The Queensland Government ICT Career Graduate Development Program is continuing to attract impressive graduates.

Recent program participant, Travis Malone, is set to embark on a career-enhancing two month journey across the globe courtesy of the Australian Information and Industry Association (AIIA).

Information and Communication Technology Minister, Robert Schwarten, said Mr Malone, who completed the two-year program earlier this year, was a worthy recipient.

'Travis was awarded the AIIA Award of Excellence in late 2008 as the top graduate in the program, which is coordinated by the Queensland Government Chief Information Office within the Department of Public Works,' Mr Schwarten said.

'As part of his trip, Travis will visit world-leading information technology companies around the world, including Microsoft, IBM, SAP, Cisco and Oracle.

'This means he will be stopping off in the United States, Germany, Japan and India, before arriving back in Brisbane on New Year's eve.'

Mr Malone is a member of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and Young IT Executive Committee member of the Queensland Branch.

Mr Schwarten said Mr Malone was selected to join the inaugural intake of the program in 2007 after completing a Bachelor of Information Technology degree from the Queensland University of Technology.

Upon entering the government workforce he took on a role as an Enterprise Architect at the Queensland Government Chief Information Office, and has since joined the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

'Travis is a prime example of the impressive graduates we are attracting,' Mr Schwarten said.

'The program has been running for three successful intakes and, to date, has seen 117 graduates begin ICT careers in the Queensland Government.

'The retention rates for the program are high. Approximately 77 percent of Travis's cohorts remained in government after two years,' he said

'Twenty-five new graduates have been selected for the 2010 intake of the program, from more than 500 applicants.

'I look forward to seeing these sought-after graduates taking advantage of the exciting opportunities offered by my department, and to seeing the Queensland Government reap the rewards of having high achievers like Travis Malone on board.'