Welcome to the third edition of the Smart State e-newsletter, Smart Connections. Since the Premier launched Smart Queensland: Smart State Strategy 2005 -2015 in April 2005, there have been many noteworthy achievements. These accomplishments signify that Queensland is embracing the new spirit of enterprise in education, culture and industry necessary for the continued growth and proposerity of the state. These new programs have received significant contributions from government, industry and importantly individuals. Some of these unique accomplishments have been captured in the first edition of Smart Connections for 2006.
Throughout 2006, Smart Connections will continue to keep you informed with the latest Smart State news, success stories, upcoming events and initiatives.
More than 160 students from across Queensland applied for the new Smart State PhD Scholarships, which closed on 16 November 2005. The applicants addressed a range of Queensland R&D priorities, with more than half directed at the two priority areas of health research and new technologies.
The top up scholarships are worth $7000 per year for three years for students receiving an Australian Postgraduate Award. In addition, the students receive a bonus payment of $1500 if they submit their PhD thesis within three and a half years of commencement.
The scholarships are part of the new Innovation Skills Fund which provides funding to attract and retain talented researchers to undertake innovative, ground-breaking research in Queensland.
"The Queensland of the future will in no way suffer from a brain drain - we will have a brain gain," Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said at the launch of the Smart State Innovation Funds.
Up to 18 PhD scholarships will be awarded in the first round, providing a financial incentive for talented young scientists to embark on their research careers in Queensland.
For more information: www.sdi.qld.gov.au/innovationfunds
 |
| Diversionary therapy making a difference for young burn patients at the Royal Brisbane Hospital |
A new hand-held device for delivering screen entertainment has been developed here in Queensland. This new technology is used as a diversionary therapy tool for young burns patients as they undergo very painful and traumatic hospital treatment.
This important initiative has been created by the Australasian Cooperative Research Centre for Interactive Design (ACID). It demonstrates one of many innovative ways that creative industries are working with the health industry to improve people’s quality of life.
With the support of the Creative Industries Unit within the Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation, ACID has successfully patented this new technology and is preparing to take it to a wider market.
ACID has invented this unique electronic device to divert the attention of two to seven year-olds. The hand-held device provides an interactive experience with colourful cartoon characters and short animated stories. Formal clinical research has proven the effectiveness of the new technology in reducing anxiety and the need for drugs in young burns patients.
Young burns victims require regular bandage changes. Until recently the only way to deal with this has been through the provision of painkillers, a less than ideal way to provide care to the very young.
The project is set to continue with the design of a device suitable for patients aged seven years and older, and the provision of digital media content suitable for this age group will be provided by Queensland writers and artists.
The outcomes of this research are putting Queensland at the cutting edge of medical and clinical research, and most importantly, helping those most in need.
The Queensland Government will allocate more than $200 million to boost science and innovation over the next four years through the new Smart State Innovation Funds.
“This is all part of our strategy to foster innovation in our state,” Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said while launching the funds in October, at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
“The funds will help build world-class research facilities, attract top-quality scientists, stimulate cutting-edge research projects and provide new fellowships, scholarships and industry internships for Queensland university students,” the Deputy Premier said.
The funds include the $128 million Innovation Building Fund, the $60 million Innovation Projects Fund, the $12 million Innovation Skills Fund and the $1 million Smart State University Internships Program.
Successful applicants will be announced in early 2006.
For further information on the funds: www.sdi.qld.gov.au/innovationfunds
 |
| Troy Hammant and Customer Service Consultant, Isidra Toldi, at the Woodridge Customer Service Centre. As a result of the Skilling Solutions Queensland service, Troy is now undergoing a formal recognition of prior learning process with Career Employment Australia for a Certificate III in Horticulture. |
To date five service centres have been opened as part of the three-year pilot initiative in Shailer Park, Logan Central, Meadowbrook, South Brisbane and Rockhampton. The initiative also offers a mobile service via its partners at the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Boonah and Beaudesert on a part-time basis.
The Skilling Solutions Queensland service is a unique one-stop shop offering unprecedented access to up-to-date information about training choices available through registered training organisations.
The service provides customers with an indication of what qualifications they may receive recognition of prior learning for, and from there they are able to choose a qualification that best suits their career aspirations and a participating registered training organisation where they can undertake a formal recognition of prior learning process.
The Skilling Solutions Queensland initiative has been a key driver in raising the profile and importance of the recognition of prior learning process, which gives people the chance to have their existing knowledge and skills assessed and credited towards a qualification. Recognition of prior learning helps Queenslanders complete their formal training more quickly than if they had to start from scratch.
By the end of November 2005, Skilling Solutions Queensland had referred more than 1370 people onto registered training organisations for formal recognition of prior learning. Of these, more than 650 people commenced their formal recognition of prior learning process with a participating registered training organisation, many finishing with a qualification being awarded.
