The Youth Hub will be represented nationally by eight members under the age of 25, all employed in IT professions -- who will act as the conduit between the work of the IT Skills Hub, its board of 18 leading IT&T companies and the youth market.
"Through the Youth Hub model we will engage young people at a time when they are assessing their career options and actively show them the opportunities that a career in IT can deliver," Brian Donovan, CEO, IT Skills Hub, said.
-Consistent numbers of young people need to be continually working their way through universities, the VET sector and through private training providers to ensure we have an IT skilled workforce to meet the demand that industry has identified...This cannot be effectively achieved by a group of middle aged, grey haired people in suits. It can be achieved through Youth Hub."
Young IT entrepreneur and founder of Amicus www.amicus.com.au Alex Hartman, will chair the Youth Hub, which is due to launch in mid August.
"IT skills will become as important to the Australian labour force and economy as basic literacy and numeracy. We need to begin to engage the next generation and encourage the uptake of these important skills to ensure our future workforce is part of the information revolution," Hartman said.
"I believe that part of the method in which this can be made successful lies in the open conversations between the next generation of IT professionals and those currently representing industry. Youth Hub is the commencement to ensuring those conversations take place."
Based on survey results undertaken by the IT Skills Hub, which evaluated market demand over the next two years, demand for IT skills is growing at a rate of approximately 8 percent by the year 2002.
Nominations of candidates for the IT Skills Hub, Youth Hub can be made at until August 10, 2001.
