AusPost launches Tech Academy

Australia Post has opened up the application process for its Tech Academy program announced today, an initiative to welcome a diverse range of talent into its IT ranks.

The two-year program will kick off with its first cohort of students in February next year, starting with a 12-week boot camp run by Coder Academy to bring the new recruits up to speed.

For the 20 successful applicants, it will mean ongoing rotations through the AusPost’s business technology and digital spaces at the company’s Melbourne headquarters.

Recruits will also be schooled in contemporary technologies such as blockchain, internet of things and machine learning. Information technology bedrock subjects like programming, networking and cybersecurity will also be included.

The government owned logistics and digital services enterprise says the academy is designed to remove barriers for newcomers to the tech industry, including graduates, parents returning to the workforce and people without prior background in information technology.

The diversity push comes as AusPost, along with other major Australian corporations like AMP, struggle to find people with existing tech skills because of a widespread skills shortage that has pushed up the price of tech talent.

Australia Post’s chief information officer John Cox said the program aims to embrace the attitude of overseas organisations who have successfully launched their own in-house academies.

"Companies abroad have received high acclaim for their ability to deliver a workforce in line with future organisational needs and diversity, and we want to bring that to Australia Post,” Cox said.

"We are hoping this program will set the standard across the country, and will attract people who want to learn and have a strong sense of community, to help us improve the way we deliver our products and services for our customers."

Cox added that the academy is also a way for the company to address the local IT skill shortfall, which he said has only become more challenging as the demand for digital services and innovation continues to mount.

"We're proud the Australia Post Tech Academy is the first of its kind in the country.”

Applications for the program close on 2nd September.