The Australian Government's Innovation Report

Highlights in 2006-07 have so far included National Science Week in August 2006, for which 45 National
Science Week projects were funded with $500 000 from the programme, planning for National Science Week’s
10 th birthday in August 2007, and preparations for the 2006 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science (presented on
16 October).
Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre: Smart Moves
Questacon Smart Moves is an awareness and education programme designed to raise the profile of science,
tech nology, innovation and related careers in regional and rural secondary schools. The main components of the
project are a far-reaching regional touring programme, a popular website and inspiring youth conferences.
Questacon Smart Moves has an extensive reach across regional Australia. By the end of June 2006, more than
297 000 students in all states and territories had participated in the regional and rural programme since its
inception in 2001.
An especially successful component is the yearly youth conference, known as the Questacon Smart Moves
Invention Convention. These events have been very successful at bringing together mentors and guest speakers
from all around Australia with talented young inventors from secondary schools. They give aspiring young
entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn new skills needed to further develop their inventions and to network
with established young entrepreneurs. Up to 30 students attend the convention each year.
Through a combination of face-to-face presentations in regional schools, online resources and a youth
conference, Questacon Smart Moves has an impressive record of knowledge diffusion and awareness. During
2005-06, the programme travelled extensively through regional and rural secondary schools in Queensland,
the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales. During the year, a total of 371
schools were visited and 82 400 secondary students participated in the programme.
In addition to these students, there were 203 000 visitors to the Questacon Smart Moves website. In 2006-07,
under continuing funding from Backing Australia’s Ability – Building our Future through Science and Innovation, the
programme plans to reach schools in New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia.
Questacon Smart Moves has extensive linkages with a wide range of organisations and programmes in the
research, industry and higher education sectors. These include the CSIRO CREST Awards, the Sustainable Living
Challenge (University of NSW), Young Achievement Australia, the ABC (The New Inventors) and Engineers
Australia. Over 30 different organisations have supplied information on research, innovations and inspiring
examples of young entrepreneur’s success stories.
Student exit surveys and teacher opinions are gathered one month after participation. Results show 98% of
students and 94% of teachers are pleased with the programme and 99% of teachers state that it has had a
positive impact on their students.
More information about Questacon Smart Moves can be found at: www.smartmoves.questacon.edu.au
Gaining and retaining highly-skilled and qualified workers
Federation Fellowships
On 11 May 2006 the Minister for Education, Science and Training,
announced 25 new Federation Fellowships. Of the fellowships
awarded, five are to expatriate Australians who will leave international
organisations to return home, and two are to foreign nationals
who will bring their experience and talent to Australia. Four current
fellowship holders received their second fellowship. A listing of
Federation Fellowships awarded in 2006 is provided at Appendix 6.
First row l to r: Professor Mark Burry, Professor Guifre Vidal, Professor Andrew White, Minister Julie
Bishop, Dr Jamie Rossjohn, Professor Michael Parker. Second row l to r: Professor Graeme Turner,
Professor Terry Hughes, Professor Keith Nugent, Professor Hugh Possingham, Professor Timothy
Lindsey, Professor Christopher Goodnow, Professor Paul Haddad, Professor Geoffrey McFadden,
Professor Gordon Wallace. Photo credit: Photograph by Norman Plant.
Chapter 2 - Initiatives for a dynamic national innovation system 91