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Digital and project support recruitment for regional employers

Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist. We help councils, hospitals, schools, mines, energy and agribusiness employers across regional Australia hire IT support officers, systems administrators, network and cyber security specialists, data and reporting analysts, project coordinators and managers, planners and schedulers, and document controllers. We recruit graduates through to experienced people, and we build the systems, certifications and site conditions into the search from the first conversation.

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Illustrative image: an IT technician checking a network cabinet while a planner reviews a schedule in a site office beside a processing plant.

Digital and project hiring at a glance

Professional roles are harder to fill than office roles, and hiring is harder outside the capital cities. In the September quarter 2026, half of the employers recruiting professionals had difficulty filling the role.1

of employers recruiting professionals had difficulty filling the role
50%
Against 29% of employers recruiting clerical and administrative staff. National, September quarter 2026.1
of recruiting employers outside the capital cities had difficulty filling a vacancy
49%
Against 43% in the capitals and 53% in outer regional and remote areas. September quarter 2026.1
cyber security occupations are in shortage nationally or in regional areas
3 of 6
Counting national and regional shortage ratings on the 2026 shortage list. Systems administrators, network administrators and help desk officers are not rated in shortage.2
of ICT support technician job ads are outside the major cities
16.3%
145 of 888 ads a month, against 29.2% of all job ads. Three months to September 2026.3

Where are digital and project roles advertised outside the major cities?

Project and site roles hold up better in regional job ads than specialist IT roles. Close to a third of ads in the occupation group that includes maintenance planners are outside the major cities, while network, security and systems roles are concentrated in the capitals.3 That makes a regional IT hire a search for people already living nearby or ready to move, and we plan it that way.

Online job ads a month by occupation group, regional areas (SA4s classified as regional) and major cities, three-month average to September 2026. The share is regional ads over regional plus major-city ads.3

Occupation groupRegional adsMajor-city adsRegional share
ICT support technicians14574316.3%
Database and systems administrators, and ICT security specialists414608.2%
Computer network professionals223476.0%
ICT business and systems analysts1261,6447.1%
Contract, program and project administrators3621,67417.8%
Construction managers6843,12318.0%
Other building and engineering technicians (includes maintenance planners)19641232.2%
All occupations63,015152,51429.2%

Digital and project support roles we recruit

Open a role for what it involves, the qualifications and certifications employers ask for, shortage status, demand, pay and what to tell us in your brief. Shortage ratings are national, for 2026, and count a national or regional shortage rating as a shortage. Median pay is the national figure for full-time workers in May 2025.

For drafters, engineers and WHS advisers, see engineering and technical recruitment. For data cablers and telecommunications technicians, see trades recruitment.

IT support and systems administration

Help desk and IT support officers, field technicians and systems administrators for councils, schools, hospitals, mines and businesses.

What the role does
IT support technicians support the deployment and maintenance of computer infrastructure and resolve technical problems.8 Systems administrators plan, install, maintain and support operating systems, servers and databases, and look after security and backups.9
Qualifications and certifications
The current national qualifications are the Certificate IV in Information Technology (ICT40120) and the Diploma of Information Technology (ICT50220).10,11 For support technicians, three years of relevant experience or vendor certification can stand in for formal qualifications.8 Common vendor certifications include CompTIA A+ and Microsoft Azure Administrator.12,13
Shortage
Systems Administrator, ICT Support Engineer and ICT Customer Support Officer are not rated in shortage in 2026.2
Demand
Systems administrators work well beyond IT firms: 15% in public administration, 10% in education and 8% in health care in 2021.7
Pay
Award minimum: $34.57 an hour for a graduate with a four- or five-year degree (Professional Employees Award 2020, from 1 July 2026), where the award covers the role: professional IT employees at employers principally in information technology or telecommunications services.4 Market median: $4514 an hour for ICT support technicians and $66 for database and systems administrators, and ICT security specialists (full-time, May 2025).
What to tell us
Your systems (Microsoft 365, Azure, network gear, line-of-business software), help desk or infrastructure work, the sites the person supports and how far apart they are, on-call arrangements and any police check the role needs.

Network and cyber security

Network administrators and engineers, and cyber security analysts and specialists for organisations running their own networks.

