Codemaster Institute offers career change and development opportunities with hands-on coding training for emerging technology sectors

With many people rethinking their careers, the rise of Perth’s local innovation and technology industries provides some welcome opportunities.

In May of this year, the WA State Government officially announced that it would further boost its funding of innovation initiatives with a $20 million package to help position Western Australia as a regional innovation hub and foster industry growth.

At the Codemaster Institute – the first school of its kind in WA and housed at Spacecubed in St George’s Terrace – professionals from a diverse range of fields are finding that through coding, their industry experience becomes more relevant and attractive to prospective employers.

“Coding is a practical skillset that’s helping many locals from varying fields gain an edge that modern employers are seeking,” said Codemaster Institute co-founder, Steve Steyn (pictured below). “It’s a skillset that is not just in demand, but has a wide range of applications–and there’s a real shortage.”

Steyn said the choice to train in either a full-time or part-time capacity is giving jobseekers the necessary flexibility to add to their existing skills while working, or use periods of redundancy effectively.

“They get over 500+ hours face-to-face contact time with industry experienced lecturers, all within a matter of 12 weeks. Our graduates position themselves on the future-proof side of the ever-changing career fence. After just 12 weeks of training, they can look forward to entry level jobs in the tech world, such as Web Development (front and back end), data analysis, AI design, software programming, web app design and game design.”

Steyn said as more industries rely on digital technologies, having skills like coding are becoming increasingly desirable to future employers.

“There is nothing else like this in Perth, and our ties with the local web and IT industry gives us the opportunity to set up internships with top tier companies for students to reach out to. Best of all, you’re never too young or too old to get started.”

Coding has long been viewed as a challenging skill to master, but with the right hands-on training, more and more seasoned professionals are finding that coding isn’t as difficult to learn as they had first suspected. And with applications across a wide and varied number of fields, as well as a skills shortage, it’s proving to be very attractive to employers.

Rebecca Malagui-Hicks, an Analytical Chemist who was made redundant after more than 10 years in mining, is one of many skilled locals who has reinvented her career by learning to code.

Malagui-Hicks was a little hesitant at first as to whether she’d be able to code.

“The most important part has been the coding part of the training. I’m now confident that I can build a web application and troubleshoot software applications that are used at my current workplace.”

She said the hands on, face-to-face tutoring made a big difference.

“The tutoring at Codemaster Institute was very valuable. I learned a lot, and with these new skills I can progress with my career and move into Data Science now.”

Having graduated, she is putting her practical skills learned to use.

“I’m really grateful for the new opportunity to make use of my new coding skills. As a matter of fact, I am using these skills to improve the current Laboratory Information Management System in place.’

Visit the Codemaster Institute website to find out more about coding, or the courses offered.