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Mission Ready
Australia’s digital economy is shifting fast. Skills are evolving, industries are transforming, and the pathways into meaningful work are widening. At the centre of that change sits a bold commitment: the NSW Government’s 20% Alternative Pathways Pledge, part of the NSW Digital Compact.
Mission Ready is proud to stand alongside NSW in reshaping how people enter the digital workforce — and to accelerate this effort, we are launching $100,000 in scholarships for Australians ready to move into high‑growth tech roles.
This moment is bigger than an announcement. It signals a future where capability, curiosity, and determination open doors that traditional routes often leave shut.
Australia’s digital workforce is expanding at a remarkable pace. The national tech workforce is projected to grow to over 1.2 million workers by 2030, and according to a 2025 industry outlook, the IT sector has a +27% net employment outlook, outpacing healthcare, banking, and education.
Yet demand is rising faster than supply. One report forecasts a shortfall of over 370,000 digital‑expert and digitally‑enabled workers by 2026 unless training and reskilling accelerate.
The demand for digital capability in Australia continues to grow, but the old assumptions about who can work in tech no longer serve the country’s needs. Organisations need people who think across disciplines, who solve problems from experience, and who bring perspectives shaped outside the usual pipelines.
Alternative pathways create space for exactly that — people shifting careers, returning to the workforce, discovering tech later in life, or stepping forward from communities that have long been excluded.
The pledge recognises that Australia’s digital future depends on a workforce that reflects its diversity and its ambition. This is the environment Mission Ready was designed for.
Our programmes combine applied learning, mentored work experience, and AI‑powered career guidance to build job‑ready capability at pace. They help learners become confident in:
This isn’t theoretical learning. It’s practical, industry‑aligned development shaped by actual workplace challenges.
With demand increasing across Australia — particularly in NSW — we’re expanding our support so more learners can step into meaningful roles with momentum.
To support candidates who are ready to accelerate their shift into tech, we are launching a national scholarship fund for our Australian programmes.
The fund will:
- Reduce financial barriers for career shifters
- Support learners from underrepresented communities
- Boost access to tech roles in areas of critical shortage
- Strengthen employer pipelines through job‑ready graduates
Applications open now for our February 2026 intake.
For learners: A supported pathway into digital careers — one grounded in real skills, real experience, and clear outcomes.
For employers: Access to graduates who can contribute from day one and adapt as technology evolves.
For the sector: Momentum toward a more inclusive, future‑ready digital workforce.
Australia is entering an era in which those who thrive will be those willing to learn, adapt, and step into new possibilities. The pledge reflects that reality — and so does the scholarship fund.
Mission Ready is committed to helping more Australians find meaningful work in a changing world. The future needs people who can build, analyse, communicate, and create across boundaries. That future starts with access.
If you’re ready to shift your career, we’re ready to back you.