What the role does
Network professionals configure and manage network hardware and software, monitor performance and troubleshoot faults.15 ICT security specialists manage security policies and procedures alongside database and systems administration.9
Qualifications and certifications
Cisco's CCNA (exam 200-301) covers network fundamentals, IP connectivity and security fundamentals.16 The CISSP requires five years of work experience, and the CISM five years across at least three of its four domains.17,18
Shortage
3 of 6 cyber security occupations are in shortage: governance, risk and compliance specialists, advice and assessment specialists, and architects. Network administrators and network and systems engineers are not.2
Demand
Job ads for database and systems administrators and ICT security specialists averaged 517 a month nationally in the three months to September 2026, down from 631 a year earlier.19
Pay
Award minimum: $34.57 an hour for a graduate with a four- or five-year degree, where the Professional Employees Award covers the role.4 Market median: $6014 an hour for computer network professionals and $66 for the wider database, systems and security group, which includes ICT security specialists (full-time, May 2025).
What to tell us
The network and security platforms you run, the frameworks you work to (for example the Essential Eight), whether the role is hands-on or advisory, and any security clearance or citizenship requirement.

Data and reporting analysis

Data, reporting and business intelligence analysts who turn operational data into reports and dashboards.

What the role does
Data analysts gather, clean and interpret data, and present results with interactive visualisations such as graphs and charts.20
Qualifications and certifications
Microsoft's Power BI Data Analyst Associate (exam PL-300) is a common reporting credential. Microsoft role-based certifications expire unless renewed.21
Shortage
Data Analyst is not rated in shortage in 2026.2
Demand
About 23,300 people worked as data analysts in 2021, 18% of them in public administration and safety.7
Pay
Award coverage depends on the employer. Where the Professional Employees Award covers the role, a graduate with a four- or five-year degree must be paid at least $34.57 an hour.4 No median is published for data analysts alone. For the wider group of actuaries, mathematicians and statisticians, the full-time median was $5614 an hour in May 2025.
What to tell us
The tools (Power BI, Excel, SQL, your ERP or asset system), who reads the reports, whether the role builds data pipelines or presents findings, and the decisions the reports support.

Project coordination and management

Project coordinators, project officers and project managers for councils, health services, construction, energy and resources projects.

What the role does
Project coordinators plan and administer programs, special projects and support services.22 Construction project managers plan and coordinate building and engineering projects, monitoring time, cost, quality, budget and risk.23
Qualifications and certifications
The Certificate IV in Project Management Practice (BSB40920) and Diploma of Project Management (BSB50820) are current national qualifications.24,25 The Australian Institute of Project Management certifies practitioners and managers through RegPM levels such as CPPP and CPPM.26
Shortage
Construction Project Manager is rated in regional shortage in 2026. Program or Project Administrator and ICT Project Manager are not rated in shortage.2
Demand
Outside the major cities, construction manager ads averaged 684 a month and contract, program and project administrator ads 362 a month in the three months to September 2026.3
Pay
Where the Clerks – Private Sector Award covers a project administration role, Level 4 is at least $1,241.40 a week from 1 July 2026.5 Median full-time earnings were $2,13014 a week for contract, program and project administrators and $3,75114 for construction managers in May 2025.
What to tell us
The project types and budgets, the methodology and software (MS Project, Primavera P6, Aconex), who the person reports to, site or office base, and any certification you require.

Planning, scheduling and document control

Maintenance planners, shutdown planners, project schedulers and document controllers for mines, processing plants, utilities and construction projects.

What the role does
Maintenance planners develop maintenance planning strategies, then schedule, coordinate and monitor maintenance of plant and equipment. Maintenance scheduler and shutdown planner are alternative titles.27
Qualifications and certifications
AACE International's Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) requires eight years of industry experience, or four years plus a four-year degree, and an exam.28
Demand
About 9,000 people worked as maintenance planners in 2021, 3,100 in Western Australia and 2,300 in Queensland, and 35% worked in mining. Maintenance Planner is not rated in shortage in 2026.2,7
Pay
In manufacturing, the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award places production planning and scheduling in its technical field, with levels set by competency from $1,119.10 (C10) to $1,513.70 (C2(b)) a week from 1 July 2026.6 Where the Clerks Award covers a document controller, Level 3 to Level 4 is $1,182.10 to $1,241.40 a week.5 The median for the wider group that includes maintenance planners was $2,95414 a week in May 2025.
Site checks
Construction sites need a White Card,29 and Queensland coal mine workers complete health assessments under the Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme.30
What to tell us
The planning system (SAP PM, Pronto, Primavera P6) or document system (Aconex, InEight, SharePoint), shutdown or project work, the roster, and the site inductions and medicals the person must complete.

