ACS (Australian Computer Society)

ACS is proud to partner with the Indigenous Australian Datathon in Cairns from 30 October - 1 November. The Indigenous Australian Datathon brings together Traditional Owners and Indigenous communities, technologists, data professionals, entrepreneurs and students to develop community-centred AI and big data solutions to real-world challenges. Working with Traditional Owners’ knowledge and practices, participants will explore how technology and data can help create new opportunities and positive outcomes for Indigenous communities. The event is open to people from a wide range of backgrounds and experience levels - you don’t need to be a data scientist to take part. Bring your curiosity, your ideas and a willingness to learn. 👉Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gaycw4eM #IAD2026 #DataforGood #TechforGood #AI

What an evening! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent AI Era Tech Career Speed Networking. 70% of tech workers' time now involves AI, according to the latest ACS Digital Pulse report. So where does that leave your career path? That was the question we set out to explore last night, and the room delivered. On behalf of the ACS QLD Emerging Professionals Committee and the ACS QLD Branch, thank you to everyone who came along and brought genuine, engaging conversations to every table. A huge thank you to our facilitators, who so generously gave up their time to share real, practical career insights: Charlotte Ross and Jia Ji Chen (Microsoft), Dev Choudhary, Ann Stevens, Rachael Jones, Jasmine Hong, Joshua Ho , YenChen Liu, Chris Cooper, Josh Horswill, Jiawen Huang, George O'Connor, Gabriela Guiu-Sorsa and Young Yang. Congratulations to all our EPC members for hosting such a valuable night and a big thank you to our event volunteers who helped everything run smoothly behind the scenes. Events like this are what community is all about.🙌 📸: Jessica Sangmorakot #ACS #TechCareers #AIEra #EmergingProfessionals #Networking Chris C.

Technology doesn’t stand still. Your systems can’t afford to either. As new capabilities, opportunities and threats emerge, we need systems that can evolve without compromising safety, security or reliability. That’s the focus of the upcoming Australian System Safety Conference (ASSC), organised by the Australian Safety Critical Systems Association (aSCSa), a Special Interest Group of ACS. Under the theme “System Safety in an Era of Continuously Evolving Capabilities”, the conference will explore how organisations can develop, maintain, and assure critical computer systems as they evolve over time. Discussions will span systems engineering, human factors, automation, cybersecurity and assurance standards. Keynotes from Professor Jill Slay, SmartSat Chair of Cybersecurity, and Dr Kelvin Ross, Chairman at KJR and Director at IntelliHQ, will examine how emerging technologies are shaping the systems we rely on every day. The program will also feature industry and research papers showcasing approaches to developing and assuring critical computer systems, supported by real-world case studies. For technology professionals working with systems where safety, security, and reliability matter, ASSC offers an opportunity to explore how others are navigating continuously evolving capabilities and what this means for the future of system safety. Secure your seat today: https://lnkd.in/g-8x3yEc #SystemSafety #Technology #Cybersecurity #SystemsEngineering #Automation #ACS #SpecialInterestGroup #aSCSa

CyberPath, led by ACS with AISA and Aus3C, has released its draft Capability Framework Discussion Paper for public consultation. CyberPath Technical Lead Jakub Z joins Chris Cubbage CPP, CISA, GAICD from MySecurity Media to discuss how the Capability Framework can bring greater clarity and consistency to cyber roles, skills and career pathways. They explore the shift beyond qualifications and certifications towards demonstrated, real-world capability, and why that matters even more as AI reshapes cyber threats and the way security teams work.   What do you think real capability should look like in the Australia’s cyber workforce?

On the OpenAI hacked Medicare portal incident, Australian Computer Society CEO Dr Prins Ralston FACS HLM said: “This incident is a reminder that digital sovereignty is not only about where our data is stored or which technology we use. It is also about whether Australia has the capability to protect the systems and information our country depends on.   “Healthcare, government, defence, energy, financial services and other critical infrastructure increasingly rely on technology professionals making decisions that can have national consequences. We need to know that the people entrusted with those systems can actually perform the work required of them.   “Qualifications, certifications and job titles all have a role, but capability needs to be demonstrated. That means assessing people against the skills their roles require, identifying gaps and providing the training and development needed to close them.   “As AI increases both the sophistication and speed of cyber threats, building and maintaining a highly capable technology workforce must be treated as a matter of national interest.   “Digital sovereignty ultimately depends on people as much as technology. Australia needs the skills, capability and professional standards to secure its own systems, protect its data and respond when something goes wrong because public confidence depends on it. As Australia’s professional association for the technology sector, ACS stands ready to work with government and industry to strengthen the skills, professional standards, and assurance frameworks needed to protect the systems Australians rely on every day.”   News report on the AI hack: https://lnkd.in/gGSJzcTH

