New Ideas : Government 2.0 Taskforce Suggestion Box

R18+ Game Rating whitepaper feedback electronic form

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:23:37 PST

Today the Government released a whitepaper to gather consumer feedback on the issue of having a R18+ category added to the Australian game classifications.
http://www.ag.gov.au/gamesclassification

The options to provide feedback is to open a word document, fill it out, then email it to a specified address, or to write a letter to a physical mailbox.

If they're seriously interested in getting the largest range of feedback on an issue, the process for providing that feedback needs to be simple. What I'd really like to see is a secure electronic form. The link can easily be shared, clicked, fill out a few fields, add some comments and click submit. Much easier than the current options offered.

Broader than this specific topic, this should become a standard option for providing feedback on government issues.

Comments (0)Gov 2.0 Innovators, electronic form.

Community Home Management Advisors

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:01:17 PST

Vote On Idea

All too often there is a great gulf between the aquisition and the appolication of knowledge and skills.
A number of years ago I visited an American Indian reservation and local community where a Home Management Advisor was employed to work with community members by providing residents (especially mothers) with advise on how to apply nutiritional knowledge in the choice and preparation of nutirtious family meals and in the management of a houshold budget, if necessary..
The Home Management Advisor was trained in Home Economics and worked out of a walk centre within the local shopping area. She was available for demonstrations in supermarkets or in a local community hall or home for individuals or community groups, provided a weekly newsletter/recipe sheet, was available to go into a home (by invitation only) to advise on home management e.g. storage of food/healthy meal planning/budgeting/food preparation etc.
If home management advisorary system could be established and if they developed a good rapport with household managers, perhaps many of our community health problems could be prevented and housholds would be able to make their family income go further.

Comments (0)Not for Profit PSI, health management

Data on Disabled Parking Permits and Vehicle Modifications

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:10:26 PST

Vote On Idea

The Disabled Motorists Association would like to see government data available on the numbers of Australians who hold a disabled parking permit and who have vehicle modifications.
Currently this information is not nationally available or readily identified in state or local government-based information. Such information should be available at a national level as well as by state and municipal boundaries. This would allow a much more accurate picture of population clusters and areas of special need, such as in rural or remote communities.

Having quick access to the numbers of people who have disabled parking permits or who drive (or are passengers in) vehicles with modifications would assist the public and not-for-profit groups to gain a clearer view of the level of need there is for better access and mobility in the Australian population. As well, national and state planners and policy makers, road and municipal authorities would have far more accurate information as a basis for their planning and service provision.

Comments (0)Not for Profit PSI

Interconnecting within other Parent & Citizen Associations

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:12:44 PST

Vote On Idea

Parents, relatives and or community persons who contribute to the volunteer efforts to raise funds for their preferred school, would always benefit from the ideas and social inclusions from other parent & citizens associations within their zoned area, state and or federal surroundings. Being slightly isolated in a rural setting eliminates opportunities for the parents and communities to encompass similar ideas and benefits for our schools. If we were to utilise the names and contact details of every school and the parent and citizens associations connected within it obtained from the federation of parent and citizen associations, we could convene where parenting forums could be organised, liaise on several issues of concern, brain storm on community partnerships, improving policy and procedures resources availability for parent and citizens associations. Arranging to set up an internet based portal where a 'chat room' takes place and has a secure login would bring together many new relationships and networks within a parent and citizen group. Each parent and citizen member would need to undergo a working with children check in order to fulfill the criteria.
Information is empowerment, and the only way by achieving this would be to connect with other parent and citizens of other schools. This can improve relationships between parents, teachers and the community. This can also improve educational outcomes, better parenting support, parenting behaviour, and understanding the socio economic levels in different communities.
It would bring about endless opportunities particularly for improving education.

Comments (0)Not for Profit PSI

Stretch Yourself: Computers and Tai Chi

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:51:40 PST

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Vote On Idea

As more and more information is becoming only available online, Government should provide funding for training opportunities for seniors in the use of new technology. An example of this was successfully trialled last year...

Stretch Yourself: Computers and Tai Chi
A basic computer course for seniors which incorporates Tai Chi - for stretching the body and the mind!

If such classes (which could cover any topics of interest and be combined with any sort of gentle activity) were run free of charge for seniors it would encourage participation, foster social inclusion, promote lifelong learning and decrease the digital divide. It has the potential to offer some great outcomes for seniors, who may become happier, healthier, wiser and more capable of accessing government information.

