5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Tech in Tassie

Don't let the size of the state fool you – Tassie punches well above its weight when it comes to the tech sector. From hosting award-winning game development studios, to actually being the first state to offer gigabit connection speeds across the NBN (not to mention the lowest greenhouse gases per capita in the entire country), there's lots to learn about tech in Tas. 

Tasmania has invested heaps in new technologies and start-ups 

Did you know that Tasmania was the first state in Australia to receive the NBN rollout? Being off the mainland means that Tassie understands that we need to stay connected to the rest of the world, and be a destination for tech businesses to research and test out new tech. In fact, the Tasmanian government has worked with mega tech companies like Amazon and Google to provide the tech required to set up start-up incubators. Think of these as like training grounds for young business where they get resources, mentors and co-working spaces to share ideas and collaborate.  

Tasmania has a thriving indie video game industry 

If gaming’s more your speed, there are some great indie studios based in Tasmania that have even won some global awards! Take for example Secret Lab, the oldest development studio in Tasmania. They’ve worked with Aussie institutions like the ABC, the CSIRO, the national Museum of Australia and Qantas, as well as big global players like Microsoft, Google and Apple. Their most famous work has been the BAFTA-Award-winning project Night in the Woods, which made it onto best-of lists from IGN, PC Gamer, Polygon, Eurogamer – the list goes on! If you wanna make a game that goes down in history, you should defs take a look at the Tassie video game industry. 

You can get trained up to work in tech fee-free thanks to TasTAFE 

Not many people know this, but you don’t have to go to uni to get a great job in tech. Jobs in areas like Cyber Security, IT support, web development, and more only need a Cert III up to a diploma to get your foot in the door. As more Tassie companies go digital and take more more complex tech, we need trained up tech-heads to make it all work. The Tasmanian government gets that, which is why they’ve made these courses fee-free! 

• Cert IV in Cyber Security 

• Cert III in Information Technology 

• Cert IV in Information Technology 

• Cyber Security Skillset 

• Cert IV in Information Technology (Web Development) 

That means that if you fit the criteria, you could get qualified to work in one of the fastest-growing industries in the state while saving yourself around $2000.  

Tassie tech is super-green 

If you’re not from Tasmania, you might not know that it has some of the best air quality in the country (if not the world) - and that’s no accident. Most of Tassie’s energy actually comes from over 30 hydropower stations across the state, as well as a couple of wind farms here and there too. Being a frontrunner in clean energy means that Tassie’s a magnet for energy and tech companies looking to learn from Tasmania’s successes. Plus, being a green-powered company is (maybe ironically) the new hotness, so having the country’s lowest greenhouse gas emissions per capita can also be a great reason for more tech companies to set up shop in our southernmost state. All of that is to say that the tech industry in Tassie’s set to grow heaps over the next few years! 

Tasmania’s going global 

Despite its island status, Tasmania is a global player in the tech sector. Don't be fooled by the laid-back reputation – Tasmanian tech companies are collaborating with international heavyweights. Think cutting-edge research with universities across the globe, or partnerships with tech giants to test new hardware in Tasmania's unique natural environment. This international reach means Tasmanian tech stays at the forefront of innovation, with local companies having the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking projects and gain valuable experience on the world stage. It's a win-win for Tasmania's tech scene, attracting global talent and ensuring Tasmanian ideas have a global impact. 

So, the next time you think about tech hubs, remember Tassie. This island might be small, but their tech scene is HUGE. If you’re keen to get skilled up in tech, or just find out more about what jobs in Tassie could be out there for you, make sure you check out https://careerify.tas.gov.au/