In other public sector ICT and digtal news for 14 December:

• The Federal Government has announced measures to address workforce shortages and innovations, including a $10 million data tool that will provide real-time information about Australia’s workforce needs. Another $20 million has been allocated to fast-track skills assessments for occupations with skill shortages.
• The Queensland Government has launched its $6 million First Start Program, which will enable councils to employ 400 apprentices and trainees to help fight current skills shortages.
• Service NSW is now operating its digital products entirely on Amazon Web Services (AWS) public cloud. This comes amid a wider push from the Federal Government to align agencies with the NSW Government’s ‘public cloud first’ policy.
• CSIRO has unveiled its new circular economy digital tool, which aims to help reduce waste and improve the use of recycled materials. The tool was developed in collaboration with UNSW and Vienna University over the last decade. It draws on data from across the globe.
• The NSW Government will pilot a new institute to be known as the Institute of Applied Technology for Digital Technology in partnership with TAFE NSW, Microsoft, Macquarie University and UTS. The new institute will help build the State’s future technology workforce to address current skills shortages.
• The Federal Government has released a strategy that aims to change regulations surrounding cryptocurrency to reinforce protections for investors and related businesses.
• The South Australian Government has partnered with Fleet Space Technologies, ATSpace, Q-CTRL and Alauda Aeronautics to create a space manufacturing hub in Adelaide. The hub will house space businesses and researchers to control satellite and space missions.
• The Federal Government has allocated $47 million for the National Film and Sound Archive to digitise, preserve and store audio-visual collection material held across eight national libraries and museums.