🚀 Curious where a career in AI could take you as the industry continues to grow? Breaking into the tech industry can feel overwhelming. What skills do employers look for? What roles are actually available? And how do you turn your interests into your first opportunity? Join us for How to Get a Job in AI, the first webinar in our popular How to Get a Job career pathways series. Hear directly from experienced professionals as they share insights into: 🤖 The different career opportunities available in AI 💡 The skills, qualifications and experience employers value 🎓 How they started their own careers and progressed into their current roles 🚀 Practical tips for getting your foot in the door and standing out to employers 🔮 Where the industry is heading and what future opportunities could look like You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions and get honest, practical advice from professionals who have navigated their own career journeys. Whether you're an ICT student, recent graduate, career changer or emerging professional, this practical webinar will help you take the next step towards your tech career. How to Get a Job in AI: your path into the industry 📅 Wednesday, 14 October 2026 5:30pm AEST Register to attend online https://lnkd.in/gcaDyQHB Register now and start exploring where a career in AI could take you. #TechCareers #ICTStudents #EmergingProfessionals #CareersInTech #AI #FutureOfWork #ACSEvents #ACS

"I don't have enough experience for a tech career." 💡If you've ever thought this, this webinar is for you. The reality is that valuable experience comes in many forms, not just paid tech roles. Join Alannah Grech AACS, Student and Graduate Success Manager, with guest speakers Hayley Crichton, Early Careers & Development Partner, Hydro Tasmania and Claudia McPherson, Committee Member, ACS Queensland Emerging Professionals Committee as we unpack how you can leverage your projects, volunteering, leadership activities, university involvement, hackathons, and part-time work to stand out in a competitive job market. We'll share practical tips on: 🔹 Building a stronger resume 🔹 Enhancing your LinkedIn profile 🔹 Showcasing transferable skills 🔹 Communicating your impact with confidence 🔹 Positioning non-technical work experience for tech opportunities Whether you're just starting your career journey or preparing for internship and graduate applications, you'll leave with actionable strategies to help you take the next step. 📅 Tuesday 29 September ⏰ 5:30pm - 7pm AEST 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/g2uBSvCB #TechIndustry #CareerTips #TechStudents #GraduateJobs #TechResume

The release of the Government’s Intergenerational Report today highlights a critical inflection point for Australia’s economy. AI and technological change will drive our future productivity, but realising that potential depends on how effectively we support our workforce and business ecosystem. The report reinforces several key realities that line up directly with ACS’s 2026 Digital Pulse Report. Our report revealed that Australia’s technology workforce contracted by 0.3% - the first decline in the history of the report. AI adoption and automation are rapidly reshaping job roles across every sector of our economy. At a time when AI adoption and automation are rapidly reshaping job roles across every sector, this contraction underscores the urgency of structured labour market planning, accredited skills frameworks, and flexible training pathways to help workers transition into emerging AI-driven positions. At the same time, while Australia is rapidly positioning itself as a leading global destination for data centre investment, our small and medium-sized enterprises still face substantial resource limitations and implementation hurdles. Unlocking true national productivity growth requires providing SMEs with the specific practical tools, guidance, and financial incentives necessary to adopt and scale AI technologies effectively. Finally, lifting the economy's overall productive capacity relies heavily on maintaining high levels of labour market flexibility and workforce mobility. Achieving this mobility requires robust, industry-recognised professional standards that give employers confidence and enable technology skills to transfer seamlessly across different sectors. To turn the Intergenerational Report’s outlook into real economic dividends, ACS continues to advocate for key policy levers, including: - Targeted tax deductions for SMEs to lower the barrier to AI investment and implementation. - National skills accreditation and professionalisation to ensure high-quality standards and safe, effective technology deployment. - Alternative pathways into tech to expand the talent pipeline and build a diverse, resilient digital workforce. Australia is well-positioned to lead in the AI era, but technology alone won't lift productivity. Our people and skills will. Read the Intergenerational Report here https://lnkd.in/gHnpF_sP

For an SME, a technology decision is rarely just a technology decision. Choosing a new platform, relying on a key supplier, investing in AI, managing data or responding to a cyber risk can have a direct impact on the way a business operates, grows and stays resilient. With SMEs making up 99% of Australian businesses, these decisions matter not just to individual businesses, but to the strength of Australia’s broader economy. Yet many SMEs are navigating increasingly complex technology decisions without the same governance resources or specialist support available to larger organisations. Join our next ACS NSW Tech Connect event, bringing together industry, technology and government perspectives to unpack the practical realities of IT governance for SMEs, and explore how businesses can make more confident decisions about technology investment. 📅 Thursday 1 October, 6:00PM AEST 📍 ACS NSW Barangaroo 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gmfRhswe The conversation will also introduce the ACS IT Governance Scorecard, designed to help SMEs understand where they stand, identify priority areas and focus on the technology decisions that can deliver the greatest business value. #SME #ITGovernance #DigitalTransformation #CyberSecurity #TechnologyLeadership #DigitalResilience

Share your experiences as an Australian educator in ACS Digital Technologies Education Survey 2026. This research builds on an initiative first championed by ACS ICT Educators Committee (ICTEC), whose members identified the need for stronger national evidence on computing and digital technologies education in Australian schools. The survey includes questions about: 🔹 delivery of computing and digital technologies education 🔹 teacher confidence, capability and professional learning needs 🔹 resources and infrastructure 🔹 the impact of emerging technologies, including AI 🔹 challenges and opportunities affecting digital education Now, its your chance to contribute. If you're an educator involved in teaching, leading or supporting computing and digital technologies education in Australian schools, your perspective is needed. Complete the survey now: https://lnkd.in/gSxzsBUn The survey takes 10–15 minutes and is open from 3 August to 27 September 2026.