IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

NCSS provides opportunities for Australian high school students to learn computer-programming skills with the hope of attracting them to ICT-related subjects at university.

NCSS is petitioning the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), urging it to support a draft of the Australian Curriculum: Technologies Foundation to Year 10.

The NSW Government has detailed its strategy to boost the state's digital economy, as part of the O'Farrell administration's plan to help the state adapt to disruptive innovation and increasing competition from emerging economies.

The Industry Action Plan for the Digital Economy, released by Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner, includes a $6.7 million innovation initiative to identify opportunities and challenges for the state, as well as smart work hubs and the implementation of the NSW Government's open data initiative.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner, presents the $10,000 prize for the Digital Sydney design competition to Ascender Design Creative Director, Adrian Weller

The NSW government is keen to promote Sydney as an Asia-Pacific digital hub.

The government used CeBIT to launch the initiative — a showreel will showcase NSW digital strengths during CeBIT Australia, the Vivid Festival and globally.

National Information and Communications Technology Australia (NICTA) has received an extra $42 million in 2015-2016 from the Rudd Government to help support the digital economy.

This brings the total Rudd Government investment in NICTA to $130 million during the next three years. The funding is already included in the Budget.

The NSW Government is opening an industry consultation process as part of the first annual review of its ICT strategy, launched in March last year.

Minister for Finance and Services, Greg Pearce, today opened three lines of inquiry into the strategy via the state's Have Your Say consultative platform.

Industry inputs will be taken into account as the Government prepares its ICT strategy implementation update for 2013.

NSW Government executive managers are to be offered coaching in high-level ICT and contract management after an internal assessment revealed some capability weaknesses.

Some 337 executives participated in a senior executive service (SES) executive development program that is being spearheaded by the NSW Public Service Commission.

New South Wales finance minister Greg Pearce has urged the state's ICT industry to participate in the public consultation on implementation of the government's ICT strategy.

A draft implementation update sets out the progress made in the NSW Government ICT Strategy's seven priority areas since it was launched in 2012 and the priorities for the state in 2013.

Addressing Queensland’s Government ICT executives and the ICT industry, Minister Walker underlined his intention to meet with every member of Queensland’s ICT industry and agencies. These consultations will drive ICT reforms in Queensland.

Mr Walker, a keynote speaker at the industry’s flagship FutureGov Forum Queensland, says this new ICT action plan lays the foundations for a rigorous public sector, working in tandem with the industry.

The just-released Queensland Government ICT Strategy 2013-2017 offers a comprehensive roadmap to reforms over the next five years.

In early June, the state’s long-awaited comprehensive audit of its ICT systems and processes found that ninety percent of the Queensland Government’s ICT systems were outdated and would require replacement within five years at a total cost of $7.4 billion, as Queensland continues to grapple with the catastrophic outcome of years of “chronic underfunding” into its dilapidated ICT infrastructure.

Brisbane City Council has begun an audit to find 25 "digital champions" among the capital's 50,000 businesses ahead of the launch of the city's first digital strategy in December.

The city's move follows the appointment in July of chief digital officer Kieran O'Hea, who has been charged with boosting technology uptake and turning Brisbane into a hub for digital businesses.

IT Minister Ian Walker said the ICT Strategy set the roadmap to ensure the Queensland Government’s IT systems delivered the best results for the community in the most cost-effective way.

“This strategy will ensure Queenslanders will not have to face another debacle like the failed health payroll system which will cost taxpayers $1.25 billion,” Mr Walker said.

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen wrote to the Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, to warn of the "major issue'' developing in schools.

He said the rollout of laptops as part of the computers in schools program saw many schools struggle to attract and retain technicians.

The world is witnessing an accelerated pace in digitisation, driven by the mass adoption of smart and connected ICT by consumers, businesses and governments. In Australia, government agencies are looking for ways to make the most of digitisation to enhance their services, achieve internal efficiencies, and improve the lives and prosperity of citizens.

Today, the information economy is no longer a concept; it is an economic and social reality affecting every aspect of our lives. Although ICT is an emerging sector, it is fast catching up and even exceeding the economic contribution of many traditional areas of our economy.

The shortage of skilled Australian ICT professionals has plummeted by about 50 per cent, according to contracting and recruitment services specialist, the Clarius Group (ASX: CND).

In its latest Clarius Skills Index, the company showed an 'extreme' shortage of 8258 ICT professionals in the June quarter, as compared to compares to a shortage of 5500 workers in the March quarter.

The Tasmanian government has earmarked $28 million for the establishment of an ICT Project Fund. Funding for 2013-14, revealed in today's state budget, will total $4 million, with funding increasing annually up to $10 million in 2016-17.

"The Tasmanian Government has traditionally employed an agency based model for managing and planning most of its Information Communications Technology (ICT) projects," budget papers state.

The IT’s Your Career program will help Information and Communications Technology groups to attract, keep and develop young talent in one of Tasmania’s newest growth industries.

The program features an information website, presentations in Tasmanians schools, and an employment pathway program through the Polytechnic, high schools and colleges.

The lack of female representation at senior levels is even greater, with women occupying a tiny percentage of ICT leadership roles. [1]Kaylene O’Brien, Deloitte Consulting technology partner said organisations and their leaders need to address the gender imbalance in the ICT industry if they are to recruit, retain and engage Australia’s high performing talent.

The prime minister, Julia Gillard and communications minister, senator Stephen Conroy, along with the federal member for Perth, Stephen Smith, chose of all places a Perth retail store to announce "a major national strategy that will provide a roadmap for Australia to leverage the National Broadband Network (NBN) and become a world leading digital economy by 2020."