Stories
Alice Hackers Tackle Big Questions
Sep 10, 2018
Services: Desert Knowledge Precinct
Alice Springs hackers gathered at the Precinct for GovHack 2018.
Over the weekend, DKA and Charles Darwin University partnered to host GovHack, the largest open data hackathon in Australia. GovHack is an event that brings people together to innovate using open government data, hosted annually in cities and towns all over Australia. It’s all about taking raw data and turning it into something useful and accessible.
Six digital innovators came to the Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs, combining their skills and knowledge to bounce ideas around and create clever new things for a better world. Over 46 hours, competitors competed in 14 challenges across the NT and nationally. Incredible new projects and ideas were created in an inspiring celebration of creativity, ingenuity and the power of open data.
Renewable Energy Challenges
The Intyalheme Centre for Future Energy submitted two renewable energy challenge questions that participants from all over the country could choose to address. The winner of each of these challenge questions wll receive $1000 in prize money.
- Renewable Renters: How can we enable renters in Alice Springs to access the benefits of rooftop solar (clean energy, reduced power bills), like their home-owning peers? (Prize sponsored by CDU and DKA.)
- The Energy Source: What are the most effective ways of helping Alice residents to understand, and care, where their energy comes from? (Prize sponsored by Hutsix and DKA.)
Alice Springs Projects
Judging is currently underway; the GovHack Awards ceremony will be held later this year. Until then, check out what the Alice Springs teams got up to:
Hutsix: Pay it Forward
Pay it Forward is the free platform for acts of kindness in the Northern Territory, primarily orientated towards ride sharing.
SolarAS: Alice Solar Homes
SolarAS has written a website to assist renters and landlords cooperate with the help of real-estate agents to build and maintain high-quality, high-voltage blackout resistant solar systems within their homes.
#NewAustraliaDay
The team at #NewAustraliaDay created an entry that helps to advertise publically accessible BBQ sites and tallies public BBQ gatherings.
Local Awards
Spirit of GovHack
Each GovHack location presents a Spirit of GovHack Award (sponsored by Infosys) to a competitor who exemplifies cooperation and team spirit. In Alice Springs, Edan Baxter was awarded the Spirit of GovHack. Congratulations, Edan, and thanks for your enthusiasm!
Local Team Prizes
Thanks to CDU for sponsoring $1000 for local team prizes.
First Prize $750: SolarAS
Second Prize $250: Hutsix
MEDIA
Andrea Johnston at the Centralian Advocate interviewed DKA CEO Lauren Ganley in the leadup to GovHack. Read more:
Thank You
- Event Partners CDU and DKA
- NT Sponsors Northern Territory Government, CDU, City of Darwin, NAB, and Hutsix
- Infosys provided the prize for the Spirit of GovHack Award
- CDU and DKA volunteers Wendy, Mel, Jodie, Anna, Sara and Toni
- Precinct Elder-in-Residence Harold Furber, who delivered a stirring Welcome to Country at our Alice Springs event. See if you can spot him in the Official GovHack Closing Video below!
Previous: DKA Solar Centre Celebrates 10th Anniversary Next: DKA connects with China
Other DKA Stories
The Hon Chansey Paech sworn in as Minister for Desert Knowledge Australia in Territory first
May 05, 2022
The Hon Chansey Paech was sworn in as the first ever Minister for Desert Knowledge Australia on 4 May 2022, following an announcement from the Office of the Chief Minister.
DKA farewells Dr Dan Tyson
Mar 11, 2022
Dr Dan Tyson marks his last day at Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA), after nearly three years in the role of Chief Executive Officer.
Lessons Learnt: Preventing violence against Aboriginal women and children in Central Australia
Jan 24, 2022
Key messages and learnings from the panel discussion hosted by DKA and CAAFLU.