Working closely with the Indigenous Defense and Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC) and JY Australia, Datacom has been supporting the development of Indigenous tech talent with its pilot traineeship programme.
The Datacom networking traineeship programme, which was established in 2022, has to date welcomed five participants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent and provided an opportunity for them to gain paid part-time work experience in networking while undertaking their ICT studies at TAFE over the course of two years.
The programme and roles were tailored to the individual experience of each candidate, with trainees also receiving a $5000 study grant from Datacom and longer-term opportunities to move into permanent roles when they finish their studies.
At the same time, they have been participating in the Indigenous Development and Employment Programme (IDEP) offered by JY Australia through iDiC, a three-year long development programme which sees participants receive mentorship from indigenous leaders, follow growth plans, and attend quarterly conferences to connect with peers and further their learning.
Proud Wiradjuri men Drew Grant and Todd Rose are two of the five trainees Datacom welcomed in 2022, who have since completed their Datacom traineeships in the networking team and progressed into permanent full-time roles in the business.
Now an Associate Network Engineer with Datacom, Drew says he was excited to come across the advertisement for the traineeship on LinkedIn. He had previously worked in customer service and human resources, the skills from which he says have been valuable in collaboration as he has honed his skills in networking and continues to work towards stepping into a managerial role.
Drew says his traineeship has been invaluable and rewarding on many levels. “Attending IDEP workshops and collaborating with colleagues from the IDIC has allowed me to connect with fellow Indigenous professionals from both the public and private sectors,” he says.
“The team truly makes the job enjoyable. Collaborating with passionate colleagues is a highlight for me. I also value how Datacom genuinely cares about its employees, providing mentorship, guidance, and robust support, prioritising the well-being of their staff.”
Drew’s advice to people considering a career in tech is to take the leap. “The tech industry is constantly evolving, offering a plethora of opportunities. If you have any interest in technology, seize the moment and pursue it,” he says.
Since completing his traineeship, Todd Rose has moved into the role of End User Support Customer Lead, managing a team of five field engineers working for a large transport customer.
While networking is a contrast to his background of pastry cheffing and aged care support, Todd says these experiences built his skills in troubleshooting and working under pressure, which have proven valuable in his success.
“At Datacom, everyone works as a team, hierarchy doesn’t limit you in making the most of your skills and continuing to grow them. Building relationships with so many great people across the business who shared their knowledge and advice helped me fulfil my potential and has been a huge highlight of my traineeship – I’m looking forward to more of it,” says Todd.
As they settle into their new permanent roles, both Todd and Drew are continuing the final year of the JY IDEP programme. Drew says completing his traineeship at the same time as the IDEP programme has been a great experience, with each complimenting the other.
“I’m a strong believer in programmes like these that increase inclusion and representation of marginalised groups,” says Drew. “Everyone has different ways of solving problems as a result of their unique backgrounds – supporting more diverse voices into tech careers will help the industry look at challenges and address them from new perspectives for better outcomes.”
Splitting his time between his roles as Strategic Account Manager at iDiC and Engagement Manager at Datacom, Glenn Smith is a proponent of the relationship between the businesses and a significant driving force behind the change they are creating together.
“Engaging with partners like iDiC and making a concerted effort to support indigenous tech talent through pathways such as the traineeship is making a big impact in moving forward Datacom’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan progress,” says Glenn.
“Our focus at Datacom is promoting fair and equitable access to technology opportunities including employment, business partnerships and digital access to essential services – we’re excited about the progress we’ve made and our vision for the future,” he says. “Similarly, for iDiC, engaging with partners like Datacom is crucial in enabling us to distribute empowering social and economic benefits to Indigenous communities, creating self-determination and independence.”
Denny Rowlands, Network Solutions Manager at Datacom, is another champion of the networking traineeships, having initiated the programme after recognising the opportunity to support the new generation of talent and embrace new ideas in working on challenging projects.
He says that while there was a lot of learning involved, the pilot was a resounding success overall, which has led Datacom to plan for 10 more trainees to join the business starting in 2025, working on projects for two of its largest customers.
“Seeing the growth of our trainees over the past two years has been incredibly rewarding. The volume of knowledge and skills they have developed, both technical and humanistic, has been astounding and I could not be prouder,” says Denny.
“Their progress goes to show the impact programmes like our traineeship and IDEP have and the value of taking a holistic, personalised approach to talent pathways. I’m looking forward to continuing to watch our past trainees do big things in their careers and welcoming the next cohort of change-makers.”
