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The CEO: Take a more active role in your Society

Dennis Furini, Information Age

10/08/2002 17:13:27

Welcome to the latest issue of Information Age. I'm sure you'll agree with me that this edition, with its extensive coverage of issues relating to ICT jobs and careers in Australia, is our best yet.

There's an in-depth look at the employment market with insights from some of the industry's leading recruitment agencies and advice about how to maximise your chances of beating out the competition.

We also feature the 2002 ACS Remuneration Survey, with detailed statistics about the current state of salaries in the ICT jobs market. While normally costing $275 to buy, ACS Members can purchase the survey report for just $55. Members can pay online or download a faxable form to order their copy at www.apesma.asn.au/surveys/acs.htm.

Members have made significant contributions to this issue, on career management and the vexed question of workplace surveillance. Other topics include the legalities of outsourcing and a different of agile programming.

It's been a busy period for the ACS. In late June we launched a new research report that reviewed all the major ICT-related policy recommendations made in recent years and highlighted a range of initiatives the ACS believes are necessary to stimulate growth in Australia's ICT industry.

Commissioned by the ACS and written by Professor John Houghton of the Centre for Strategic Economic Studies, the report, ""ICT Development in Australia - A Strategic Policy Review" was commissioned to provide the impetus for industry stakeholders to comment on where the industry is heading and what measures are most likely to assist.

We staged launches for industry stakeholders and media in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, and have provided copies of the report to relevant Ministers and their advisers in State and Federal Government, as well as to the ICT Framework for the Future and Broadband Advisory Committees.

The Society has received lots of positive feedback from industry players and analysts who see it as a useful contribution to the ICT Policy debate.

The report is available on the ACS Web site and members are invited to take part in an online discussion forum on this topic. We value your feedback and plan to incorporate members' views with other industry feedback, which will then be provided to those in Government who are in a position to influence key outcomes.

In mid July I attended a very successful ACS Career Change Symposium put together by the NSW Branch, which attracted 360 people (compared to original expectations 100) with another 60 on a waiting list for a return event.

Those in attendance were a mix of both young and old, with most being currently employed in full-time or contract work, although a small percentage were unemployed.

If you missed this one and would like to attend the return event, contact the NSW Branch. We're also encouraging other State and Territory Branches to stage similar events, so if you're keen to attend a Career Change Symposium outside NSW, please contact your local branch office to register your interest.

Copies of the presentations made at the NSW event are available on the ACS Web site, so please check these out for information that will undoubtedly be helpful to all our Members in these uncertain times.

A warm welcome to our new Branch Managers, Tom Rose in Victoria and Simone Heaperman in Western Australia. If you're in the vicinity, please take the time to drop in and introduce yourself as they are both keen to get to know as many members as possible.

Over the next couple of months, we are refurbishing the ACS National Office premises to accommodate continued growth in numbers and enable staff to operate more efficiently. Things will be in turmoil as the renovations occur, so if you call National Office and find someone who is a little stressed on the other end of the phone, please be as understanding as you can.

Also coming up are our elections for national and branch office bearers. If you've ever considered taking a more active role in the running of the Society, now is the time to do something about it.

I'd be very happy to talk to anyone who'd like to know more about what's involved in being part of a Branch Executive Committee or even running for a role on our National Council. You can reach me in the ACS National Office on (02) 9299 3666.

Dennis Furini