Seven Indigenous leaders and entrepreneurs from around Australia were recognised as the winners of the inaugural national Indigenous Digital Excellence (IDX) Awards at a gala event in Redfern on Friday, 29 September.
The award winners, whose projects range from a translation app for remote Indigenous communities to a program aimed at encouraging Indigenous young people to pursue careers in STEM, and to an Elder using 3D printing technology, now share in $100,000 worth of prizes and grants. They also join the IDX alumni which includes formal IDX Certification and ongoing professional development and networking opportunities.
The IDX Awards are the centrepiece of the IDX initiative, a $5 million partnership between the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) and Telstra Foundation, which focuses on building digital skills, entrepreneurship and opportunities for Indigenous peoples and communities.
Alison Page, Chairperson of NCIE, said: “Fostering the next generation of Indigenous digital entrepreneurs and building the IDX movement across Australia is what IDX is all about. We’re so excited to be showcasing the potential of digital innovation for Indigenous Australia by celebrating some of our sharpest minds and forward-thinking entrepreneurs.
“IDX is all around us and these awards are all about shining a light on the intersection of digital technology and the world’s oldest living culture. We also want the Australian community, and those in government and the corporate sector, to recognise the huge benefits of investing in and increasing Indigenous participation in the digital economy.”
Jackie Coates, Head of the Telstra Foundation, Co-Founders of the IDX initiative said: “I’m completely blown away by the passion, drive and innovative thinking of our IDX Awards winners. From Ernest Gondarra, the Digital Elder of the Year who is using 3D printing to create culturally significant objects to Entrepreneurship winner Dean Foley who created Australia's first Indigenous-run accelerator for Indigenous businesses – this is what Indigenous Digital Excellences all about. We at the Telstra Foundation are proud to back this year’s award winning Indigenous innovators and entrepreneurs, and will be watching closely what they do next.”
During the awards, a national, competition for a digital app that addresses the priority area of education was also announced.
Alison Page, Chairperson of NCIE, said: “The national competition is an opportunity to encourage innovation and experimentation with technology from an Indigenous perspective that seeks to encourage our young people to engage with technology to develop the capacity of our aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs.”
The app competition will open in October 2017 and close in February 2018. To find out more about the IDX Awards and the award winners visit www.idxawards.org.au and to find out more and to register your interest about the competition head to idxawards.org.au.
Digital entrepreneurs and changemakers celebrated at inaugural IDX Awards