Exploring digital technologies in Mount Isa

The Mount Isa community can explore coding, robotics, 3D printing and other digital technologies during a series of digital innovation events on Thursday, 15 June.

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch said the Digital Skills for all Queenslanders Roadshow is about engaging people with today’s leading technology, which is an increasing part of learning, working and socialising, and discussing community needs around digital literacy.

Workshops will be held during the day for students, teachers, librarians, community care providers and seniors to learn about coding and robotics, drones, virtual reality, 3D printing and much more.

Some of these technologies will also be on display at a public expo in the afternoon along with a discussion on how to meet the digital skills and literacy needs of the Mount Isa community.

“All Queenslanders, regardless of where they live, can tap into digital skills to connect, interact, find employment, access services, research and improve their education and health outcomes, and we want to understand from the community how we can help them do that,” Ms Enoch said.

“This roadshow allows people in regional towns to interact with exciting digital technologies, and consider the benefits and opportunities the digital age brings and what it could mean in their lives.

“Similar events have already been held in Rockhampton, Cairns and Longreach, and over the coming weeks, people in Bundaberg can also find out more about digital literacy in their communities and with cutting-edge technology like drones, 3D printers and virtual reality.”

Presenters include Advance Queensland Community Digital Champions Mic Black, Emily de la Pena, Anne Livingstone, Yash Dutt and Dunija Ariyaratne, who have joined the roadshow to help regional communities improve their digital literacy skills and get excited about technology.

The young entrepreneurs will be presenting the Innovative Technologies: For Youth, By Youth workshop to inspire local high school students to be technology creators, rather than consumers.

“The landscape of digital technology is constantly changing, and we want to encourage teenagers to consider what the future might look like and how they can use digital technology and skills to develop real world solutions,” Mr Dutt said.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity to talk to Queensland teenagers in regional and rural areas about how they can apply their digital ingenuity to the industries in their own communities.”

A special addition to the program is Queensland Flying Scientist and Advance Queensland Research Fellow Dr Paul Shaw who will talk about his work as a sensor team leader at the University of Queensland and the research being undertaken to develop sensitive, reliable and selective technology for detecting explosives by their vapours.

“It’s important that regional and remote communities are able to engage with and have access to science and technology activities, and that’s what the Flying Scientist program is all about – bringing STEM awareness events to regional centres,” Dr Shaw said.

Participants will be able to see the prototypes of explosive detection technologies and learn how non-contact detection can help keep the public, police and military safe from explosive devices.

Workshops for students, teachers, librarians, community care providers and seniors include The Robots are Coming, Add Wi-Fi to Everything, the Future of Creative Technology: Makers, Coding Kids, She Flies, Innovative Tech: for Youth by Youth, Digitally Transformed and Inclusive Community Living, and Robotics and Technology in the Classroom.

The free public expo is from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at Mount Isa Civic Centre, Studio Area.

The roadshow, run by the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, will also visit Longreach on Wednesday 7 June, and Bundaberg on 20 and 21 June.

To register or for more information visit http://godigitalqld.dsiti.qld.gov.au/Digital-Skills-Roadshow

Advance Queensland is the Palaszczuk Government's $405 million whole-of-government initiative focusing on harnessing innovation to unlock business potential, grow our regions, foster new industries, and give future generations the necessary skills and knowledge for the jobs of tomorrow.

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