Unisys Takes Over IT Support for Defence Regions

News Release

Unisys Takes Over IT Support for Nine Australian Department of Defence Regions
Nine regions progressively transitioned to Unisys since August 2008

Unisys has successfully transitioned IT support services for the first nine of the twelve regions for the Australian Department of Defence covered by the contract, announced in February 2008.

The contract has an approximate value estimated at AU$240 million (NZ$307 million). It has an initial term of five years following the transition period with the potential for two future contract extensions, each of two years duration.

The progressive handover of each region is part of the estimated eighteen month transition period currently on schedule for completion in October 2009. When completed, Unisys will provide a range of IT support services, including network security and infrastructure support, server and desktop used by civilian and military areas of Defence across Australia. Unisys will also standardise IT support processes nationally.

In July 2008, Sydney West and South was the first region to be transitioned and was used as a pilot for the progressive roll-out of the other regions. The transition process involved Unisys working closely with Defence and embedding Unisys transition managers and support staff onsite at the regional sites before each transition handover began.

The nine regions that have been transitioned are Central and Northern New South Wales, South Australia, South Queensland, South Victoria, Sydney Central, Sydney West and South, Riverina and Murray Valley, Western Australia and Tasmania. The three regions that remain to be transitioned in 2009 are ACT and Southern NSW, Northern Territory and Kimberley, and Northern Queensland.

According to Tony Henshaw, Asia Pacific Vice President, Global Outsourcing and Infrastructure Services, Unisys, the Australian Federal Government Market is strategically important for Unisys.

“Unisys has a long history working with the Australian public sector based on our ability to work closely with government departments and agencies to improve business processes and better use resources to achieve their dual goals of high service delivery to the Australian people while being accountable for use of public funds. We have applied this experience to delivering IT support services to the Australian Department of Defence.

“It has been a very large and complex change management challenge. Engaging key stakeholders from the outset and developing effective communications plans have been at the heart of our success.

“The success of the recruitment drive for the twelve regions that span 460 Defence locations across Australia has been a critical factor in achieving the milestones set for the project.

“To date, Unisys has filled all of the approximately 380 positions required to support the contract nationally. More than 80 percent of the roles were filled by Defence staff already involved in ICT regional service delivery to help achieve a smooth transition of the service delivery from Defence to Unisys,” said Mr Henshaw.

Fourteen positions were filled under the Australia-wide Unisys IT Traineeship Program, established in July 2008. The program offers the opportunity to continue learning while working for Unisys. Within the program, Unisys has an arrangement with various state-based traineeship agencies, technical institutions and registered training organisations to provide IT trainees with the opportunity to launch their IT careers with a multinational corporation.

Unisys has built a strong reputation for delivering high-end IT services – from outsourcing, hardware integration, and application development through to security identity and credentialing solutions – to a number of federal and state government departments and agencies in Australia. These include providing selected IT services to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and biometric solutions and services as part of the DIAC Enhanced Border Control Program, as well as a a twelve year relationship with the Australian National Audit Office. Unisys has also provided various IT services to the Australian Department of Defence for more than 35 years. Unisys draws on its global experience providing services-led, technology-based solutions designed to address the challenges facing national defence, domestic security, health and human services and justice and law enforcement organisations around the world.

For more information about the Unisys IT Traineeship Program visit:
www.app3.unisys.com/ittraineeship

ENDS

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