Victorian eLearning Companies in a Class of their Own

Victorian eLearning Companies in a Class of their Own


Media release - 27 October 2006

The formation of Victoria's latest eLearning cluster placed our eLearning companies in a class of their own, Information and Communication Technology Minister Marsha Thomson said today.

Through its ICT Linkages Program, the Bracks Government has provided $100,000 to support the eLearning Industry Association of Victoria cluster. With 50 members already on board, the cluster is the latest and largest edition to the existing Victorian clusters.

"Victoria is recognised as the pre-eminent Australian location for creative eLearning business. Three years ago the Bracks Government instigated a network to encourage collaboration between Victoria's eLearning companies," Ms Thomson said.

"With small to medium enterprises (SMEs) dominating the field, the Government saw collaboration as the best way to encourage innovation and profit," Ms Thomson said.

"Today, we have an enterprising cluster that is positioning itself as a one-stop-shop for buyers and vendors. This strategic approach will give our local players a sizable chunk of one of world's top four internet applications markets, in particular the lucrative corporate training sector which is predicted to generate between US$10-20 billion by 2007.

"The cluster typifies the collaborative approach to business that is the hallmark of the State's $23 billion ICT industry, and is a great example of the Government's hands-on role in continuing to build Victoria as the pre-eminent location for clever, inventive eLearning," Ms Thomson said.

One of the cluster's smallest members is Melbourne's Protea Textware Pty Ltd. Established in 1994, Protea commenced exporting computer-based English learning programs for adults two years later.

With only three staff members, exports account for 40 percent of total sales. Protea exemplifies the dynamism of Victoria's SMEs that are making significant inroads into global markets and punching well above their weight.

The Government's ICT Trade and Export Assistance program has given eLearning companies the opportunity to attend some of the most important ICT fairs in the world.

In January 2007 the Government will support the Association and local companies in showcasing Victorian eLearning at BETT – the annual British Education Technology Show which attracts more than 600 educational suppliers and 27,000 visitors.

"BETT is the ideal platform for our new eLearning Association and its member companies to showcase their products to major customers. Editure, Etechgroup and Dataworks have effectively used their attendance at BETT in previous years to build strong market share in the UK and other Victorian companies such as Ziptales, Stop Motion Pro and Kilbaha are also gaining UK recognition for their innovative eLearning software."

There are about 150 firms in Victoria, with most Australian-owned SMEs. The sector has around 1,500 employees - about 2.5 percent of Victoria's ICT employment - and is firmly stablished within the State's $23 billion ICT industry.