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The department has launched a recruitment drive in a bid to secure more than 60 permanent information technology specialists to rebalance its workforce with a greater proportion of staff rather than relying on contractors.

This recruitment drive is consistent with the findings of the 2008 Gershon review, a departmental spokesman said.

“We want our IT professionals to build their careers with us and develop and retain their skills base with DIAC. We are committed to well-trained and supported staff,” he said.

The Gershon review, delivered to the Minister for Finance last August, identified seven critical areas for reform. Part of the suggested change was to reduce the proportion of contractors in the IT workforce.

“Investing in ongoing positions will help DIAC manage its business-as-usual IT operation more efficiently; it is better management of our skills base and ensures our operations are sustainable – all consistent with key tenets of Sir Peter Gershon’s review,” the spokesman said.

“This is a better use of taxpayers’ money and has ongoing benefits in staff retention, development of the organisation’s IT maturity and corporate knowledge. DIAC needs to enhance its IT capability and is offering employment opportunities across a broad range of IT areas.”

Some of the applicants will also be required to support the business transformation program Systems for People and ensure the department’s technological security needs are appropriately managed and maintained.

Vacancies range from IT helpdesk support officers on packages of $53 000 a year through to SAP and senior Java technical specialists, among others, on arrival packages of more than $140 000. Applications close January 18.

DIAC employs some 7000 people – more than 1000 of whom are from the IT sector – in more than 100 locations in Australia and overseas.