New partnership aims to address Australia’s 300,000 + tech worker shortage by 2030

Two leaders in Australian education have joined forces to help close the nation’s widening technology skills gaps, with Open Colleges and Academy Xi announcing a new strategic partnership.

The partnership brings Academy Xi’s industry-leading short courses in areas like AI, robotics, machine learning and digital transformation onto the Open Colleges platform, boosting access to high-demand tech skills across Australia.

The move marks a major strategic shift for Open Colleges, a 125-year-old institution best known as one of Australia’s largest online vocational training providers.

With rapid technological change reshaping every sector, the organisation says the traditional VET model cannot, on its own, meet the speed and scale of skills now required across the economy.

Addressing Australia’s Critical Skills Shortage

Australia is facing one of the most significant workforce transitions in its history.

• More than half of Australian workers say their digital skills are insufficient for their
  current role – and AI skills are the biggest gap (Deloitte, 2025)
  
  
• Australia needs 312,000 additional tech workers by 2030, but produces only 7000 IT
  graduates annually (ACS, 2024)
  
  
• The Future Skills Organisation warns Australia faces a shortfall of 61,000+ digital
  jobs by 2030

By combining Academy Xi’s deep digital expertise – recognised globally after being named one of TIME’s World’s Top EdTech Rising Stars of 2025 – with the national scale of Open Colleges, the partnership aims to build a stronger, more adept training pipeline for Australia’s workforce.

As part of Ripple Group, which also includes Alffie, Open Colleges is extending the group’s mission to deliver learner-centred, future-focused education.

The focus spans every stage of the workforce journey, from job seekers and career changers to organisations building future-fit teams.

Will Calvert, CEO of Open Colleges and Ripple Group, said the partnership represents a
major milestone for the organisation’s growth:

“Australia’s workforce is undergoing its most significant transformation in a generation, and people need access to skills that keep pace with that change.” said Calvert

“This partnership signals a bold new direction for Open Colleges, expanding beyond traditional VET to connect Australians with the digital and emerging tech capabilities they urgently need.”

“By combining Academy Xi’s digital expertise with the national footprint of Open Colleges and Alffie, we’re building a truly connected ecosystem that supports learners, job seekers and the wider workforce at every stage of their journey,” he said.

Cyril Gabriel, CEO of Academy Xi, said the collaboration aligns perfectly with Academy Xi’s mission to build Australia’s digital capability:

“Partnering with Open Colleges and Alffie is a huge opportunity to accelerate impact – combining reach, innovation and applied learning to deliver real outcomes in the age of AI,” said Gabriel.

“We’re proud to bring our globally recognised capability in emerging technologies to this
partnership and strengthen Australia’s digital readiness,” he said.