, all of which focus on information processing, transmission and storage. Popularly known from the British sitcom “The IT Crowd”, IT can be much more glamorous than simply advising employees to “turn it off and on again”. As businesses continue to grow with the advent of streamlining technologies and digital frameworks that cater to a more extensive customer base, IT workers are needed to maintain these systems and ensure that they’re safe and cohesive.

The tasks and roles filled by IT professionals can vary depending on industry and experience with involvement in areas such as:

  • Administration: Installing and monitoring data processing software, training employees in software usage, ensuring software versions and licensing are kept up to date.
  • Support: Troubleshooting and assisting employees with any technical difficulties, employing the use of cloud services.
  • Application/Website Creation: Developing original applications or websites using any number of programming languages and tools to fulfil business needs.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring regulatory standards and government requirements are met through professional data protection and monitoring applications.

Additional to these roles, IT is perhaps most popularised by its relation and involvement with cyber security and web development, two of the more well-known and “glamorous” IT specialisations.

What is Cyber Security?

When you hear the words cyber security, your mind may procure images from any number of action flicks. With the leading tech guy seated in front of 8 different screens, working tirelessly at his keyboard as visuals not dissimilar to scenes from The Matrix fly across his monitor, cyber security, unfortunately, does not look quite the same. Simply put, cyber security exists to combat cyber threats or attacks, malicious invasions made on data by people who seek to steal, sell or expose private information. Cyber attackers seek to manipulate personal data for their gain, often making attacks on a business or individuals data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. These attacks are all too common, with a report by RiskBased Security revealing that approximately 7.9 billion records of data breaches were made in the first nine months of 2019, more than double the number of records reported in the same period for 2018. It stands to reason that as technology continues to develop, these numbers too will skyrocket upwards.

Luckily, cyber security has also seen a matching influx of attention, with a predicted revenue of $6 billion returned by the Australian cybersecurity industry by the year 2026. With these figures comes a potential for rising employment opportunities, benefiting those interested in a future career in cyber security. Working in cyber security can see you undertaking many responsibilities such as:

  • Network Security: Network security can be achieved through measures such as two-factor authentication and stronger password generation. These measures are used to prevent attacks such as advanced persistent threats, where unauthorised users may secretly steal data by infiltrating an unprotected network.
  • Application Security: Security is bolstered by using software such as antivirus programs, firewalls and encryption software. These applications require frequent updates and testing to ensure optimal performance. This software can protect against malware, ransomware and adware; malicious software designed explicitly for stealing information and internally corrupting a computer.
  • Cloud Security: The use of monitoring and protective software to protect any data located within cloud-based storage.
  • Data Loss Prevention: The development and enforcement of policies and processes designed for stringent prevention of data loss. Data loss prevention can also involve disaster recovery measures, where a cyber security specialist will ensure that the data is not entirely lost in the event of a cyber attack.
  • End-user Education: The provision of education resources and sessions to the overall employee base to ensure that they can identify and respond to basic security threats such as phishing, which involves psychological manipulation to trick employees into divulging sensitive information.

Without a cyber security specialist, businesses risk endangering themselves and their clients to data theft and a loss of trust and subsequent revenue. If clients can’t trust your company to keep them safe, they’ll seek safer alternative products. Despite the high demand, a report made by Chief Security Officers Online (CSO Online) in 2018 found that the Australian employment market is struggling to fill positions, with only 7% of the required cyber security professionals available, driving up average salaries to $117,000 per annum. With opportunities aplenty, cyber security is a lucrative industry!

What is Web Development?

On the opposite end of information technology, we have web development. Where cyber security delves into the very depths of a business, web development focuses on the company’s face. The web developers provide the know-how for flashy and functional websites. However, don’t be discouraged if you enjoy the nitty-gritty details. While all levels of web development have a measure of complexity, the truly tech-oriented back-end web development can provide an exciting challenge. What is back-end web development? Well, there are three types of web development:

  • Front-end web development: Front-end web developers handle the appearance of a website, essentially the front end. For example, when you look at your television, it’s just one big beautiful screen. Front-end development is the same for websites, where they focus on what appears on your screen and make it look gorgeous on multiple devices. This type of web development can involve understanding programming languages such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
  • Back-end web development: Conversely, back-end web developers are responsible for the “back” of the website. Jumping back to our television analogy, where front-end development is the screen, back-end is the cords, ports and electrical stuff hidden away on the back of your television. Back-end web developers focus on the nuts and bolts of the website, making sure everything works as it’s supposed to. Back-end web developers ensure that things like logins and transactions correctly occur and use programming languages such as Java, PHP and MySQL.
  • Full-stack development: Full-stack developers can build the whole TV! Full-stack developers understand back-end and front-end web development, though they generally specialise in one side of things. This means that they can better understand the processes required for both ends of development and ensure that the overall project runs smoother.

