Microsoft & VU open Victoria's first datacentre academy

Microsoft and Victoria University have opened Victoria's first Datacentre Academy, a fee-free programme designed to train students for datacentre roles in the state.

Based at Victoria University's Footscray Nicholson Campus, the academy can take 48 students. It was established as demand for datacentre workers grows alongside investment in Victoria's digital infrastructure.

Projections cited by the partners suggest Australia will need 8,300 skilled workers to operate datacentre sites by 2030. The academy focuses on two roles identified as being in demand: Critical Environment Technicians and Datacentre Technicians.

The programme received an industry-matched grant from the Victorian Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions. Danny Pearson, Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, joined representatives from Microsoft and the university at the campus to mark the opening.

Course structure

Students can choose from two short courses. Datacentre Essentials is a 12-week entry-level course for people with basic IT skills who want to learn how datacentres operate, including infrastructure, safety and security.

The second course, for Critical Environment Technicians, runs for 16 weeks and covers the specialist work involved in monitoring and maintaining datacentre environments. Students will train in a simulated datacentre lab and a purpose-built simulator that replicates a data-hall cage, learning to install, configure and maintain servers, storage and connectivity.

Both courses include mentoring from Microsoft staff and other business leaders, as well as industry certifications and employment-readiness support. The programme also features a recruitment day to connect students with employers and industry partners.

The launch comes as governments and industry place greater focus on the workforce needed to support cloud services, streaming platforms and artificial intelligence systems, all of which rely on datacentres for computing and storage. Victoria has also identified jobs and skills as priorities for growth in the sector.

The academy aligns with Victoria University's focus on fully funded, demand-driven courses linked to employment outcomes. For Microsoft, it extends a model already introduced in New South Wales through a partnership with TAFE NSW.

"We are proud to support the Microsoft Datacentre Academy at VU. This program is focused on shaping future workforce capabilities and addressing critical skills gaps. Through the AI Mission statement, we are paving the way for our state to become the nation's capital of AI - and we're making sure Victorians have the skills they need to do the jobs of the future," said Danny Pearson, Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Victorian Government.

Wayne Butson, Chief TAFE Officer at Victoria University, said the programme was designed to support people seeking entry-level work in the sector.

"The University is excited to be partnering with Microsoft to help students prepare for entry-level roles in the booming datacentre industry. The Microsoft Datacentre Academy perfectly demonstrates how education and industry can work together to address critical skills shortages and open quality employment opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds," he said.

Microsoft described the partnership as part of its ongoing investment in local training, as datacentre construction and expansion increase demand for technical workers with practical skills.

"As demand for datacentre capacity grows, so does the need for technicians with the right hands-on skills. The Datacentre Academy at VU is about opening doors and equipping Victorians with job-ready skills and a clear pathway into high-growth careers that will power our communities for decades to come," said John Galligan, General Manager of Corporate and External Affairs, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand.

"Our partnership with VU builds on Microsoft's ongoing commitment to local skilling, including the Datacentre Academy in Sydney, which opened last year in partnership with TAFE NSW. With critical talent shortages across the industry, providing students with practical learning and industry-aligned skills will ensure they are ready for opportunities of tomorrow," Galligan said.

One of the first students, Jovi Lardizabel, said the course had given her a path back into IT after years working in administration in Australia, following an earlier technology career in the Philippines.

"I wanted to challenge myself and return to a career I enjoyed. When my son was growing up, I always encouraged him to follow his passion for learning and never limit himself. He's a lawyer now and when he heard about the new Datacentre Academy, he said to me, 'You should apply, Mum. You'd be good at this.' I'm not sure what the future will hold, but I know I want a career in the IT world. I want to keep learning and improving my skills. At the Datacentre Academy at VU, I feel very supported by my teacher and the environment around me. It has given me renewed confidence and a sense of direction. I'm looking forward to growing professionally and gaining more knowledge," Lardizabel said.