Which qualifications, certifications and pay apply to each role?

Common qualification or certification, the award minimum from 1 July 2026 where that award covers the role, and national median full-time earnings in May 2025, in the same unit on each row.14

RoleQualification or certificationAward minimumMedian full-time pay
IT support officerICT40120, CompTIA A+10,12$34.57 an hour, graduate IT professional, where the Professional Employees Award covers the role4$45 an hour
Systems administratorICT50220, Microsoft Azure Administrator11,13$34.57 an hour, graduate, where that award covers the role4$66 an hour, database, systems and security group
Network specialistCCNA16$34.57 an hour, graduate, where that award covers the role4$60 an hour, computer network professionals
Cyber security specialistCISSP or CISM17,18$34.57 an hour, graduate, where that award covers the role4$66 an hour, database, systems and security group
Data or reporting analystPower BI Data Analyst (PL-300)21$34.57 an hour, graduate, where that award covers the role4$56 an hour, wider group
Project coordinatorBSB40920 or BSB5082024,25$32.67 an hour, Clerks Level 45$59 an hour14
Planner or schedulerAACE PSP28$1,119.10 to $1,513.70 a week, by competency (manufacturing)6$2,954 a week, wider group14

Guides to specific digital and project roles

Data & reporting analysts

Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist finding data, reporting and Power BI analysts for councils, health services, mines and businesses.

Document controllers

Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist finding document controllers for mining, construction, energy and major project teams.

IT support & systems administrators

Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist finding IT support, help desk and systems administrator staff for regional employers.

Network & cyber security

Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist finding network administrators, engineers and cyber security specialists for regional employers.

Planners & schedulers

Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist finding maintenance planners, schedulers and shutdown planners for mines, plants and utilities.

Project coordinators & managers

Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist finding project coordinators and project managers for councils, builders and resources employers.

Hiring IT and project graduates in the regions

Graduates with the Diploma of Information Technology or the Diploma of Project Management hold current national qualifications that fit support and coordination roles.11,25 Where the Professional Employees Award covers an IT role, a graduate with a four- or five-year degree starts on at least $68,538 a year.4 Tell us who will guide the graduate in the first year, and we look for people who want to build their career in your region.

How we help you hire digital and project staff

You make the hiring decision and employ the person directly. We handle the search and the organising in between.

  1. Step 1

    Understand the role

    We talk with you about the work, the systems and sites involved, the certifications and checks the role needs and the experience you expect.

  2. Step 2

    Source and screen

    We talk with candidates about the platforms, projects and tools they have worked with, their certifications, and whether a regional move or roster suits them.

  3. Step 3

    Introduce suitable people

    We introduce the candidates who best match your brief, so you decide who to interview.

  4. Step 4

    Coordinate the hire

    We coordinate the next steps and keep both sides informed through interviews and the offer. You employ the person directly.

Can you recruit for hybrid, rostered and relocation roles?

Yes. IT and analyst roles in regional towns often draw on people prepared to move, or on a hybrid arrangement with set days on site. Planners, schedulers and document controllers on mines and projects often work fly-in fly-out or drive-in drive-out rosters. Tell us the arrangement, where the work starts and the relocation support you offer, and we build them into the search.

Northern Australia accounted for 81 of the monthly ads in the occupation group that includes maintenance planners in the three months to September 2026.3 If the right person needs a visa or sponsorship, our sister business Australian Immigration Agency can advise.

Looking for IT or project work in the regions?

If you work in IT support, networks, cyber security, data, project coordination, planning or document control, register with Hire Australia. Tell us your systems and certifications, the projects you have worked on and where you would like to live and work, and we will talk with you about roles that fit.

Register

Talk to us about your next digital or project hire

Tell us the role, the systems and sites involved, the location and when you need the person to start.

Employers pay nothing until the successful candidate has started and stayed two months. Candidates never pay for recruitment.

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A FEW PRACTICAL QUESTIONS

Good to know.

Which digital and project support roles does Hire Australia recruit?

Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist. We recruit IT support officers, systems administrators, network and cyber security specialists, data and reporting analysts, project coordinators and managers, planners and schedulers, and document controllers for regional employers. We search for graduates through to experienced team leaders, and build the systems, certifications and site checks the role needs into the search.

