YOUTH FORUM AND WORKSHOP
The Ballarat ICT 2030 Youth Panel and Forum was hosted by Lead On and City of Ballarat Youth Services. It was held on 9 November 2006 at the Ballarat Learning Exchange. Below is a summary of the forum outcomes.
Where are we now?
What comes to mind when you think about ICT in Ballarat?
- IBM x 11
- TAFE
- Greenhill Enterprise Centre
How would you assess the current strength of Ballarat as an ICT centre for users?
- Geographically there is assistance available, and we are close to capital centres
- Broadband is accessible in Ballarat- possibly not available 15 min out
- There are many IT companies locally, making it competitive for maintenance as well as for internet connection packages
- There are a broad range of jobs in the area in ICT
- IBM offers very flexible working options for university students
- IBM attracts more industry to Ballarat and provides great links with large organisations
How would you assess the current strength of Ballarat as an ICT centre for ICT companies and service providers?
- People in Ballarat are computer literate good base of customers
- Growing population- creating ongoing business opportunities
- Ballarat actively promotes growth encourages bigger business to come and creates a drawcard for ICT companies
- There is a good skills base here encouraged by two Universities
- Growth in overseas students/ workers attracted by IBM and University will make available broad range of ICT skills for locally based business
- Lifestyle attracts workers
- Living here you can work in Melbourne or operate a company from here that has customers from other areas
What do you believe have been Ballarat s major ICT related achievements over the last decade?
- Stores gone electronic- supermarkets etc
- IBM
- Computers more available in schools
- Local access to up to date technology
- Improved access to computers and infrastructure
- Better ratios of students with computer access
- Tourism push button screens, interactive displays attract more people
- Mobile phones smaller and more affordable/available
- More course options for training at different levels
What ICT related areas need improvement? How could we improve on these areas?
- Lack of education for small business
- Lack of opportunity for students finishing University particularly to get relevant work experience/ complete practical placements/ employment
- Teaching staff at university could be more proactive in attracting opportunity for students
- Education for older adults- accessible and affordable
- More education re viruses and about how potential technology problems can be rectified reduce fear
- Improve broadband access for Mt Clear and outlying areas
- More education re the range of services and supports available
What would make Ballarat a more preferred destination for ICT investment?
- Good range of schools for training staff and for lifestyles of employees
- Ready access to good skills base
- Lifestyle
- Proximity to Melbourne
- Transport access
- Cheaper to operate / employ people/ for land etc
- Smaller university fosters partnerships and collaborations
What distinguishes Ballarat s ICT industry from other regional areas in Victoria or Australia?
What are the key challenges currently facing the ICT sector in Ballarat?
- Competition too much industry competition in Ballarat
- Improve access equal opportunity for every household to have access to a computer
- Business collapse how to sustain new/small business
- Retention of employees with good skills
- Keeping up to date with affordable training options
- Affordability of new innovations
Where do we want to be?
What do you believe ICT should look like in Ballarat in 2030?
Computers and ICT industry should not be too prominent in Ballarat- balance current lifestyle appeal and look of city
- Don t want Ballarat to be a call centre town more higher end industry
- More internet cafΓ© s but not in heart of town
- Like the sound of Ballarat as being silicone gully but not industry in centre of town
- Good to see more touch screens at tourist sites
- Ballarat should be making a name in innovation
What factors do you believe might hinder the City s development as a major ICT centre in Australia and the Asia-Pacific?
- Heritage- people don t like change
- Why destroy town s character for the sake of industry
- Keep old buildings be sensitive to community values
- Need to educate people to accept chance ie from manufacturing industry focus
How does ICT play a role in the economic development of Ballarat?
- Huge amount of business interested in the industry
- Improves education options
How does ICT play a role in the social development of Ballarat?
- Risk of SMS bullying / party crashing
- People can become overworked taking work home
- Parents relying on technology as babysitters
- Over reliance on technology can lead to poor social skills and connections
- Less social interaction for young people
- On the positive side it can open up experience of different countries and can be a good social outlet for isolated youth
- Technology can improve access to education
- Hard to manage corrupting info for youth ie porn
- Technology can allow people to steal others identity other security issues
How do we get there?
What do you believe Ballarat s infrastructure priorities for ICT should be over the next three years?
- Explain how ICT works ie tv ads/ info
- Increase availability of Wireless and fiberoptics as it is faster
- underground cables heritage appeal
- homes will automatically have internet access as part of phone line installation
- better education re limits of monthly access plans
- invest in education on benefits/how to connect to internet
What do you believe Ballarat s investment priorities for ICT should be over the next three years?
- Education for everyone in community
- Schools should be assisted to upgrade technology
- Forums for the community
- Internet cafΓ©
- Expand current network of broadband
What other priorities would you like to see identified for Ballarat ICT over the next three years?
Expand IBM contracts and staffing capacity
- Sustainability of programs/ business
- Increased education for general community and technical skills for future employees
- Expand access to network
- Increase higher skill work- attract specialty business
- Encourage local business ideas/development
Which areas of development are most important for the future success of Ballarat?
Develop youth / give their ideas a go/ give them a voice
- Assist youth to get into jobs/apprenticeships/ business
- Give young people challenging opportunities (expand their skill)
- Offer flexibility in school subjects
How can we get all parts of the Ballarat community excited about and engaged in ICT?
- Techno music
- Raising education keep everyone informed and operating at same level to keep interest levels high
- Be innovative with education utilise TV, Ads on food containers/radio
- Ambassador roles for people who are excited by IT
What is one thing we need to do better concerning ICT in Ballarat?
- Speed of internet connection
- Recycle old computers for charity/ less waste
- Increase knowledge of computer recyclers
- Improve broadband coverage
- Offer flexible work options- mobile offices/ work from home/ variety of shifts
What has been your involvement with the Ballarat ICT Industry over the last 12 years?
Home based techno music producer
- Student IT user
- Consumer
- Innovator
- Worker- IBM
- Creator of computer game software
- University student studying ICT
Feedback from the focus group:
- A bit too long too many questions, some repetitive
- Forum was a good opportunity to have input
- Good to hear other ideas/ perspectives
- Some would have tried an internet based forum
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