Minster for Human Services, Marise Payne has announced that ICT jobs will remain in Hobart. In December 2013 it was reported that 56 jobs were to be cut from the Hobart office in order for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to centralise its IT operations over three hubs across Australia. However, following a review of ICT operations, Payne said, "I met with staff this morning in Hobart to confirm the department will remain where it is, with no staff required to re-locate.”

The Department of Human Services is refreshing four of its ICT-related panels as they near their expiry. The four panels are all due to expire in October 2014 and include:

• Communication products management;
• Creative and digital communication;
• Production services; and
• Logistics and letters.

The communication products management panel covers print advisory services, communication material procurement and digital asset management while the production services panel is for print services. The creative and digital communication panel services web and app design while the logistics and letters panel includes general warehousing and distribution services. Supplier applications close on Monday 28 April 2014.

An Auditor-General’s report on Victorian Council’s Asset Management Systems has found that they are contributing to a renewal gap. The report found that poor management of assets has led to there being a significant difference between the funding needed to replace assets and the money actually budgeted. The report states that “Effective asset management is…being compromised by underdeveloped asset management information systems… Councils continue to rely on poor asset data and information systems and they are still not confident that all their assets have been identified and recorded”. Smaller councils are finding it challenging to implement an effective system due to the cost. The Auditor-General has recommended that councils consider shared development of information systems.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has unveiled a new public weather portal, reports PS News. Weather Observations Website (WOW) allows users to view and share observations, sightings and photos in real-time. The public data will complement the constant stream of data derived from over 700 Automatic Weather Stations across Australia. WOW comes after BOM’s announcement in February 2014 that it was looking for a mobile application developer to develop the agencies first mobile weather forecast application.

The Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley regions will be used as a pilot for Queensland’s one-stop-shop project. According to the Queensland Government website, “For the rest of 2014, we will be working closely with these communities to develop a template for service delivery that will inform how we improve service delivery across the state.” The pilot will move through four stages including consultation, service trials and evaluation followed by state-wide delivery. QLD is following suit of NSW which has already built 16 Service NSW one-stop-shops around the State.

NSW Police Force (NSWPF) has issued a Request for Tender (RFT) for a digital storage solution. According to tender documents NSWPF is seeking “software and training to enable a digital storage solution that will have flexibility, document control, document indexing and cross indexing, easy retrieval, minimise duplication with powerful and effective searching facilities”. Tender application close on 19 February 2014.

Related Articles:

DHS preparing for changes under new government

NSW Police to begin mobile trial

BOM forecasts a rise in mobile applications

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