Blockchain Diploma a breakthrough for TAFE

TAFE Queensland has been approved with JobTrainer funding for Australia's first Diploma of Applied Blockchain.

This massive step forward for the fast-evolving blockchain industry was taken after Blockchain Week, the Nation's largest Blockchain Event, highlighted the challenges in skill shortages.

As Blockchain Week took place around the country last week, it was evident across all businesses that the major problem is finding talent in blockchain technology and the skill's shortage is a growing challenge.

This is a significant step toward filling this skill gap to make emerging technology education accessible to Queensland residents. It aligns with the Tech Council of Australia's target to grow the technology workforce to 1.2 million people by 2030.

JobTrainer funding for the Diploma of Applied Blockchain has officially been announced for TAFE Queensland. This move, in essence, eliminates the barrier of entry to Blockchain education, enabling more individuals to upskill and reskill to position themselves at the forefront of the Blockchain sector.

"Like the Digital Skills Organisation's initiatives, TAFE Queensland uses industry demand to drive and promote the courses employers desperately need," says TAFE Queensland, CEO of the Digital Skills Organisation, Patrick Kidd.

"The skills gap in tech and non-tech roles is widening. Leveraging industry input is vital for Australia to produce the additional 286,000 technology workers needed by 2025. We know that 42% of people in the tech sector do not have a university degree. This is a huge incentive for those looking to upskill and take on opportunities in high-paying industries like blockchain."

Austin Lewinsmith, the founder of Blockchain Collective, says, "This is a huge statement for blockchain. The technology is being adopted at an ever-increasing rate and is being recognised more and more globally. This announcement is a very exciting milestone for the future of technology in  Australia.  

"The Diploma of Applied Blockchain is one of three accredited blockchain qualifications created by Blockchain Collective to set the global benchmark standard in Applied Blockchain. Anyone interested in understanding how the technology works, looking to improve their skills, or wants to implement blockchain into their business should enrol."

As the benefits of blockchain become more apparent, the technology is being applied across all industry verticals. New market segments such as NFTs, decentralised finance and others are gaining a lot of attention and paving the way for web 3.0 and web 4.0 to go mainstream.

Large corporates acknowledge that to keep pace with the evolving technology landscape, they need to upskill and reskill their current workforce while also building and supporting the growth of talent pools for future projects.

"We expect this industry to explode with career opportunities alongside business applications across all industries and, believe it or not, without knowing it most of us are already using or experiencing the benefits of blockchain technology," says Lewinsmith.