Salesforce is bringing a program that trains retired defence force veterans with information technology skills to Australia in a bid to help overcome skills shortages in the local market.
Under the VetForce program, the company is offering to provide training, Salesforce certifications, and employment opportunities in the technology sector to around 100 retired army, navy and air force personnel over the next 24 months.
It first launched the program in the US in 2014. In Australia it will partner with not-for-profit Soldier On, which helps former service men and women reintegrate into civilian life.
The cloud CRM vendor has put out a call for other companies to participate in the program by providing employment pledges, business mentoring and soft-skills training.
The objective of the program is to alleviate skills shortages in the IT sector by retraining former officers as Salesforce system analysts, business analysts, technical analysts and various other roles.
Soldier On said finding employment was integral for the reintegration of defence force veterans into the community.
“It’s a major element of our holistic approach to transition which aims to help veterans reintegrate into the community and avoid much bigger issues down the track, including homelessness, suicide and family breakdown," Soldier On co-founder John Bale said in a statement.
The initiative is one of a growing number of programs designed to encourage more people to take up careers in the IT sector.
A recent Grattan Institute survey found a third of recent IT grads were still looking for full-time work four months after completing their degree.
