Darwin is one of a handful of cities across the country that will house an Australian Public Service “academy” that will enable students and locals to obtain employment and training for work in the federal public service while remaining in the NT.

Applications are now being accepted for the Commonwealth’s APS Academy Campus Initiative’s data and digital training for entry-level jobs.

Around 300 slots are open to Darwin residents wanting a career change, or to boost their skills to skill in data and digital roles in the APS, including paid apprenticeships, cadetships and internships, with graduate placements to follow in 2024.

The Community and Public Sector Union NT branch welcomed the announcement.

The academy will be located at Charles Darwin University and is slated to open in “mid-2023” to provide vocational education training courses while working as APS employees, as well as degrees, the government said.

“Like the private sector, the APS is struggling to find enough people with the technical skills to fill roles in the data and digital space, but this Academy program is the latest positive step in the right direction to deal with this issue and to ultimately keep those workers in the APS,” said Minister for Public Service Katy Gallagher.

Programs will include short-term internships to one-to-three-year appointments, where students earn as they learn, all the while remaining in their community, Ms Gallagher said.

The CPSU welcomed the news of more public servants in the NT.

“New jobs and new opportunities in the Territory are welcomed after years of the Coalition Government’s cuts to APS jobs and services,” CPSU NT regional secretary Kay Densley said.

“Hundreds of APS jobs have disappeared from the NT in the past 10 years along with the services we need and deserve.”

CDU vice-chancellor Scott Bowman said he was “delighted” to partner with the Federal Government “to deliver jobs and digital opportunities in Darwin, and to ensure that Territorians have access to data and digital employment opportunities without having to leave the Territory”.

Member for Solomon Luke Gosling said he expected many would take up the opportunity and look forward to seeing the program grow and secure more jobs for Territorians.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our region, and I look forward to seeing the gains that will come from allowing locals to study and undertake secure work for the APS right here at home in the Top End,” Mr Gosling said.

Other Australian Public Service (APS) Academy Campuses will be co-located at the University of Newcastle, James Cook University in Townsville, and the University of Tasmania in Launceston.