What do IT and project support staff earn?

Median full-time earnings in May 2025 were $1,687 a week for ICT support technicians, $2,461 for database and systems administrators, and ICT security specialists, and $2,130 for contract, program and project administrators.14 Award minimums depend on coverage, such as $1,241.40 a week at Clerks Level 4.5 Hire Australia discusses the pay range with candidates early.

Is it hard to hire IT and project staff in regional areas?

Often, yes. In the September quarter 2026, 49% of recruiting employers outside the capital cities had difficulty filling a vacancy, against 43% in the capitals, and 50% of employers recruiting professionals had difficulty.1 Hire Australia searches beyond local applicants, including people ready to move.

Can Hire Australia recruit for hybrid, FIFO or relocation roles?

Yes. Hire Australia recruits for town-based, hybrid and rostered roles, including planners and document controllers on fly-in fly-out projects. Tell us the arrangement, where the work starts, the accommodation and any relocation support, and we raise them with candidates in the first conversation so the shortlist reflects people who can work that way.

Does Hire Australia supply labour hire or temporary staff?

No. Hire Australia recruits people you employ directly, in permanent roles. We don’t supply labour hire or temps, and candidates never work on our payroll. We search for and screen people for your vacancy, introduce the ones who fit, and you make the offer and employ them. That keeps the working relationship between you and your new employee from day one.

What does it cost to use Hire Australia?

Employers pay nothing until the successful candidate has started and stayed two months. Candidates never pay for recruitment. You employ the person directly, and we agree the terms with you in writing before the search begins. The same terms apply to every digital and project role Hire Australia recruits, from IT support officers to project managers.

Sources (30)

  1. Jobs and Skills Australia, Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey, September 2026 data file. Released October 2026. Table 3.2, September quarter 2026. About 1,000 employers with 5+ staff a month; many government organisations excluded. Weighted by size and region; not seasonally adjusted.… Back to text ↑
  2. Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List (6-digit ANZSCO and OSCA). Files dated October 2026. Data: 2026 ratings. National ratings; S = shortage, R = regional shortage. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  3. Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index, ANZSCO 4-digit occupations by JSA remoteness and Northern Australia classification, September 2026. Released October 2026. Data: three months to September 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  4. Fair Work Commission, Professional Employees Award 2020 [MA000065], clause 14.1. Data: from 1 July 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  5. Fair Work Commission, Clerks - Private Sector Award 2020 [MA000002], clauses 4 and 16.1 and Schedule A. Data: from 1 July 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  6. Fair Work Commission, Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 [MA000010], clause 20.1. Data: from 1 July 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  7. Jobs and Skills Australia, OSCA Occupation data - 2021 Census. Released July 2026. Data: 2021 Census. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  8. Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO 2022, unit group 3131 ICT Support Technicians. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  9. Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO 2022, unit group 2621 Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  10. training.gov.au, ICT40120 Certificate IV in Information Technology. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  11. training.gov.au, ICT50220 Diploma of Information Technology. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  12. CompTIA, CompTIA A+ certification. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  13. Microsoft Learn, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (exam AZ-104). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  14. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data - February 2026, Table 4 Earnings and hours. Data: May 2025. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  15. Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO 2022, unit group 2631 Computer Network Professionals. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  16. Cisco, CCNA certification (exam 200-301). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  17. ISC2, CISSP certification. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  18. ISACA, Get CISM certified. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  19. Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index, ANZSCO 4-digit occupations by state and territory, September 2026. Released October 2026. Data: three months to September 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  20. Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO 2022, unit group 2241 Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians (includes 224114 Data Analyst). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  21. Microsoft Learn, Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate (exam PL-300). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  22. Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO 2022, unit group 5111 Contract, Program and Project Administrators. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  23. Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO 2022, unit group 1331 Construction Managers. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  24. training.gov.au, BSB40920 Certificate IV in Project Management Practice. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  25. training.gov.au, BSB50820 Diploma of Project Management. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  26. Australian Institute of Project Management, RegPM certification. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  27. Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO 2022, unit group 3129 Other Building and Engineering Technicians (includes 312911 Maintenance Planner). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  28. AACE International, Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) details. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
  29. Safe Work Australia, Working on a construction site (White Card). Accessed 28 October 2026. Back to text ↑
  30. Resources Safety and Health Queensland, ResHealth: Coal Mine Workers Health Scheme health assessments. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