With these three distinctive pathways only scratching the surface of the web development field, budding web developers can be sure to find something suited to their interests. The employment outlooks are good, too, with JobOutlook predicting an increase of 10,000 web development jobs between 2018 and 2023.

Website development layout sketch drawing

IT Skills

Being a primarily technical field, the main decider for employment within IT can be your hard or technical skills. However, there is a significant issue within the industry of applicants vastly underestimating the importance of their soft skills. Whilst being good with computers is key to being successful in an IT role, being good with people is the key to being a great employee. Amongst communication skills, there are many desirable skills for those who are considering a career in information technology, including:

  • Teamwork: Whilst some IT roles may be more reclusive than others, many of them can involve working with a team of IT specialists. This means collaboration is crucial. Additionally, collaborating with your coworkers to find helpful solutions and effectively applying end-user education is essential even in more isolated environments.
  • Organisation: IT specialists may be in charge of many crucial processes involving software maintenance and updates. Having a firm grasp on appropriate time management, data structure and software co-dependencies is vital to ensuring everything runs smoothly.
  • Analytical: Having an eye for detail and an enthusiastic approach to problem-solving is vital in a work environment where problems are your bread and butter.
  • Creativity: Applying multiple solutions and flexibly approaching the task at hand with a creative mindset. Creativity can also be especially beneficial in front-end web development roles, where aesthetics are essential.
  • Perseverance: IT can be a complex and mentally tasking job, so being able to pick yourself up and continue to push forward against complex issues is incredibly beneficial.
  • Empathy: Expressing understanding and empathy towards coworkers experiencing frustrating or confusing situations is essential and dramatically increases the value of your advice and communication.

By displaying some of these soft skills, job seekers within the IT field establish themselves as approachable and personable employees. These values are highly desirable when working as a port of call for all technical issues, increasing the chance of employees actively seeking assistance and cooperating with their IT specialists.

Information Technology Course

At TAFE Gippsland, we offer one foremost course opportunity preparing students for a career in Information Technology. Through our Certificate III in Information Technology, you can acquire the skills and knowledge for future employment in IT Technician, Help Desk Officer, and User Support Specialist roles. This course is delivered online (with on-campus components) at our Yallourn location, with limited Free TAFE opportunities available.

Throughout this course, you’ll gain knowledge in all aspects of information technology with learning objectives in computers, software application and software support. Additionally, units such as “Apply introductory programming techniques” can provide you with an entry into web development, whilst “Securely manage personally identifiable information and workplace information” allows students to experience cybersecurity fundamentals. To be eligible for entry into this course, you’ll simply need to complete a digital literacy check, confirming you have basic computer skills and provide evidence of a COVID-19 double dose or approved medical exemption.

Upon completing this course, you’ll not only receive a Certificate III in Information Technology, but you’ll also gain the core knowledge for further study external to TAFE Gippsland in qualifications such as a Certificate IV or Diploma of Information Technology. Additionally, the Certificate III can open many career pathways!

Jobs in Information Technology

Gaining a qualification is guaranteed to bolster your resume and prepare you with the skills and knowledge to enter the workforce confidently. There are various career pathways that you may choose to pursue following the completion of TAFE, including but not limited to:

  • IT Technician: Work as an IT Technician in any number of industries with this flexible job requiring skills in troubleshooting, diagnostics, repairs and software optimisation. According to Seek.com, IT Technicians earn on average $60,000 per year in Australia and have a projected 27.8% job growth in the next five years. Additionally, IT Technicians within Victoria can expect potential salaries of between $60,000 and $80,000 per annum.
  • Help Desk Officer: Similarly versatile when it comes to industry, Help Desk Officers support their coworkers and customers through live troubleshooting via phone, chat or email. In sectors where there may be a large influx of help requests, this role can also see you managing and maintaining your own ticketing system and keeping track of requests and queries. Help Desk Officers earn an average of $70,000 per year in Australia, according to Seek.com. Within Victoria, this position can see average salaries of $50,000 to $70,000 per year.
  • User Support Specialist: With similar responsibilities to Help Desk Officers, User Support Specialists may also perform daily performance monitoring, software and hardware evaluations, equipment installation and training material development. User Support Specialists earn an average salary of $55,000 per year in Australia or an even greater $82,499 per year in Victoria, according to Seek.com.

These roles and many others wait for a qualified and passionate candidate! Working within the information technology sector can be a fun and rewarding position for those up to the challenge. Whether your interests are web development, cyber security or any number of areas within information technology, completing a Certificate III at TAFE Gippsland can provide you with the opportunity to experience the broad nature of this growing industry. All that’s required is to bring your passion and a willingness to learn and work with others. If you’re interested in beginning your future in information technology, get in touch with us at TAFE Gippsland and let us start our future with you.