Indigenous Australian Datathon (IAD)
The Indigenous Australian Datathon (IAD) is coming back for its fourth consecutive year in Cairns, from the 1st to the 3rd of November 2024!
Spearheaded by KJR and in collaboration with tech pioneers, communities and universities, IAD is set to create waves of innovation uniting Traditional Owners, technologists, data professionals, start-ups, and students in an extraordinary quest to revolutionise the future of Australian communities.
Hosted at James Cook University, IAD invites ambitious start-ups, creative entrepreneurs and Traditional Owners from across Australia to converge in Cairns – a national hub for Indigenous Innovation. Together at JCU’s Ideas Lab Cairns, they will embark on a journey of discovery and exploration, crafting groundbreaking AI and big data solutions that address real community challenges.
Joining hands with traditional wisdom, cutting-edge AI, and modern technology, IAD is a beacon of hope for the future. Be a part of this awe-inspiring event, where participants gain technical skills, work with real-world data, and build lasting connections while contributing to a brighter future for all. You don’t need to be a technologist to join, you just need to be an interested, passionate individual!
More information about the Indigenous Australian Datathon, via the official website at https://indigenousaustraliandatathon.com/. Join us in November 2024!
Reflecting on his experience at the 2023 edition, Dennis Fay, Salty Monkey Founder, a Torres Strait-owned and operated business, says “The best thing I got out of the Datathon was to mix in with a diverse range of people from across the regions, to really sit down, look at solutions and put together a really good pitch.”
The collaborative engagement witnessed during the previous editions of the Datathon played a pivotal role in ensuring the sustainability of the solutions generated.
Rachael Barritt, IAD Program Manager, emphasises the value of these events, stating “Every year, the ideas are getting better and better. We’re seeing amazing solutions, people coming with questions that haven’t been asked before.”
Fraser Nai, Traditional Owner on Masig Island and Co-Founder of Strait Experience, adds “It allows a space for people to ask crazy questions for a better world. If there’s something that you really think you have a solution to, something that’s itching, something in your community, in your space, in your organisation, if you have that burning, burning desire to solve that, you should come!”
Dennis invites more communities to join this event: “Anyone who’s in the community that wants to join us, come along! it was really good to have passionate people come together, put some really good ideas together and share them as a solution.”
John Fejo, Goondoi Ranger, insists that “the young people should get involved with the Datathon to capture the stories of their elders and their people that they can keep hold on record for years to come, not just now, for a lifetime.”
Lots of people would find the Indigenous Australian datathon really valuable, particularly people who are interested in big questions and things that are happening in the community, whether you’re an educator, business owner, an academic or researcher, a ranger, or anybody working in a community organisation”
Dr Kelvin Ross, Chair of KJR and a Founding Member of IAD, highlights the significance of bringing together individuals with various knowledge and perspectives, stating, “It’s a great opportunity for bringing together people of slightly different backgrounds, who may have different viewpoints to solving unique challenges, and opening their eyes to what their role and special skills bring but also opening them up to what they can learn from others. As a team, we deliver a lot more.”
The IAD committee has once again partnered with passionate partners, including tech partners, universities and governmental agencies, to bring on this free impactful event. Advance Queensland have supported the collaborative efforts of the Datathon since its inception by enabling Indigenous community leaders and Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers to attend. In addition to the generous support from the Queensland Government, we are also supported nationally by the federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
The protection of Indigenous culture and solving community problems through digital innovation, machine learning and artificial intelligence under the guidance of community leaders and data professionals is an exciting opportunity.
About the Indigenous Australian Datathon
The Indigenous Australian Datathon (IAD) is an annual community and technology workshop organised by a team of passionate individuals who are dedicated to ensuring that Traditional Owners lead innovation utilising big data and AI to reduce the digital divide in communities. By leveraging the power of data-driven solutions, IAD aims to address real-world challenges faced by Indigenous communities, empowering participants to develop practical solutions that can be transferred back with Traditional Owners into their respective communities.
