The Australian Government's Innovation Report

Mathematics and informatics
In 2005, Australian teams competed in the International Mathematical Olympiad and International Olympiad
in Informatics. The mathematics team, which travelled to Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, was particularly successful
with all team members taking a bronze medal in the upper half of the bronze medal range. The informatics
team competed in Novy Sacz, Poland, and one member won a bronze medal.
In 2006, the mathematics team travelled to Ljubljana, Slovenia and the Informatics team travelled to Merida,
Yucatan, Mexico.
Professor Peter Taylor, Executive Director of the Australian Mathematics Trust, which administers Australia’s
involvement in the International Mathe matical Olympiad, acknowledged the Australian Government’s
commitment to the Olympiads. Funding of $1.8 million has been provided over three years to support the
Australian Mathematics Trust and Australian Science Innovations as well as the teams representing Australia
at the Olympiads.
More information about the Australian Mathematics Trust can be found at: www.amt.edu.au
2000 Additional Targeted University Places
To strengthen Australia’s national skills base, $151 million was provided for 2000 additional targeted university places
commencing in 2002 with a priority on mathematics, science and information and communications technology.
The funding extension through Backing Australia’s Ability – Building our Future through Science and Innovation is providing
additional funding of $213.2 million over five years from 2006-07 to maintain the number of places.
Bids for places were assessed on the universities’ approaches to teaching and learning, whether these approaches were
designed to meet the needs of industry, and whether they would attract talented students to careers in science
and technology (see table for successful allocations). The places for 2005 will be ongoing.
Table 10: Backing Australia’s Ability 2000 additional targeted university places, 2002 to 2005
2002 2003 2004 2005
Charles Sturt University 60 105 139 164
Macquarie University 60 105 139 164
Southern Cross University 0 0 0 0
University of New England 70 123 162 191
University of New South Wales 100 175 231 273
University of Newcastle 0 0 0 0
University of Sydney 80 140 185 219
University of Technology Sydney 60 105 139 164
University of Western Sydney 20 35 46 55
University of Wollongong 100 175 231 273
Deakin University 60 105 139 164
La Trobe University 40 70 93 109
Monash University 100 175 231 273
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology 0 0 0 0
Swinburne University of Technology 120 210 278 328
University of Ballarat 60 105 139 164
University of Melbourne 50 88 116 137
Victoria University of Technology 0 0 0 0
Central Queensland University 100 175 231 273
86 Backing Australia’s Ability