In response to the various skills shortages affecting different parts of the State, it was announced in October 2005 that the Skilling Solutions Queensland pilot service would be expanded to three regional areas in early 2006, including Mackay and Townsville.
The Queensland Government picked up the "most active government presence" award at the recent AusBiotech national conference in Perth in November 2005.
The national conference – attended by 70 Queensland delegates – is the annual premier event for AusBiotech, the national body representing over 2600 members that is dedicated to growing the Australian biotechnology industry.
The Office of Biotechnology, worked with Invest Australia to arrange business matching meetings for Queensland delegates attending AusBiotech. Mario Pennisi, CEO of the Government sponsored Queensland Clinical Trials Network Inc., actively promoted Queensland as the place to conduct international and national clinical trials.
“AusBiotech provides the government with opportunities to meet with national and international organisations and promote the growing strength of Queensland biotechnology. It is a great way to attract new business to our state,” said Rita Borzelleca from the Office of Biotechnology.
The Queensland Government’s display highlighted the excellent work of Queensland scientists and the state’s competitive advantages in biotechnology. The display, developed by the Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, was the envy of other Australian states.
For further information: www.biotech.qld.gov.au
www.qctn.com.au
 |
| Queensland Academy of Sport advancing in sport technology development Photo by: Scott Mackinnon |
As part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to research and development through the Smart State initiative, the Centre of Excellence for Applied Sport Science Research (CoE) was established at the QAS in 2004.
The only state-based research centre of its kind in Australia, it provides a Smart State hub for research that will ensure Queensland’s elite sporting academy remains at the forefront of international athlete and coach development.
The CoE currently has six PhD and two Masters scholars and one Honours student conducting full-time study in the areas of coaching processes, injury prevention and management, biomechanics, physiology and technology development.
This important research is already having far-reaching effects, with information being shared at international forums.
The influential role that the CoE is having on the development of applied sport science research has also been recognised on a national level with the recent awarding of an Australian Research Council Grant.
The grant will provide funding for a collaborative research project with Griffith University and will see the Smart State enhancing Australia’s international reputation in the sport sciences.
The CoE and Griffith University will use the $511 000 grant to conduct a research project entitled ‘Optimising performance under pressure: testing and developing athletes’ attentional processes during sport performance’.
The research will focus on athletes’ psychological processes and will examine, analyse and explore current theories and practices related to sport performance at different levels.
It will endeavour to provide coaches with the necessary tools for establishing improved training programs to achieve better results for athletes in competition and training.
The project will span a three year period with the research team including Associate Professor Patrick Thomas from the School of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, and Dr David Neumann from the School of Psychology at Griffith University, Gold Coast and Dr Sue Hooper from the Queensland Academy of Sport Centre of Excellence.
The research grant will also include the provision of an Australian Postgraduate Award for a PhD scholar for a period of three years.
The research outcomes of this project will not only benefit Queensland’s elite athletes but will improve sporting performance and participation in the wider community in Queensland and elsewhere.
Cross cultural experience with some practical business advice turns into small business success for Anna
 |
| Anna’s Japanese inspired bags at Momoko Market Stall Photo by: Leigh Vogelaar |
“I’d previously worked in recruitment but I had such a great experience in Japan, I wanted to find a way to use what I’d learned about Japanese culture and aesthetics here in Queensland.”
So Anna decided to start small, by creating a line of bags, belts and other accessories out of Japanese fabrics and set up a stall on the world-famous Eumundi market. She called her business ‘Momoko’, which is Japanese for Peach Girl.
“I’ve done a degree in Commerce, but that was a few years ago and besides, it didn’t really help with the nitty gritty of starting your own business. So I contacted my local State Development Centre for help.”
The Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation was able to point Anna to a variety of services and seminars run by the department.
“The State Development, Trade and Innovation (DSDTI) website was helpful in showing me how to get started, how to keep the tax office happy, and where to go for more help. But what I found the most useful were the seminars organised by the DSDTI – especially the Home Based Business seminars.”
Anna has been able to take what she learned at these seminars to expand her business to the point where she can no longer keep up with demand.
“Expanding my product line into garments, as opposed to accessories, has really seen my business take off. I’ve increased my prices and sub-contracted out the sewing, but I still can’t keep up with demand. And that’s just through my stall at the Eumundi market! I’m currently searching for a business to take on more of the sewing, and once that has been sorted I plan to start wholesaling my products to shops around Queensland and interstate. My photographer husband has also just finished the website http://www.momoko.com.au and the Craft Queensland gallery in Fortitude Valley is featuring my work in their Christmas Gifts exhibition, so that will create new opportunities as well.”
While Anna still spends some time behind a sewing machine and in designing new product lines, she’s now at the point where she’s much more of a businessperson than a fashion designer.
“I’m a naturally organised person, but the DSDTI has been really helpful in providing me with the specific information I need to make my business grow. I’ve just enrolled in a business planning course – my business is growing too quickly now to just deal with things as they pop up. I’m looking forward to learning how I can develop and implement some strategic vision for the future.”
