VIC Monthly Wrap Up - April 2025

Welcome to the April 2025 wrap-up from your VIC branch, highlighting the key activities and events that brought our community together and showcasing our shared achievements and memorable moments. 

Victoria branch and Deakin University host AI roundtable

ACS President, Helen McHugh, and Victorian Vice-Chair, Josef Oduwo were pleased to join the Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, Professor Iain Martin, last Tuesday for a Deakin Business School Executive Roundtable and Leadership Event in the university’s Melbourne Business Campus.

Hosted by the Deakin Business School at their Melbourne City campus, the day’s meetings covered how Australian industry and educators can close the AI skills gap by better preparing students and graduates with the skills needed in the AI era.

The event was a unique opportunity for business and academic leaders to discuss some of the pressing AI issues facing the nation and to explore how we can collaborate to reap the benefits of these rapidly evolving technologies.

ACS and Deakin University Business School Thought Leadership Event 

Following April 1st round table, ACS Victoria and Deakin University Business School hosted a thought leadership event featuring a number of senior ACS members and friends. The industry panel discussion followed a highly anticipated roundtable attended by leaders and decision makers from each industry, focusing on how university and industry partners can better prepare graduates for entering the workforce in the wake of AI.

The panel discussion engaged attendees with thought-provoking questions and topics identifying how we can help to close the gap for what is needed in the workforce and where we are currently at. Thank you to our panelists Peter Williams, Lynn Warneke and Yue Yean Feng! As well as Helen McHugh, ACS President, for opening on behalf of ACS. 

ACS visits Victorian Institute of Technology (VIT) after accreditation

Australian Computer Society (ACS) proudly presented the Victorian Institute of Technology (VIT) with their Certificate of Recognition for Accreditation of Higher Education Programs last Friday.

In a ceremony highlighting the importance of quality ICT education, ACS Vice President of Membership Boards, Jeff Smith, formally presented the certificate to VIT CEO Arjun Surapanei and Professor Sid Nair, Executive Dean/Dean of Learning, Teaching and Student Experience.

This accreditation recognises VIT's commitment to delivering ICT programs that meet the rigorous standards set by Australia's peak professional body for the technology sector. ACS accreditation serves as a mark of quality assurance, confirming that VIT's graduates possess the knowledge and skills required by today's employers.

For students, this accreditation means their qualifications will be recognised both nationally and internationally through the Seoul Accord, enhancing their employment prospects and career mobility.

The accreditation process evaluates programs against key criteria including professional ethics, project management capabilities, cyber security knowledge, and advanced technical skills – areas identified as critical in the 2023 ACS Accreditation Outcomes Report.

With Australia's technology sector projected to require an additional 205,000 workers by 2030, quality education providers like VIT play a vital role in developing the skilled professionals needed to meet this demand.

ACS congratulates VIT on this achievement and looks forward to their continued contribution to excellence in Australian ICT education.

Jo Dalvean becomes latest Honorary Life Member

ACS is delighted to announce that on Tuesday 8 April at the Victorian Branch Forum, Ms Jo Dalvean was presented as an Honorary Life Member of the ACS.

Honorary Life Member (HLM) is recognition by the ACS of a member’s outstanding contribution to its affairs. It is the highest honor that the Society can bestow, with Jo now joining a very select group of individuals.

As the only 2024 recipient of the prestigious award, Jo’s distinguished contribution to the ACS has been outstanding, as attested by her citation, which reads:

Jo Dalvean is a long-standing member of ACS in Victoria and has served the Society as a member of committees, as Victorian Branch chair, and as a member of Management Committee where she initially represented the Victorian Branch and then served with distinction as VP Membership.

She has represented ACS as a member of ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee (JTC1) of Standards Australia and as part of the International Federation of Information Processing.

In her branch, she is recognised for willingly providing her time and professional expertise and is known as the person to ask for help when projects are begun, and for her mentorship of those newly elected roles within the Society.

Jo has served in several roles at a national level, including the Public Policy Committee, which provides final operational approval on policy issues to be addressed by ACS both internally and externally. She was and still is, a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion.

We congratulate Jo on her achievements and thank her for her long and distinguished service to the ACS and technology community.

ACS Victoria Migrant & Migrant Spouse Programme Concludes

The Victoria branch was honoured to complete the ACS Victoria Migrant & Migrant Spouse Program, an inspiring initiative led by Manjusha Bhakta MACS Snr. This impactful series supported both migrant ICT professionals and their spouses —qualified individuals who often face barriers entering the Australian workforce due to limited local networks.

Across six weeks, the programme welcomed 25 highly motivated career seekers to participate in a rich lineup of sessions designed to empower, educate, and connect them with the Australian ICT landscape.

Opening the programme for Week 1: Public Sector Pathways, was a strong show of support from key government representatives, including Jacqueline Dunbar (DEWR), Prathayana Chandrakumar, Desipna Papastamopoulos, and Grace Chang (DJSIR), and Kara Barnett (City of Melbourne). These Public Sector leaders showcased the various types of support available at a local, state and federal level.

