Databricks launches Data and AI Academy for QLD govt agencies

Data and artificial intelligence company Databricks has introduced a Data and AI Academy for Queensland State Government agencies.

The initiative was launched on 28 August 2024.

It aims to accelerate data and AI training and enhance the capabilities of public sector staff.

The academy will upskill more than 100 Queensland Government employees in data, analytics, and AI, enabling them to become more proficient with innovative technology to improve productivity and achieve better results.

Upon completion, participants will be able to obtain Databricks accreditations and certifications.

"Our organisation's digital transformation is well underway, yet a recent review of our data and AI capabilities revealed a skills gap when it came to deploying certain functionalities," Peter How, general manager of innovation and delivery at the National Injury Insurance Scheme, Queensland, said.

"Databricks' leading Data and AI Academy offered us the opportunity to empower our staff and ensure skills uplift within our workforce," How said.

The program also promotes citizen data capabilities by automating complex preprocessing, engineering, and model training processes, allowing users to easily build, train, and deploy their own models through a low-code approach.

"The Academy is our fast track to understanding the power of the solution we have and developing the skills to use it effectively," Damon Atzeni, director of data and analytics at Queensland Health, said.

"The program has enabled us to self-manage deployments in reforming our health data, resulting in greater administrative efficiency and patient care insights," Atzeni added.

The general manager for Databricks in ANZ, Adam Beavis, explained the iniative was important as between Australia's tight talent market and the quick rise and rapid evolution of AI capabilities, many organisations understand they must double down on training efforts to run best-in-class operations

The adoption of the Databricks Data and AI Academy by the National Injury Insurance Scheme, Queensland and Queensland Health follows an audit of essential state government departments' data strategies and implementation needs.

Databricks plans to expand the programme to additional departments throughout the Queensland Government, potentially transforming data and AI capabilities across the public sector in the state.