Future Skills Organisation Case Study: Network of opportunity: How VET connected Joe to a tech career
For as long as he can remember, Joe Kellie has been into technology. So, when it came to choosing a career, he knew he wanted to be in tech, but didn’t know which path to take to get there.
“I worked closely with my careers advisor to figure out what pathways were available to me and which one to pick,” said Joe.
“There were a lot of options available. I chose vocational education and training (VET) to provide me with real hands-on practical experience and the chance to improve my soft skills.”
Joe commenced his studies in technology with a Certificate II in Information, Digital Media and Technology and Certificate III in Information Technology (IT). Upon completion, he moved on to a Certificate IV in IT from Charles Darwin University.
Job hunting
As part of his Certificate IV, Joe started his role as a trainee Network Engineer with NEC Australia.
The company is a significant long-term provider of IT services for the Northern Territory Government, ensuring the efficient running of IT for organisations such as police, fire, schools and hospitals.
“My role is to monitor the entire status and performance of the network that supports these kinds of critical services,” he said.
“It’s about effectively monitoring for any issues and making sure that users on the network always maintain their connections, both wired and wireless.
“We are all about customer service and what I look forward to most is designing new solutions for our customers, resolving IT incidents and making sure we make a positive impact for our customers.”
Unique skills
Joe has quickly become a highly regarded member of the team and has brought unique programming skills to his role.
He automated processes which could take hours down to just a few minutes, sparing resources and time and speeding up the reporting of networking devices across the Northern Territory.
Last year, Joe was named the Northern Territory Trainee of the Year and was a finalist for Trainee of the Year at the Australian Training Awards. He has since signed up to become a VET ambassador through the Australian VET Alumni.
“The tech industry is wide and expansive but to be able to succeed and foster your growth you will need to be able to communicate with your colleagues and also be a critical thinker who can use problem solving skills for any obstacles that come your way,” said Joe.
“In addition, you have to be someone who has the drive to never stop learning,” he added, citing the way engineers are learning how to use AI-enabled monitoring technology, which he says can bring many benefits to network operations.
Kickstarting a career
For those wondering about the best pathway into a tech career, what is Joe’s advice?
“If you have a passion for technology, a willingness to learn and want to get real hands-on experience then I would absolutely recommend the VET pathway.
“Mine allowed me to gain many relevant technical skills, helped kickstart my career by getting into NEC, a company with a history full of investment in local talent and technology, and also to develop critical thinking and leadership skills.”
Learn more about studying IT at Your Career here.