A national ICT Skills Summit to address a range of critical industry issues begins in Brisbane tomorrow.
Organized by the Qld government the two day summit will be attended by more than 100 delegates. The agenda includes addressing ICT's poor image as a career choice for young people, how to retain staff and how to increase training.
Qld IT Minister Chris Cummins said emerging skills shortages will jeopardize the industry if it isn't addressed on a national level.
"In the past two years Queensland alone has seen a 38 percent drop in university enrolments," he said.
"Obviously that's not sustainable if we want to ensure a strong and healthy ICT sector.
"ICT is crucial to the nation's economic growth. We need to address the impending skills shortage and start implementing strategies now."
The summit will be hosted by journalist and documentary film-maker Jenny Brockie and participants include the Australian Computer Society and CIO Magazine.
An issues paper is available at www.iib.gov.au/skillssummit.