The education of our future workforce is the key to ensuring the Sunshine Coast sees long-term benefits from the digital economy, according to participants at Tuesday’s Queensland Digital Economy Strategy consultation workshop.
“Our kids are the long-term future and we need them involved,” RDA Sunshine Coast CEO Mr Russell Mason said. “In particular, teachers need to be given the training and tools that enable them to teach our children how to not just consume digital products but how to create them.”
More than twenty-five Sunshine Coast digital experts (Digerati) attended the interactive workshop to explore ideas that could influence the outcomes of the State Government’s Digital Economy Strategy and provide the foundations for the Sunshine Coast’s Digital Participation and Productivity Plan into the future.
Dr Lucy Cameron and Brian Gray from the Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts hosted the lively discussion held at the Lake Kawana Community Centre.
Mr Mason said other key discussions from the workshop included the need for key infrastructure that enabled high-speed internet around the region, fixing mobile black spots and looking at the use of sensing technology into the future.
“The Digital Economy Strategy also needs to focus on local exporters who must be given the digital tools that will enable them to expand and grow their business.”
The draft Digital Economy Strategy is being developed to ensure that all Queenslanders are best positioned to enjoy the economic and social benefits of the digital economy. The State Government’s vision is that Queensland will be Australia’s most digitally interactive state and recognised globally as a digital innovation hub.
Tuesday’s workshop was coordinated by Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Council and the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast on behalf of the Queensland Government.
The draft Queensland Digital Economy Strategy is available online: www.godigitalqld.dsitia.qld.gov.au