Remote Working around the ACT
In 2006 6,638 people commuted from regional areas like Palerang, Yass Valley, Gouburn and the Upper Lachlan into the ACT (ABS Census). This has social, cultural, environmental and economic impacts on small towns and villages across the region. Because of this, Sustaining our towns is researching the potential for increased remote work, either from home or from tele-commuting hubs located in towns and villages around Canberra. The goal is to develop a plan of action to get increased remote work happening in the short to medium term in region surrounding the ACT.
Remote work survey (EXTENDED)
A key component of our remote work project is an online survey to assess the level of interest in increased home or regional tele-centre based work, and the services required to make increased remote work viable for both employees and employers. Our remote work survey is now live. Click here to access it.
The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. Give us your ideas & suggestions by 31 December 2011 to go into a draw to win a $150 voucher from Myers or Bunnings. The deadline for the survey is now extended to mid February 2012.
Employer engagement
The project is undertaking consultation and interviews with ACT based employers to identify the opportunities and barriers to increased remote work. This includes determining what their requirements are in order to support increased tele-commuting, current Australian Government policies related to increased remote work, and the opportunities that exist to progress it.
Bungendore tele-working meeting
The project recently held a public meeting in Bungendore on Tuesday 29 November 2011 to discuss increased remote work from home and via possible tele-commuting centres in the Palerang Shire. The meeting generated valuable discussion about a range of issues and opportunities related to increased remote work. A presentation made by Melinda Hillery on the night contains valuable information about the topic of increased remote work, and the current scenario within the ACT and across the region. Download the Smart futures for the ACT region powerpoint.
Other linkages
There are currently new opportunities for initiatives like tele-commuter centres with the roll-out of the National Broadband Network and with Federal Government commitments to policies like the ‘Promoting Regional Living’ and their Digitial Economy Goal to significantly increase the number of workers utilising teleworking by 2020. NSW and ACT state governments have also made recent re-commitments to decentralisation and cutting their environmental footprints respectively. In addition a number of private employers successfully utilize teleworkers already in order to benefit from the cost reductions, and environmental and recruitment benefits.
What is tele-commuting?
Tele-commuting means working for all or some of the time away from the workplace. The tele-centre model we are investigating is one where a number of different employers may rent space in a shared office location for their employees. Contractors and employees currently working from home may also wish to individually rent space in the facility. There may be other spin-off benefits for businesses co-locating as well. The shared or hub office arrangement is increasingly being used in regional centres in the UK. We are also looking into increased working from home as way to reduce commuting too.
For some tele-centre examples see:
More information
For further information on the project please contact: Melinda Hillery 0427 440 335 or melophorus@bigpond.com.
