Tech skills centre up and running

A NEW new digital and technology skills centre at La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus is now a reality.

The Deloitte Australia Digital Operations Centre was announced last year as a partnership between the firm and the university. It was launched at a morning tea last week, which also served as a welcome to four new staff members.

Among them were the centre’s director, Ben Devanny, and operations consultant Maddison Roberts, both of Bendigo.

The centre will benefit both the company and the university by providing work-based learning of digital and technology skills for Deloitte employees and La Trobe students.

It is designed to be the digital backbone of service delivery to Deloitte’s national client base while offering hands-on learning opportunities for students and workers moving into technology-based roles.

Local employment opportunities for graduating students and workers in the region are also expected to be a positive spinoff. The centre is hoped to ultimately create 200 jobs.

La Trobe University vice-chancellor, Professor John Dewar, said the partnership with Deloitte was an example of the university’s focus on producing highly-skilled, job-ready graduates. “The need for digital innovation has never been greater and the opening of the new Digital Operations Centre in partnership with Deloitte reflects La Trobe’s commitment to producing highly-employable graduates, who can immediately address critical digital and technology workforce shortages,” Professor Dewar said.

Raised in Bendigo, Ms Roberts moved to Melbourne to pursue her career at Deloitte in 2019 before coming back home in 2023 and commuting twice a week.

She will serve as the link between the centre and Deloitte headquarters and will be responsible for setting-up processes, onboarding, co-ordination and sourcing vendors.

“I didn’t really think that I would end up going back to Bendigo, but I did,” she said.

“I’ve done the Melbourne thing now and, while I enjoyed my time being based in the city, I think that chapter of my life is over.

“I found myself often going back to Bendigo on the weekends because a lot of my friends and family are here and there’s always a lot to do around the region.”

Deloitte Australia chief executive Adam Powick said the company was “excited and proud” to be investing in regional Victoria.

“We look forward to hiring great talent and working closely with La Trobe University to provide practical experience for local students,” he said.