Proposals for presentations are now invited for "Access for All", the one day Government Forum at Internet World Australia 2k 8 June 2000, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Applications close 26 November 1999. Terms and conditions and application form are available on the Internet World web site (remember to tick the "Connecting Government Forum" box) at: http://www.kirby.com.au/inw2k/cfp_doc.html
Internet World Australia's one day government forum will present Australia's top speakers on the topic of Access for All.
This year's forum explores the topic of access for all, both from the point of view of Government providing information to citizens and in obtaining input from citizens.
Commercial web sites can target a particular market segment and customer demographic. However, democracy demands that Government cater for the needs of all citizens and treat them equally. This paces additional requirements on Government, to make sure that web sites are accessible to the visually impaired, people on slow links in country areas, people using old equipment, those who speak languages other than English. It is important to respond to the different ways people actually make use of government services online. This requires redefinition of the relationship between government, people, information and services.
There are some relatively simple and cheap ways to make web sites more accessible. Are these being used? Are they adequate? Are they really needed? Will new technologies, such as wireless Internet, improve access, or increase the divide between information rich and poor?
Government is as much about listing to the views of the people, as of issuing information to them. How are politicians and bureaucrats with using the Internet for consulting and listening? Have early fears of spam e-mail campaigns clogging politicians mailboxes been overcome? Are there still agencies or MPs not accepting e-mail? Has the opportunity been taken to more efficiently collect views on-line?
The government forum will again be chaired by Tom Worthington, first web master for the Australian Department of Defence. In 1999 he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society for his contribution to the development of public Internet policy. Tom is a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the Australian National University, an independent electronic business consultant and author.
| TIME | SESSION |
| 9.00 - 9.15 | WELCOME by Tom Worthington, Conference Chair |
| 9.15 - 10.00 | Keynote Talk |
| Morning Session: The Government Speaking - Making a Web For All To See | |
| 10.00 - 10.30 | Talk |
| 10.30 - 11.00 | Talk |
| 11.00 - 11.30 | Morning Tea |
| 11.30 - 12.00 | Talk |
| 12.00 - 12.30 | Talk |
| 12:30 - 1.00 | Talk |
| 1.00 - 2.00 | LUNCH |
| Afternoon Session: Government Listening - Why doesn't my MP accept E-mail? | |
| 2.00 - 2.30 | Talk |
| 2.30 - 3.00 | Talk |
| 3.00 - 3.30 | Talk |
| 3.30 - 4.00 | Afternoon Tea |
| 4.00 - 4.30 | Talk |
| 4.30 - 5.00 | Talk |
| 5.00 - 5.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION AND CLOSE |
To register: Internet World Australia 2k
Kirby Network Services
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Ph: +61 2 9310 5544 Fx: +61 2 9310 5404
sales@kirby.com.au