The Andrews Labor Government is boosting digital technology infrastructure, skills, and capability across Gippsland.

The Labor Government’s $3.5 million Regional Digital Fund supports a broad range of important small-scale digital projects across Victoria including six projects in Gippsland to increase digital capability, connectivity, infrastructure, and inclusion. The Gippsland Regional Partnership directs this funding using place-based analysis to identify gaps in our region’s current digital infrastructure and makes recommendations on addressing those gaps.

Destination Gippsland is providing digital skills training and one-on-one, online, or on-site mentoring from a digital tourism expert for up to 120 tourism businesses across Gippsland through the Digital Tourism Mentoring and Capacity Building project.

A marketing campaign is being delivered by social enterprise GippsTech to promote the benefits and opportunities that digital skills and digitisation provides to small and medium sized businesses in Gippsland through the Marketing Digitalisation and Digital Skills project.

A showcase is being developed by local employment network Gippsland East LLEN that aims to provide pathways to employment and volunteering through the Gippsland East 360 Industry and VR Showcase project.  The virtual reality showcase will focus on raising the aspirations of young people, improving their knowledge about local careers, and enhancing their engagement and connections with industry and technology job opportunities in the region.

The Broadening Horizons project is being delivered by training organisation Arc Blue and will provide digital professional development for teachers and industry mentors, supporting students with real world career learning.

A website is underway for the Connecting Neighbourhood Houses Online project, being delivered by Neighbourhood Houses Gippsland to promote courses and events, volunteer opportunities and resources for communities and Neighbourhood Houses across five Gippsland local government areas.

Research and workshops will be delivered through the Mallacoota Community Health Infrastructure and Resilience Fund project that will support establishment of the Mallacoota Wilderness Co-working and Innovation space.

The Regional Digital Fund helps businesses and the community in regional Victoria by funding projects identified as priorities by each local Regional Partnership, investing up to $390,000 in each partnership region.

Digital connectivity and skills have been identified as key priorities across regional Victoria, and these projects focus on helping residents and businesses move beyond geographical and social barriers to economic growth.

All the Regional Digital Fund projects will help build digital technology infrastructure, skills, and capability in regional Victoria, supporting ongoing competitiveness of regional businesses, emerging industries, and helping to create local jobs.

In addition to the Gippsland region, other priority projects are rolling out across the state under the Fund in Barwon, Central Highlands, Goulburn, Great South Coast, Loddon Campaspe, Mallee, Ovens Murray, and Wimmera Southern Mallee regions.

To find out more, visit rdv.vic.gov.au/resources/digital-plans/innovation-in-the-regions.

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“We are committed to improving digital connectivity and capabilities throughout regional Victoria, creating opportunities for businesses and reducing the barriers for social and economic activity.”

Quote attributable to Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale

“Connecting Gippsland’s residents and businesses with the technology they need will play a key role in our state’s recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.”