Multimedia Victoria - Victorian ICT Companies Triumph at National iAwards

Victorian ICT Companies Triumph at National iAwards


Media release - 28 May 2008

Victorian companies were among the big winners at the prestigious national iAwards in Melbourne last night, highlighting the state's leadership in the ICT sector.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Theo Theophanous said the iAwards recognised excellence in the national ICT industry - an industry that Victoria excelled at, on a national and international level.

"The Brumby Government is taking action to deliver jobs across Victorian and since 1999 has attracted and facilitated investment worth more than $1.5 billion and over 10,000 jobs in the Victorian ICT sector," Mr Theophanous said.

"The awards reinforce Victoria's position as the home of ICT in Australia with three local companies and a school winning tonight."

"Victorian ICT companies have a proven track record of being strong competitors in these awards and again in 2008 they have taken home the top prizes.

"These awards showcase the enormous talent that is attracting businesses and jobs to Victorian now and into the future. The fact that our local ICT products and services are also being used globally gives depth to the quality and innovation being fostered in this state."

Mr Theophanous said Melbourne business IP Payments won the Start-up Company iAward and special merit in the Financial Applications category for their unique approach to online payments.

"IP Payments provides businesses and their clients the ability to manage financials through a web-based accounts receivable system, doing away with the paper-based process and therefore reducing the environmental impact and saving money," he said.

iCare Solutions of East Melbourne won the General Application iAward for their web-based solution that connects clinical hardware to simplify paperwork and improve care, as clinical workers can spend more time on face-to-face care.

Carrum Downs company Stop Motion Pro won the Media and Entertainment iAward for its animation software that makes it possible to capture individual frames of a puppet or object and compile the frames to create the illusion of movement.

Stop Motion Pro is currently being used worldwide in professional studios, including by the creators of Wallace and Gromit, and in schools at all levels.

Mr Theophanous said Victoria was at the cutting edge of ICT even at the secondary school level, with Caulfield Grammar School once again taking home the iAward for Secondary Student Project.

"I would like to give Zach Sengstock special congratulations for his work on The Ziggies animation, which has won his school a special $5000 grant from the Brumby Government to support future ICT student project activities," he said.

"Businesses everywhere need people with ICT skills – and this means young people today choosing to study in ICT will have more options, industries and rewarding careers open to them than ever before.

"Victoria already has over 19,000 students enrolled in ICT courses with the highest number of computing, science, mathematics and IT students in the nation."

Mr Theophanous said the Brumby Government would also provide the winning Victorian companies with a special $10,000 grant to participate in an overseas trade mission within the next 12 months to expand on their success.