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The digital content industry in Australia

The digital content industry in Australia spans the applications and services components of the ICT industry on the one side and the traditional film, entertainment and cultural industries on the other, overlapping key areas of both. Important areas of digital content activity also occur within other industries, such as service industries, like health, education and architecture.

The application and use of digitally based information is growing in importance as consumers and industry increasingly look to digital forms of information delivery, preferring its immediacy, accessibility and convenience over traditional forms of communication.

Resources currently available to industry

On 13 March 2006, the (then) Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, IT and the Arts, and the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, the (then) Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources released a report from industry aimed at Unlocking the Potential of the Australian Digital Content Industry. The report outlined barriers and opportunities for industry growth by implementing strategies relating to Investment, Exports, Skills & Training, and Research & Development.

The Report and its industry led implementation plan are available on the archived Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA) website.

In addition to the report there are a range of potential Australian Government resources and programs available to assist individual firms and industry sectors. An overview of a number of key programs is provided in:

• Advanced Networks Program
• Export and trade programs
• Investment and commercialisation programs

Further information:

• Cultural Ministers Council (CMC) Creative Innovation Economy Roundtable (2006 - )

  • A small 'Roundtable' of officials bringing together industry development, ICT, broadband, film and cultural interests has been set up to map the priorities across jurisdictions and report back to the Cultural Ministers Council (CMC) on opportunities to strengthen the prospects for the creative sector in the digital environment. To find out more visit the Cultural Ministers Council (CMC) Creative Innovation Economy Roundtable.

• Digital Content Industry Action Agenda (DCIAA) (2006 - 2007)

  • The Digital Content Industry Action Agenda supplied the framework needed to bring the disparate components of this industry together. In order to deal with common issues and build critical mass and scale Action Agendas take a whole-of-government approach and provide an effective framework for coordination and integration of government policies as they impact on a particular industry.

• Creative Industries Cluster Study (2004)

  • The Creative Industries Cluster Study was a research project designed to provide company, sector and industry wide information on the scope, scale and dynamics of the creative digital industries in Australia. To find out more visit the Creative Industries Cluster Study.

• OZeCulture conferences (2001 - 2005)

  • The fourth OZeCulture conference of culture, creative industries and ebusiness took place 7 - 8 April, 2005. The conference explored: Perspectives on Creative Industries; Financing Creativity; Creative Rights; and Creating Future Audiences. There was also a second stream of cultural sector case studies which highlighted innovative and creative uses of digital and online technologies.

• AIMIA

  • The Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA) represents the interactive media and digital content sectors in Australia. AIMIA is devoted to the commercial development of the industry as a whole and to the commercial development of the distinct AIMIA members and AIMIA member groups that comprise the interactive media and digital sectors.

• business.gov.au

  • business.gov.au is the Australian Government portal to government information and services for business.