Indigenous leaders from across Australia will gather in Sydney today for a national three-day summit that aims to create a road-map for Indigenous Digital Excellence (IDX).
The action-focused IDX Summit will explore a range of topics, including how new technology can solve old problems and how to strengthen Indigenous participation, practice and entrepreneurship in the digital economy.
Held at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) from 27-29 April, the summit is part of the IDX initiative, a large-scale joint partnership between the Telstra Foundation and NCIE.
Rei Sciascia, Chair of the Digital Maori Forum is the summit’s keynote speaker and will bring his extensive experience in digital innovation and pioneering Maori ICT participation and management in New Zealand to the forum.
Other speakers include Australian Indigenous and digital experts who will explore how digital technology can assist in areas such as health, education, language revival as well as problem solving.
With a unique theme each day of Inspire, Build and Connect, the summit will drive the creation of Australia’s first IDX Strategy, bringing together wider research and national consultation with Indigenous communities across Australia held earlier this year.
CEO of the NCIE Kirstie Parker said the IDX Summit has been designed as an actionoriented forum, to deliver concrete steps towards a comprehensive and community inclusive national strategy that can be readily implemented.
“This summit is not a ‘talk fest’ and will harness ideas and experience, including Maori ICT participation and management experience, to inform the Indigenous Digital Excellence Strategy,” Ms Parker said.
“The Maori experience tells us it is possible to build digital bridges to narrow the digital divide within Indigenous communities.
“The summit will explore ways we can connect with a broad range of organisations to not just create opportunity and prosperity for Indigenous people, but also the potential of digital innovation to assist in solving current issues and challenges in communities.”
Telstra Foundation General Manager Jackie Coates said that when technology is focused on delivering positive social impacts, great things can happen. “The Telstra Foundation has committed $5 million over five years to support IDX across the country and we are proud to partner with the NCIE to drive stronger outcomes in this area,” Ms Coates said.
Thank you to the City of Sydney for their sponsorship of the Summit.