Business bulletin: 4 April 2019

More than 450 delegates, including 200 education agents from across Australia and New Zealand have descended on Darwin to attend the region’s largest event for international education, work, youth and student travel.

ICEF-ANZA is the key business-to-business trade fair for the international education and training industry, connecting providers, recruitment agents, work and travel professionals, and service providers.

The conference will showcase the Territory as an appealing destination to key agents who influence students seeking an international education experience.

International education is a priority growth industry in the Economic Development Framework.

More international students choosing to study in the Territory will grow a more diversified and sustainable economy, and create jobs for Territorians.

The Northern Territory Government aims to increase international student numbers to 10,000 by 2025 and today released its International education and training strategy at ICEF-ANZA.

The strategy aims to capitalise on the Territory’s high quality Australian education offerings, competitive advantages and proximity to rapidly growing Asian markets to achieve this growth.

The three pillars of the strategy are:

• Enrich the Territory international student experience - connect students to the local community and employers, support student health and wellbeing, and maintain the Territory’s connection to graduates.
• Showcase the Territory as a study destination - promote international education and training opportunities in the Territory and expand the study tour market.
• Strengthen and grow the Territory international education and training sector - grow leadership and capacity, and partner with industry to explore new opportunities.

Read more about studying in the Territory and the International education and training strategy.

The Territory is getting ready to seize the boundless opportunities in the growing space economy with the launch of Territory space industry 2020.

Dr Megan Clark, head of the Australian Space Agency, was in Darwin for the launch.

The new strategy aims to grow the Territory’s space industry capabilities, connect Territory industry with the Australian and global space economy, and support the Territory economy to become ‘space enabled’.

Continued enhancements in the Territory space industry will also support innovation in existing economic sectors, such as agribusiness, energy and minerals, defence and tourism.

The Northern Territory Government is working collaboratively with the Australian Space Agency and other jurisdictions to develop Australia’s space industry to drive investment, create jobs and position Australia as a key participant in the global space economy.

“The Agency welcomes the momentum that is building in Northern Australia to assess opportunities for growth in the space sector,” Dr Clark said.

There are 32 space industry companies operating in the Territory including local remote sensing company maitec.

Director of maitec, Stefan Maier, said "Territory space industry 2020 recognises the importance of space technology in our daily lives.

“The global space industry is growing fast. Territory space industry 2020 provides the framework for the Northern Territory to participate in and benefit from this growth."

Find out more or get a copy of Territory space industry 2020.

Aboriginal Corporation Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi are upskilling 11 Aboriginal staff members to deliver a project that will promote the positive use of social media in their community.

Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation (Waltja) is a community-based organisation, working with Aboriginal families in remote Central Australian communities.

Waltja is developing culturally appropriate content to share with community, promoting resilience and skills against cyber bullying.

Executive Director, Irene Nangala explains that with 4G coming on board in communities, the Aboriginal Workforce Grant has enabled their social workers to get training and become savvy about social media.

“They are learning about some of the dangers and how to support people who may be tricked by online scams.

“We are learning how to use online tools to tell positive stories about all the things we are doing on communities.

“The one-on-one training that this Aboriginal Workforce Grant provides means that staff can work at their own pace to learn new skills.”

Thirteen businesses in Darwin, Katherine, East Arnhem and Central Australia have received grants of up to $80,000 for projects that support sustainable jobs or career advancement for Aboriginal people.

This adds to the 26 businesses supported in 2017 and 2018, which have enabled 215 Aboriginal Territorians to find a new job or to undertake training to progress their careers.

The Aboriginal Workforce Grants are part of the Northern Territory Governments Skilling Territorians initiative, which helps employers and businesses train local people for local jobs.

For further information about the Skilling Territorians, and the Aboriginal Workforce Grants go to the Skilling Territorians website.

A targeted program of events showcasing the Territory’s trade and investment opportunities will take place in Darwin later this month.

The Business Engagement Program (BEP) will run alongside the Arafura Games and is targeted at encouraging international and national investment in the Territory.

Led by the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation, the BEP will include sessions that highlight the Territory’s key industries including agribusiness, minerals and energy, tourism, innovation, international education, health, trade, migration, oil and gas and supply services.

The BEP aims to:

• showcase the Territory’s unique trade history through a newly curated History of Trade Exhibition
• promote trade and investment opportunities through business hubs
• support expansion of existing and emerging industries through sector specific forums and site tours
• connect and motivate businesses through industry networking functions and business-to-business introductions.

The BEP will run from the 27 April to the 4 May 2019.

Local businesses are encouraged to register their interest to attend. View the full program of events.

The new History of Trade Exhibition will showcase the commodities and industries which have been historically important to the Northern Territory.

The exhibition will be located on level 2 of the Darwin Convention Centre during the Arafura Games and is free to attend. The exhibition will be open from 8am to 5pm from 27 April to 4 May 2019.

Businesses are invited to attend information sessions to learn about their rights and responsibilities with the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.

Presented by the Northern Territory Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC), Mr Ken Fleming QC, the sessions are designed to increase understanding of how to prevent, detect and report improper conduct.

These sessions are particularly relevant to businesses and organisations that having working relationships with the Northern Territory Government, and need to know their obligations to resist and report improper conduct in the public sector.

In the coming months, the Office of the ICAC will be working with businesses, organisations and bodies as part of an education strategy to build readiness and resistance.

The Office of the ICAC was established in November 2018 to recognise and address corruption in the public sector.

The ICAC has the powers to investigate any body, incorporated or note, that directly or indirectly receives Northern Territory Government resources including, money, assets, infrastructure, intellectual property, licenses and human resources.

Businesses and organisations can register now to attend the following information sessions:

• Darwin: 16 April at 5pm, North Australia Development Office, 76 The Esplanade
• Palmerston: 17 April at 5.30pm, Palmerston Community Centre, 11 The Boulevard
• Alice Springs: 24 April at 6.30pm, Alice Springs Civic Centre, 93 Todd Street
• Katherine: 13 May at 4.30pm, Katherine Civic Centre, Lot 1865 Stuart Highway.

Information sessions in Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy will be announced in the coming weeks.

To register attendance and find out more go to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption  website.