Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis today met with more than 30 secondary students at Federation University Australia’s Gippsland Campus to officially launch the Latrobe Augmented Reality (AR) Pilot, which will equip them with hands-on experience and new digital technology skills.
The Andrews Labor Government is supporting the new program to provide regional students with digital skills in augmented reality, acknowledging the increasing demand for digital tech skills at university levels and beyond.
The students, in years 9 to 12 at Lowanna College and Lavalla Catholic College, will undertake five full-day practical workshops developed by one of Victoria’s leading technology developers, Two Bulls, at Baw Baw Latrobe LLEN and Federation University.
They will develop business solutions, developing 3D models and videos that overlay real-time camera views for smart phone, tablet or PC users, enhancing the visitor experience for the Gippsland Heritage Park.
Students will showcase their technologies at the start of fourth term with the aim of replicating the program again in 2017 to engage up to 100 students and additional schools in the Latrobe and Baw Baw region.
Considered to be the biggest source of disruption since the smartphone, augmented reality is changing the way things we do things in industries including retail, education, architecture and construction, healthcare.
Victoria’s digital technology sector currently directly employs 83,000 people across approximately 8,000 companies and industry experts are predicting that by 2020 Victoria will need around 40,000 extra digital tech employees.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, Philip Dalidakis
“This pilot program is about equipping our students with real-world skills and preparing them for careers in digital technology that are increasingly in demand by employers across all industries.”
“The explosive popularity of Pokemon Go shows the huge potential that augmented and virtual reality technologies have in reaching people the world-over and increasing the demand for these tech skills instantly.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing
“The Andrews Labor Government is providing our regional students with the skills they need to pursue a career in digital technology, giving them the opportunity to see what is possible by linking with local industry.”
Quotes attributable to CEO at Baw Baw Latrobe LLEN, Mick Murphy
“Young people in our schools will benefit tremendously from this fantastic program that is giving them real-world business skills in augmented reality that they can use when they apply for a job in the future, when they start up their own business or in future learning.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020