Find the location of your nearest State Development Centre or learn about upcoming business development seminars.
Molectra Technologies for winning the Global 100 Eco-Tech Award as a part of the 2005 World Exposition held in Aichi Japan and winning first prize on the ABC’s New Inventors program for the waste tyre recycling technology.
The Molectra waste tyre recycling process was invented by John G. Dobozy several years ago. John calls himself an ‘Innovation Architect’, who comes up with new concepts and products. He is also the Managing Director of his self-founded company Molectra Technologies based in Queensland.
Annually, there are an estimated 1.2 billion old tyres that are discarded around the world, continually adding to the growing stockpiles. Australia contributes around 18 million to this number each year. After talking to many experts in the tyre industry as well as current tyre recyclers using antiquated techniques, John decided that an innovative solution needed to be developed to turn this potential environmental disaster into an economic and community benefit. He conducted in-depth research and formulated an effective way to recover very clean, vulcanised crumb rubber from waste tyres and later developed the apparatus to extract oil and carbon from the rubber.
The Molectra process integrates mechanical, chemical and microwave treatments to cleanly and efficiently break the tyre down into its base materials – oil, carbon, rubber granules, steel and plastic fibres, which can then be made into valuable products and resources such as rubber matting, silicone tiles, rebonded pavers, rebonded block, rebonded pipe, soil aerator, and hydro-chips.
Winning two such high profile awards, the Molectra waste tyre recycling technology is being marketed around the world and has attracted the interest of waste management companies, government departments, environmental organizations and others in the industry. It has been widely acknowledged that there is a huge potential for the products extracted from the system, as well as the technology itself. The Molectra system is shaping up as a home grown and innovative solution to a global problem.
For more information about Molectra and its winning technology log on to: www.molectra.com.au
The University of Queensland (UQ) has again been recognised as the nation`s top teaching institution, winning a staggering one-third of the 2005 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) plus more than one-third of Federal funds for excellence in teaching and learning.
UQ was awarded more than $10 million of the total of $30 million given to five universities nationally in the top band of higher education providers in the Federal Government's Learning and Teaching Performance Fund.
UQ received $10.424 million, the University of Melbourne $9.853 million, the University of Wollongong $5.108 million, the Swinburne University of Technology $3.852 million and the Australian Maritime College $1.143 million.
In the Australian Awards for University Teaching, UQ won four of 12 awards in the categories of Physical Sciences ($40,000); Teaching Large First Year Classes ($50,000); Enhancement of the Quality of Teaching and Learning ($50,000); and Approaches to Improving/Enhancing Assessment ($50,000).
The awards highlighted how the University's lecturers devised innovative and unique approaches to teaching, including overcoming the nationwide problem of expanding class sizes and addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly occupational therapists.
Queensland Health is undertaking a review of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945. The Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) was established in 1945 to undertake health and medical research into diseases of particular concern to Queensland. However, since its inception, the QIMR has significantly expanded in scope and size to become a multi-disciplined research organisation.
The review of the QIMR Act will consider the following broad areas:
Submissions are being sought on a Discussion Paper on the Review of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945 (QIMR Act). Copies of the Discussion Paper are available on the Queensland Health Internet website at:
www.health.qld.gov.au/legislation/reviews_index.asp
Hard copies of the Discussion Paper are also available on request to the below email address or to telephone (07) 3234 0691.
Written submission may be sent by post to:
Legislative Projects Unit
Queensland Health
GPO Box 48
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Or by email to: legislation@health.qld.gov.au
Closing date for submissions is Friday 24 February 2006
Queries on the review may be directed to Jeremy Kirby on (07) 3234 0289
The next edition of Smart Connections will come out in March 2006. In this edition, the themes will be education and ideas in the Smart State. In particular, we’ll be previewing the upcoming activities at the International Education Forum being hosted in Brisbane (3-5 April 2006) and the Ideas Festival to be held at Southbank in Brisbane (29 March – 2 April 2006). Both events are sure to be filled with powerful ideas and stimulating networking opportunities, and will set the tone for a year of ongoing achievements in the Smart State.
For further information and on-line registration, log on to:
http://aei.dest.gov.au/AEI/Events/IEF06/Default.htm
www.ideasfestival.com.au
Your comments and ideas on Smart Connections and the Smart State website are always welcome, so feel free to email us at: smartstate@premiers.qld.gov.au
Disclaimer
This publication is produced to convey general interest policy information
and highlight innovative developments in Queensland. While every care has
been taken in preparing this publication, the State of Queensland accepts
no responsibility for decisions or action taken as a result of any data, information,
statement or advice, express or implied, contained in the publication.
© The State of Queensland Department of the Premier
and Cabinet 2005.
Copyright protects this publication. The State of Queensland has no objection
to this material being reproduced but asserts its right to be recognised as
author of its original material and the right to have its material remain
unaltered.