Local businesses and community organisations are encouraged to take advantage of Telework Week from 12-16 November to find about the benefits of working effectively from any location.
Telework is working regularly from a place other than the office, in most cases from a home office, and uses information and communications technology to stay connected to colleagues and work systems.
RDA Sunshine Coast Chair Prof Max Standage said telework could deliver a broad range of benefits to the community, including increased workforce participation and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion and fuel consumption associated with commuting.
“Opportunities available through telework will not only contribute to productivity, but allow businesses to maintain their global competitiveness.”
Prof Standage said the Federal Government’s commitment to a national broadband network (NBN) was a key step towards RDA SC’s vision to ensure the Sunshine Coast became a leading digital economy.
“We are in a unique position to take advantage of new and emerging technologies associated with the roll out of high speed broadband.”
Prof Standage said RDA Sunshine Coast would deliver a Digital Futures – Telework Readiness program in partnership with several South-East Queensland RDAs following their successful $100,000 grant application under the government’s NBN Readiness Projects aimed to maximise the benefits of a digital economy.
“This project involves a number of RDAs as we are all facing infrastructure and transport challenges. We view the NBN rollout as one of the circuit breakers in solving some of the key issues facing our regions, in particular commuting to and from work and the resultant loss productivity due to traffic congestion in one of Australia’s major population centres,” he said.
“The telework readiness program focuses on using new technology and telework systems to enhance productivity in the regions surrounding Brisbane by reducing road dependence and use and instead increasing traffic via a ‘digital’ perspective rather than a physical one,” said Prof Standage.
The Australian Government’s aim to increase the take up of telework is part of its National Digital Economy Strategy which aims to position Australia as one of the world’s leading digital economies. The telework goal is to double Australia’s level of telework by 2020, so that at least 12 per cent of Australian employees report having a telework arrangement with their employers.
For more information about the benefits of telework visit www.telework.gov.au/
Local organisations had the opportunity to participate in a telework event in Mooloolaba next week, organised by The Creative Collective team.
Date: Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Time: 8.30am – 10am
Venue: The Velo Project, 19 Careela St, Mooloolaba
Contact: Yvette Adams or Katie Kubler on 545 11315 or email pr@thecreativecollective.com.au