Week 2: Industry Insights offered participants the chance to hear from industry leaders who generously shared their journeys, insights, and guidance.

  • Annie South (Telstra) – For her vision, insights, and for sparking the original idea of this workshop.
  • Saurav Sachdev (Coles) – For his practical advice and commitment to community.
  • Hari Viswanathan MACS (Cartology) – For his relatable journey and continuous mentorship through ACS.
  • Bhavisha Sharma (GPC) – For her inspiring, heartfelt tips that resonated with all.
     

Week 3: Recruitment Special led by Mira D’Silva MACS, focused on recruitment strategies, essential dos and don’ts, and what it takes to land your first job in the local ICT market. Mira’s energy, leadership, and passion for uplifting others made this a standout session to attendees with lots of opportunities to ask those more challenging questions.

Week 4: Coaching & Personal Branding delivered a powerful and practical workshop by Christopher Kong, CFA, who guided attendees through personal branding, networking strategies, and crafting compelling elevator pitches. His experience and deep commitment to mentoring migrants truly shone through and left attendees with key takeaways and personal initiatives to action in their own time.

Week 5: Diversity & Inclusion in Tech led by Dr. Ruwangi Fernando MACS, unpacked the importance of embracing diversity, overcoming challenges, and cultivating resilience. Attendees walked away empowered with tools to thrive in multicultural environments.

Week 6: Networking concluded our workshop series with an open forum that invited feedback, sparked new connections, and celebrated the journey. We were joined by Victorian Branch Executive Committee Members and Emerging Professional Committee Representatives, alongside ACS staff. A big thank you to Manjusha Bhakta MACS Snr for leading the initiative, alongside ACS Victoria Branch as well as Rod Dilnutt FACS and Dolly Brtan MACS for opening the sessions and continuous unwavering support.
 

This programme, kindly sponsored by the Victorian State Government, stands as a testament to the power of community, mentorship, and the willingness of industry leaders to give back. Together, we’ve built bridges, unlocked new potential, and paved a pathway for migrant ICT professionals and their families to thrive in Australia. With gratitude to all our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees—thank you for making this initiative a success. 

Inclusive Design: From Awareness to Action in Addressing Long-Term Conditions

ACS panel on Inclusive Design wasn’t just a conversation — it was a call to action. Designing with long-term conditions in mind isn’t charity, it’s strategy. It’s not just the right thing to do — it’s the smartest way to future-proof tech in Australia.

Our powerhouse keynote Briar Harte, joined by Luli Adeyemo, Sarah Pulis, and Dr Annie McAuley, highlighted bold, practical insights into how we build tech that actually works for everyone — not just the mythical “average” user.

Big shoutout to Sarah Pulis for spotlighting the game-changing Disability Discrimination Act: Guidelines on Equal Access to Digital Goods and Services.

And from Luli at #TechDiversity: a reality check. One in three respondents in the TechReflects study live with a long-term condition — and we’re not just talking visible disabilities. Think:

  • Chronic pain
  • Neurodivergence
  • Mental health challenges

These are real, lived experiences — and they’re still not reflected in mainstream design or workplace policies. Want the data? Dive into the study here.

Massive thanks to our brilliant panel for pushing this conversation forward. The message is loud and clear: Inclusive design isn’t optional. It’s essential. Let’s build a future where tech doesn’t just work — it works for all of us.

What's Hot in Identity for 2025

ACS Victoria in collaboration with IdentityXP were delighted to continue Identity Management Day into Victoria's April Branch Forum last week.

Building on the day's theme of 'Existential Identity', attendees heard from Adrian Bole discussing how we can look at the various identities and personas we all have and how we can holistically protect all these identities and the person behind them.

The key three industry trends for Identity at the moment are Artificial Intelligence, Non-Human Identity and Passkeys. These trends play a critical role in Identity and Access Management for safeguarding digital systems and enabling business success.

ACS and Study Melbourne thrives in tech

ACS Victoria is still buzzing from this event - where ambition met opportunity, and international students had a front-row seat to what entering into Australia’s IT industry really looks like. The energy, insights, and inspiration from our incredible panel made it a standout event!

Key takeaways:

  • Tackle your visa path early - it’s the foundation for everything else.
  • The obvious path isn't the only path - there are numerous ways to achieve your goals!
  • And most importantly, stay resilient. The journey isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.

As we conclude this month’s review, we extend a formal invitation for you to engage more deeply with our upcoming events and community initiatives. As a valued member, your presence enriches our gatherings, fostering a sense of unity and purpose. We also recognise the expertise you bring, and we encourage you to share your knowledge and insights to contribute to the growth and success of our community. Your involvement is crucial in shaping the future of our branch, and we look forward to your continued participation in the months ahead. Explore our upcoming events here

 

ACS Victoria team