The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to creating opportunities for Tasmanian businesses to prosper in the digital economy, build the workforce of the future by strengthening the link between industry and education, and ensure that all Tasmanians have the opportunity to learn new skills to adapt to an ever changing world. We’re proud to support the industry with a number of initiatives that include:
- The forthcoming Digital Ready for Daily Life program, developed in close partnership with TasCOSS, which aims to raise the digital literacy of the most vulnerable in our community, so all Tasmanians have equal ability to partake in the digital revolution. Leveraging TasCOSS’ expertise in the not-for-profit sector has allowed us direct the program to maximise social and economic participation through online and mobile technologies, improve skills, enhance quality of life and educating, as well as promote overall wellbeing;
- The highly successful Digital Ready for Business program, which for a number of years has helped Tasmanian small business get online and market their products to a worldwide audience;
- Our $3.5 million commitment to enhance mobile telecommunications coverage along the Great Eastern Drive, one of Tasmania’s most important tourism icons;
- Development of a new Workforce Development Plan for the industry, with a particular focus on encouraging women and diversity in IT;
- The Enterprize Innovation Hubs in Launceston and Hobart which are doing fantastic work to support the start-up and research sectors;
- The Tasmanian Government’s start-up accelerator; a $900,000 investment which will soon turn the concepts of Tasmania’s best and brightest into viable, real-world products and services;
- Twice yearly ICT summits which invites representatives of the IT industry such as the Australian Computer Society, TasICT and the private sector to discuss the topic of Digital Disruption and the ICT Skills Pipeline;
- The 2019/20 Budget also committed additional funding to continue the Tasmanian Government’s network of Free Wi-Fi hotspots across the state, which through partnership with Telstra, has proven extremely popular with Tasmanians accessing the internet on their portable devices, as well as visitors to our state who are quickly and easily jumping online to share the best of their unique Tasmanian experiences with the world;
- and an additional $360,000 to support a broader scope of activities under the Science and Technology portfolio, including enhanced STEM engagement and highlighting career paths, building Tasmania’s science and technology profile and brand, increasing knowledge, awareness and foresight of future industry trends and addressing critical science and technology infrastructure investment priorities.