Comments (0)Not for Profit PSI, lifelong learning, seniors, computers, exercise, active, technology, ageing, online, access

Data on Disabed drivers and motorists

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:10:44 PST

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Vote On Idea

As the only National organisation for Disabled Motorists/drivers, their family and carers the Disabled Motorists Association relies heavily on the support of Health Care Professionals, State and Territory Departments of Transport, Heath, Disability and Community for rules and regulations applied to road use for all accessible transport.Currently the volunteers are unable to provide the needed data to inform or educate the sector and to provide consistent knowledge for inclusive independence for people with a disability. A National data base listing the number of disabled drivers/motorists, licence, vehicle modification, users of the Disabled persons parking scheme, access and equity for aids and equipment data for vehicle modification and the physical disability constraints would provide information leading to best practice management of the sector for government departments, health care professionals and all relevant organisations in the not-for-profit sector while maintaining a right of passage for all people with a disability.

Comments (0)Not for Profit PSI, disabled motorists association

Carbon Maps

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:43:48 PST

Vote On Idea

Maps are powerful visual tools and can be used to make the invisible tangible. Greenhouse gas emissions are difficult to portray. For community, planners and decision makers we need to show what is happening at the local level. Our vision is to have the capacity to create a local Carbon Map.
The Carbon Map provides a visual profile of energy use and carbon emissions for a local region. The Carbon Map will bring together data such as land use, electricity and gas consumption, industry type and density Bringing together a series of data sets and research - spatial, land use, zoning, sectoral (residential, commercial and industrial energy) and sub sectoral (housing types and business profiles) and actual consumption of energy overlayed using GIS software would provide an integrated picture of carbon intensity and location. This would create a powerful visual representation of local consumption.
The Carbon Map has the potential to be a key communication tool to build carbon literacy, assist the community understand their emissions profile and participate in action. With consistent data updates it would become an effective tool to monitor and communicate their progress.
This visual profile will allow effective planning and targeting of energy efficiency programs and energy supply at a regional scale of value to policy, planners, program development, governments and business.
It could be further used to demonstrate different energy scenarios to inform planners, developers and community of low emissions options and impacts. This is especially pertinent in urban renewal and activity centre areas.

Comments (1)Not for Profit PSI

Better interaction with public!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:08:11 PST

Vote On Idea

Given the adoption rate of social media and web 2.0 concepts in communicating with people en mass, in my humble opinion the government could continuously release non-sensitive data to the public and showcase some of the most useful applications. Furthermore, the public voice needs to be heard on developing themes on what could be done with the data. Applications addressing these themes need to be used as a two way communication tool between the government and the people. This would also entail making provisions for staff to handle such communication. I stress the importance of two way communication in order to modify and formulate policies that take into account ground reality. The information available through the data provided could also be used to tailor campaigns in specific regions to better suit the demographics of the area.

Comments (0)Brainstorming, communication, data, information, policy, theme, vox populi, people's voice, interaction

Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates pre-1899 available for free

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:31:37 PST

Vote On Idea

Family history is an interest being taken up by older australians in large numbers. An absorbing interest, it keeps participants mentally alert into old age. However, it can be very expensive occupation as the birth, death and marriage certificates needed to complete a family tree properly cost on average $25 each and access and costs vary from state to state. Tasmania is the only state which has made pre-1899 certificates available free of charge on microfilm. Many pensioners can not afford to buy certificates and therefore are unable to complete their family histories, so this vital information in not passed down to the younger generations.

Please encourage all states to follow Tasmania's lead and make these certificates available for free initially on microfilm and then on the internet.

Comments (0)Not for Profit PSI, older australians, family history

Transport Innovation in remote and regional areas

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:52:58 PST

Vote On Idea

Transport costs and modalities impact upon regional and urban economic sustainability across Australia. Australia has a vast network of natural gas distribution across all states. Rising fuel costs have a negative impact in areas that depend on produce delivery out, and also impacts visitation to these areas.

Government statistics could well be used to correlate vehicle fuel usage across regional Australia in relation to access to alternative fuel availability and alternative mode availability. A simple model could therefore be developed to determine:

-Areas of relative disadvantage and high impact
-Vehicle type usage to determine applicability of alternative fuels
-Logical service modifications to encourage mode shift where applicable
-Transport flows to determine routes and synchronistic refuelling points.

In supplying mode usage rates and fuel intensity rates, transport providors can better identify opportunities and funding agencies can make note of areas that are more or less vulnerable to transport related disadvantage and gear funding for infrastructure requirements accordingly.

Departments of Transport (state and federal) and energy related agencies would foster beneficial transport innovations by a/ making transport related statistics available and b/ develop models which highlight areas of positive advantage pertaining to emerging technologies and modes not available but which are deemed advantageous on the basis of statistics.

As suggested in the economic rationale behind Central Place Theory, logical clustering of community services and commercial services will derive when participants in the community are aware of the locales of available modes best suited to their connectedness to other participants and this information sharing can be fostered by the availability and simple interpretation of these ranges of information.

Such a program in a country with a dispersed population as Australia will reap major long term economic benefits and ensure the positive advantages of service access are known and available to people who are potentially or actually disadvantaged through less than perfect knowledge of, or access to, transport modalities , fuel types and technologies that are becoming increasingly available throughout the world.

Comments (0)Not for Profit PSI