Unisys Australia is ramping up its staff numbers in Canberra to deliver on the new regional information communication technology (ICT) support services contract with the Australian Department of Defence announced earlier this month. This is the largest deal in the Asia Pacific region for Unisys and will provide IT support services to 460 defence locations across Australia.

As a result of the $240 million deal, Unisys will fill approximately 100 IT positions in Canberra. From the outset of the tender process, Unisys has emphasised its intention to employ a significant number of defence staff currently involved in ICT regional service delivery and this remains a cornerstone of its staffing strategy.

Unisys senior HR business partner, Dominic Welfare, said Canberra will be the hub of the company's defence program.

"This will enable more effective services to be provided to the 100,000 users of the Defence Restricted and Secret networks across Australia," he said. "These positions present a unique opportunity to contribute to a project that will improve the effectiveness of one of the most important Commonwealth government departments." Under the direction of the Defence's CIO Group (CIOG), Unisys will provide a range of IT support services, including network security and infrastructure support, server and desktop support of over 100,000 desktop computers across all Defence business groups. The aim of the project is to improve the quality of ICT service delivery at defence bases and sites across Australia. Unisys has been providing IT services to the Australian Department of Defence for more than 35 years.

- with Sandra Rossi