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Australia Telework Advisory Committee - Review of Telework

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In the 2004 ICT election policy, Connecting an Innovative Australia, the Australian Government committed to establishing a teleworking taskforce consisting of government agencies and industry and small business representatives, to advise on options and impediments to the development of telework for employees and businesses.

In response to this commitment, the Government established the Australian Telework Advisory Committee (ATAC). The ATAC represents an opportunity for Government, the private-sector and members of the public to share telework experiences and consider strategies to maximise the opportunities and benefits provided by telework for Australian workers.

The Minister's Media Release announcing the ATAC membership and its Terms of Reference

Telework refers to ICT-enabled work practices undertaken where the location of the activity is independent of the location of the employer. In the context of this review, telework is specifically intended to include work activities performed by employees from home, including by the self-employed, and work activities performed in ‘satellite' working centres.

Consultation with the public has been a key component of the telework review. On 20 April 2005 the Minister announced the beginning of public consultations on telework.

During April and May of 2005, the ATAC provided consultative forums for stakeholders, called for public submissions, and met with state and territory government agencies as well as some private-sector organisations to discuss their telework experiences.

Further information of public submission received is provided below.

The ATAC has finalised its report to Government, including analysis of drivers and impediments to telework uptake, and recommendations regarding the possible role of Government. The ATAC report was released on 27 February 2006.

Ministers Joint Media Release of 27 February 2006

The ATAC report Telework for Australian employees and business report (File size: 744Kb) is now available.

Requests for hard copies of the report can be directed via e-mail to telework@dcita.gov.au.

Sensis report into Australian teleworking

As part of the review into teleworking, the ATAC commissioned Sensis to conduct research into the current state-of-play in Australian teleworking. The Sensis Insights Teleworking Report, June 2005, contains survey results from SMEs and consumers concerning the use of telework arrangements in small and medium business and by individuals in Australia. The report includes 2005 survey data on the frequency of teleworking, the type of technology used (e.g. mobile phones), drivers and barriers to telework.

Sensis Insights Teleworking Report (File size: 1.9Mb)
Sensis Insights Teleworking report—Publication 1 (File format: RTF, File size: 3.2Mb)
Sensis Insights Teleworking report—Publication 2 (File format: RTF, File size: 3.2Mb)

ATAC Discussion Papers

A series of papers were prepared by the ATAC which provide background on a range of telework issues and an overview of telework developments in Australia and overseas and which formed the basis for the ATAC process of public consultation and call for public submissions.

ATAC Paper 1: Telework for Employees and Businesses: Maximising the Economic and Social Benefits of Flexible Working Practices.
ATAC consultation paper - telework for employees and business - part 1 (File size: 240Kb)
ATAC consultation paper - telework for employees and business - part 1 (File format: RTF, File size: 258Kb)

ATAC Paper 2: Telework in Australia.
ATAC consultation paper - telework in Australia - part 2 (File size: 214Kb)
ATAC consultation paper - telework in Australia - part 2 (File format: RTF, File size: 511Kb)

ATAC Paper 3: Telework – International Developments.
ATAC consultation paper - telework - international developments - part 3 (File size: 178Kb)
ATAC consultation paper - telework - international developments - part 3 (File format: RTF, File size: 529Kb)

ATAC Paper 4: Literature Search.
ATAC consultation paper - literature search - part 4 (File size: 197Kb)
ATAC consultation paper - literature search - part 4 (File format: RTF, File size: 344Kb)

ATAC Public Submissions

Below is a list of submissions made to the ATAC by members of the public.

Note: The views and recommendations included in these submissions are not the views or recommendations of the Australian Government and do not indicate any commitment to a particular course of action. The Australian Government accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any material contained in these submissions.

Document ID: 25235 |
Last modified: 5 February 2008, 2:45pm