Up to 260 new jobs are on the way to Geelong after the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) opened its National Data Acquisition Centre in the city on Monday.
The centre opened on 10 April with 40 staff who were recruited from elsewhere in the ABS and the bureau plans to recruit another 80 full-time and 20 part-time staff this month.
The ABS expected the centre to employ up to 180 workers full-time and 120 part-time once fully staffed by the middle of next year.
Statistician David Kalisch said the new centre was a key part of a $257 million five-year modernisation of ABS systems and processes.
“This centre is playing an important role in the transformation of the ABS so we can deliver the best statistics in more innovative and efficient ways,” Mr Kalisch said.
“The ABS is one of Australia’s most trusted organisations and our data is the bedrock on which Australians build an understanding of their economy and society.
“Our transformation program will enable us to continue to provide that vital information.”
Mr Kalisch said the centre would consolidate the collection of data for all business and household surveys.
“In the past, data collection operations have been located in offices all over Australia,” Mr Kalisch said.
“Moving to one location streamlines processes and ensures the ABS continues to deliver better results and more value to tax payers.
“The purpose built office in Geelong is utilising new technology to give Australians more and easier methods of interacting with us.
“As technology changes, so will we in order to make it as easy as possible for Australians to provide us with reliable information and more easily access our data.”
Site owner Deakin University completed a comprehensive purpose-built fit-out for the ABS largely funded by the Victorian State Government.
The centre features two unique pieces of Aboriginal glass art created by Wathaurong Glass and Arts.
Wathaurong’s Mark Edwards said the two glass panels, to be fitted to the second floor main wall, were 1.5 square metres.
“One piece depicts a creation story and the other tells the story of how Geelong (Wathaurong) is the hub where all information will come together,” Mr Edwards said.
“I used journey lines to show how the information goes from across Australia and feeds into Geelong,” he said.
“The circles represent the capital cities and Alice Springs.”
