Digital Regions Initiative

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The four-year $60 million Digital Regions Initiative co-funds innovative digital enablement projects with state, territory and local governments through a National Partnership Agreement. It takes a collaborative approach to improve the delivery of education, health and/or emergency services in regional, rural and remote Australian communities.

The program funds trials enabled by the National Broadband Network

• NBN Diabetes Telehealth Trial in Townsville
• EduONE—Education Our New England
• NSW NBN Telehealth to the Home Trial

Fourteen other projects have also received funding.  

• Ambulance Mobile Connect SA
• Health eTowns 
• North East Victoria Bushfire Spotting and Response Service
• Chronic Disease Management for Regional and Rural Communities—Hunter New England Health
• CDM-Net Australia
• Connected—Any Student, Any School
• National Bushfire Prediction, Detection, Simulation and Early Warning System
• Justice Health—Clinical Outreach Program Phase II
• HEALNet—Online Professional Development for Health Professionals
• Clinical Outreach Program Phase II – Ambulance Service of NSW
• South Australian Digital Telehealth Network
• E-Mergency Connect
• Princess Alexandra Hospital Online Outreach Services
• Clinicians Online 

The Digital Regions Initiative commenced in July 2009 and concludes in June 2013.

For further information about the Digital Regions Initiative please email digitalregions@dbcde.gov.au  or phone 02 6271 1719.

• Digital Regions Initiative—round one guidelines  (PDF, 135KB)
• Digital Regions Initiative—round one guidelines (RTF, 2.5MB)
• Digital Regions Initiative—round two guidelines  (PDF, 311KB)
• Digital Regions Initiative—round two guidelines  (RTF, 597 KB) 

Map of Digital Regions Initiative projects

•  Digital Regions Initiative map—high resolution  (2.28 MB)
•  Digital Regions Initiative map—low resolution (158 KB) 

Project announcements

• On 10 December 2009, the Prime Minister announced funding for seven projects under the Digital Regions Initiative.
• Media release: Digital Projects to Improve Services in Regional Communities
• On 11 January 2010, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy, announced a further four projects would receive funding under this Initiative.
• Media release: Broadband initiative improving regional health services
• On 17 October 2010 the Prime Minister announced funding for a further project under the Digital Regions Initiative.  
• Media release: Boost for South Australia's online emergency services