Fenwick is delighted to announce a new partnership with Deakin University’s School of IT, expanding its long-standing commitment to nurturing the next generation of technology professionals. 

This marks another step in Fenwick’s long history of building strong ties with Melbourne universities, providing meaningful opportunities for students to launch their careers in IT consulting and software development. 

Building on a shared history 

Fenwick has had a long standing relationship with John McPhee since he worked at Swinburne and Open Universities as the associate director. When he joined Deakin as the student projects manager in 2025, the connection naturally continued. 

“We were already broadening our university involvement, and reconnecting with John at Deakin was a perfect fit,” said Fenwick COO, Bradley Foot. 

However, Fenwick’s relationship with Deakin runs deeper than its connections. Current team members Shawn and Youking are just some of the current employees that studied at Deakin before joining Fenwick, underscoring the university’s strong alignment with Fenwick’s values and culture. 

“My time doing a Computer Science course at Deakin was incredibly important for my career trajectory. The degree didn’t just give me the theoretical foundation but also the practical and industry-relevant skills needed in today’s tech industry. This foundational knowledge eventually culminated in my career growth to my current position of Senior Consultant at Fenwick.”

– Shawn Chung, Senior Consultant at Fenwick

Why Deakin 

Fenwick sees Deakin as a natural partner, with its innovative IT courses, strong industry engagement, and focus on real-world student experiences. The partnership complements Fenwick’s existing collaborations with other universities, particularly by broadening the pool of candidates for developer roles through Deakin’s summer internship program. 

Opportunities for students 

As part of the partnership, Fenwick will be offering full-time summer placements in IT Consulting and Software Development, focusing on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Running from November to January, the program gives students valuable, hands-on experience in ERP consulting and development. Roles will be advertised through Deakin University’s Career Portal for the upcoming summer intake. 

These placements will give students a strong head start in their careers, while enabling Fenwick to connect early with the best IT graduates in Melbourne. 

Growing talent from the ground up

Fenwick’s broader vision has always been to grow talent from the ground up. The company has thrived for nearly 50 years by bringing in graduates who bring energy, curiosity, and fresh ideas, while offering opportunities for experienced staff to mentor and guide them. 

“Over 80% of our current team joined Fenwick as a graduate or continued after completing a student placement,” said Brad Foot. “It keeps a 50-year-old company young, innovative, and an exciting place to build a career.” 

“My time at Deakin was definitely a stepping stone that facilitated my professional success at Fenwick as a consultant. The practical knowledge and skills I learned during my time studying has helped me understand how to use them in a workplace environment.”

– Youking Agoes,, Consultant at Fenwick

Celebrating the partnership 

Fenwick recently sponsored Deakin’s Best Project of the Year Award at InnoFes, marking our first official activity as part of the new partnership. 

“Thanks to Deakin for inviting us to sponsor this event,” said Brad Foot during the award presentation. “We’ve enjoyed speaking with the students and were really impressed with the technical skills, innovation, and passion on show today. We love being involved in events like this, meeting and supporting future IT professionals, and helping them take their first steps into the industry.” 

We look forward to our first intake of students in 2026.