Building and diversifying technology talent for the future

The University of Melbourne and Telstra are partnering to cultivate a highly skilled, diverse pool of graduate technology talent.

Over 1,300 students and professionals have collaborated through the partnership since it launched in 2020 to build the capacity of future talent and equip graduates with the skills to solve complex challenges with technical expertise and an innovative mindset.

Core outcomes of the partnership include:

• Telstra Creator Space: a physical, co-branded maker space for students, start-ups and industry to innovate, collaborate, and gain practical experience, with access to a fabrication and prototyping facility
• Student Talent Activation: a suite of student-centred programs, such as support for student clubs, sponsorship of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology’s Endeavour Awards for students
• Technology Projects: innovation projects solving real-world problems worked on by senior year masters or PhD students, with guidance from Telstra SMEs and University academic supervisors. A minimum of five are supported annually, with roughly 20 projects being delivered each year and this continues to grow
• Telstra Technology and Innovation Scholarships: a range of scholarships for masters and undergraduates, prioritising women and Indigenous students to build diversity into the STEM talent pipeline. To date, all scholarship recipients have been women, making an important contribution to gender diversity.

The partnership team has also delivered several growth opportunities, including the development of the Intrapreneurship Fundamentals microcredential, and FutureReady program – which provides Telstra employees who achieve FutureReady credentials with credit towards Masters programs.

Head of Telstra Labs, Andrew Scott, says, “It’s a very pragmatic partnership aimed at building the kind of talent we need. For example, in the Telstra Creator Space they're building physical objects and getting their hands dirty, which are such important skills. It also appeals to a more diverse set of people, so it expands the pool of people coming through too.”

The partnership is already delivering significant benefits – positioning Telstra as an employee of choice and providing opportunities for the Telstra Early Careers Team to engage with and recruit future talent.

For students, feedback is equally positive. Master of Engineering (Mechatronics) student Dion Kouskouris, who worked on a Telstra Student Project in 2021, and was part of the Telstra Graduate Program, says the experience enhanced both her technical and professional skills and helped reaffirm her career choice.

“Not only can [Telstra Student Projects] help you apply the knowledge you have learnt in your degree, but you will also be able to gain exposure to industry best practices, all while strengthening your soft skills such as communication, critical thinking and time management. [The Telstra Graduate Program] has a lot of pathway options but it means I can combine the skills I learned in my studies and my experiences working on a Telstra Student Project to build my dream career.”

Scholarships and new study pathways via FutureReady are expanding and diversifying the University’s student cohort, while co-designed curriculum is supporting learners to develop emerging technological skills and knowledge.

This genuinely diverse cohort will graduate with globally recognised technological capabilities, ready to tackle some of our biggest challenges including climate change, cybersecurity, AI and big data, in addition to physical and mental health.

Head of Leadership and Capability at Telstra, Helen Anderson, says, “Telstra's challenges are the sector’s challenges. So, ensuring future capabilities like innovation, adaptability and collaboration increase in our technical roles, has a flow on effect for capability across the community. The partnership we have with the University of Melbourne to provide credit towards qualifications for FutureReady credentials is highly valued by our employees.”