IT Pro Australia is a new association which Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) launched this week for ICT professionals and students.

With support from Apple, Cisco, CompTIA, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft and many others, the program will offer information on career options, job vacancies, salary scales, skills in demand and trend reports, deals on software, hardware, developments in the IT industry and inside running on new products and services and training and educational opportunities to fit lifestyle and budget.

It promises to provide a platform and forum for collaboration, so industry, employers and government can communicate with and develop new and existing ICT professionals.

CompTIA regional director Danika Bakalich claims employers need to be sure they are getting maximum productivity from their workforce.

"By bringing currency and relevancy to the training that Australian ICT workers receive, CompTIA IT Pro Australia is filling a gap in the lifelong learning process," Bakalich said.

"ICT workers will stay current with emerging technologies that are relevant to their job skills, while employers will have access to a reliable and proactive pool of talent."

Membership in the CompTIA IT Pro Australia program is open to all people in the ICT industry at $25 for students and $85 for IT professionals.

Ambit Recruitment Group senior account manager Ken Kwan welcomed the initiative.

"The rational behind [this program] looks to address the fall in numbers of university entrants into IT and engineering courses, as well as the lack of available talent in the IT candidate market," Kwan said.

"A program such as this works if there is a close correlation between industry requirements and what is being taught in this organization's programs.

"However, it must be emphasized that experience will always take priority over certifications in IT. Therefore, this program must differentiate itself from common training institutions in order to be seen as adding true value."