Requirements

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) is seeking to engage an experienced consulting firm to lead a project to develop a new 2025-2028 Technology Strategy. The Strategy will provide a plan of action to guide the department’s current and future ICT priorities and ensure that its investment in ICT delivers maximum value for the Australian public. The Strategy will identify opportunities to deliver an enriched digital experience for the department’s staff and stakeholders. It will assist to build the department’s capability by embracing new and emerging technologies.

DEWR was created on 1 July 2022 as a new entity from a Machinery of Government change that split the Skills and Employment functions from Education. Formally the department was known as Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE).

The Technology and Services Division, managed by the Chief Information Officer, provides ICT infrastructure, end-user computing, cyber security, and support functions to the department and its client agencies. The Digital Solutions Division, managed by the Chief Digital Officer, develops and supports a range of employment, skills, and workplace relations business and program applications for the department, and education applications for the Department of Education.

DEWR operates ICT infrastructure across on-premises data centres and public cloud networks in accordance with the Australian Government Secure Cloud Strategy. In 2022–23 the department continued to modernise its business application hosting environment and leverage modern cloud hosting environments to develop and support externally facing business systems. This included Workforce Australia, the Apprenticeships Data Management System, and the Jobs and Skills Australia website.

Key Deliverables and Acceptance

Develop in consultation with the department a coherent Technology Strategy to guide the department’s current and future ICT priorities and investments.

Provide a 1-2 page overview of the strategy as a quick reference for staff.

Provide an implementation roadmap diagram that provides a visual overview of initiatives that the department is undertaking to deliver on the strategy.

Conduct broad consultation with business executives, ICT, client agencies, and interested stakeholders across the department. Consultation will include a combination of in person and virtual sessions.

Provide fortnightly updates on progress to the department.

Delivery Milestones

The department is aiming to have its 2025-2028 Technology Strategy finalised and ready to be promoted to its staff by 28 April 2025.