Media Release
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity
Broadband initiative improving regional health services
The Rudd Government today announced four additional projects for the Digital Regions Initiative.
"These projects will change the way essential services are delivered to regional, rural and remote Australian communities," the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said.
"The initiative will ensure Australians living outside our major metropolitan centres benefit directly from improved access to digital health services, online educational opportunities and improved emergency and disaster response."
The Digital Regions Initiative funds projects in partnership with the states and territories. The four new projects announced today follow an initial seven projects announced by the Prime Minister at the Realising Our Broadband Future Forum in December 2009.
The four new projects are:
- Justice Health Clinical Outreach Program Phase II. Using telehealth systems to enhance health outcomes and wellbeing for people in custody and for their families in NSW. $1.265 million in funding.
- HEALNet, Online Professional Development for Health Professionals. A TAFE NSW project to enable nurses and allied health professionals to complete professional development online. $0.881 million in funding.
- South Australian Digital Telehealth Network. To enhance in-patient care and distance consultation services including 24/7 triage and liaison services in South Australia. $2.480 million in funding.
- NSW Ambulance Service Clinical Outreach Program Phase II. To implement new medical record, administration and e-learning systems at 190 ambulance stations in NSW. $1.795 million in funding.
"The National Broadband Network will deliver high-speed broadband to all Australians, no matter where they choose to live or work, and the Digital Regions Initiative will drive important developments to enable the productive benefits on offer," Senator Conroy said.
The Digital Regions Initiative was announced as part of the Government’s initial response to the Glasson Regional Telecommunications Review in March 2009. Further funding was announced in the 2009–10 Budget.
Digital Regions Initiative online: www.dbcde.gov.au/digitalregions
Date: 11 January 2010
Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457
