Human Services to hire 150 tech grads

The Department of Human Services (DHS) – the government agency responsible for the rollout of the $1 billion welfare payment system – is recruiting 150 graduates with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) qualifications.

DHS, which is one of the largest IT shops in the southern hemisphere, is touting career pathways in design, business analysis, ICT architecture, system engineering, development, testing and data analysis.

CIO Gary Sterrenberg, said ICT is no longer just a computer science discipline and a broad range of skills and talents are required in this modern environment.

“The public sector is not always front of mind for graduates considering their future careers, but it should be. The scale and innovative use of technology at the department makes us a truly unique employer in the industry,” he said.

“Our staff also work with other agencies and national and international companies on things that have never been done before and I would strongly encourage STEM graduates in Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra to consider applying,” he said.

Sterrenberg highlighted that DHS’ in-house technology workforce plays a crucial part in delivering more than $100 million in welfare payments to 7.3 million Australians each year.

The government last month went to market for a core software vendor and system integrators to help design Centrelink’s new core IT system.

The new system is expected to help crack down on welfare cheats with the early identification of fraud, while maximising the benefits of e-government and cutting the cost of delivering services to taxpayers.

Griffith University graduate, Ben Hall, joined DHS at start of the year as a customer relationship management analyst. He said the scale of IT and exposure to diverse technology – combined with everyone working towards the same goal of helping people, made the DHS an exciting place to work.

“The opportunities to learn new skills sets are also fantastic and the training I’ve received to use international software platforms will benefit me throughout my career,” he said.

Applications close on October 23 and graduates can go the DHS website for more information.

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Follow Byron Connolly on Twitter:@ByronConnolly