Welcome to the Telematics Trust

TelematicsThe Telematics Course Development Fund (Telematics Trust) is committed to the development and use of new information and communication technologies that support innovative educational initiatives within Victoria.

The Trust provides unique funding opportunities to individuals, Educational Institutes, Government, Business and Not-for-Profit organisations that are exploring the possibilities of using information and communications technology for educational purposes.
The Trust is particularly interested in targeting and funding the application of information and communications technology (ICT) to learning processes that:

  • Are in need of special attention
  • Would be assisted by seeding grants
  • Are not within the province of other funding bodies

The next grant round closes at 5pm, 13 August 2010

See our Applicants section to learn more about the Trust's funding priorities and how you can apply for a grant or a loan.

 

 
Recently Funded Projects


The Trustees of the Telematics Trust were delighted to be able to award eleven grants for a total of $322,689 in their March 2010 funding round.

Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES)
Staying Healthy In Our New Home

This project will create a series of photo-stories in a range of new and emerging languages for digital distribution. The project will utilise ICT to introduce and educate new and emerging communities, from a refugee background, to Australia’s health system and essential health information. The project will produce digital presentations in eight languages not currently provided by existing translated materials. The presentations will include case studies and storytelling techniques to convey the information to communities who largely practice an oral rather than written communication tradition. Refugee arrivals often have no experience of a sophisticated health system or know of preventative health care strategies. The Photostory format is ideal as it allows for an audio visual presentation of information, which can be provided when they need it in a language they can understand.  
Grant Received: $54,500

Australian Theatre School
iPerform! - Drama & Theatre Tutorials Online

The project will see the development of software and film content for online interactive tutorials and professional development training, for students, teachers and actors in the performing arts. This program is specifically designed to reach people in remote areas, those (such as touring actors) who have other commitments and those that do not have the financial resources to participate in workshops or to develop their skills. iPerform! Will be a platform where individuals can undertake professional development and enrich their learning experiences in the performing arts.
Grant Received $39,739

Cystic Fibrosis Victoria
Psychological Management of Cystic Fibrosis

The project’s aim is to produce a documentary on Cystic Fibrosis (CF) that:
1. Teaches people with CF and their families ways of coping with the emotional demands of living with this life threatening illness.
2. Teaches strategies for managing common physical and mental issues that are associated with living with CF.
3. Help’s families to talk about these issues.
4. Explores the effect that CF has on people’s lives and how to effectively manage these effects.
The documentary will be made in consultation with psychologists, psychiatrists, leading health professionals, individuals and families who have a personal connection with CF.
Grant Received $30,000

Flashdrive
Flashdrive-Beyond the Classroom

This project will provide training in delivering innovative curriculum related to ICT training and safety processes that are required when stripping and reassembling donated and recycled computers. This project will ensure the creation of a sustainable ICT business and recycling centre thereby creating a culture of recycling and reducing landfill and e-waste. This project will also develop a sustainable business model that can be easily tailored for other communities and in other states.
Grant Received $29,250


The Song Room
PING Remote Music Education Project

The Remote Music Education Project will use web 2.0 technologies in conjunction with person-to-person and peer-to-peer workshops and performances to enhance music and arts access and participation for Victorian rural communities. This project will enable rural communities to have direct access to people with expertise in music through collaborating partners including The Song Room, MSO, Orchestra Victoria and 3MBS. In addition, the project will build the capacity and productivity of rural communities to deliver quality music learning through trialling a range of innovative, e-learning models that support the learning of young people and will also develop the skills and knowledge of school staff and community members.
Grant Received $30,000

    

ASPIN
Wii Fit Manual Handling: Utilising the Wii Fitboard to deliver effective manual handling training

The fit board is an attachment that connects to the Nintendo Wii, a commonly available gaming platform that is renowned for providing cutting edge interactive content. This project will provide an innovative and effective method of delivering OH&S training particularly focusing on manual handling in a range of industries. ASPIN will develop course content utilising the fit board to enable the user to maintain correct posture and follow all guidelines of correct lifting practices. The program will detect if the user is lifting incorrectly and will show them any corrective measures.
Grant Received $29,500

Deaf Children Australia
Auslan Anywhere (Stage 2)

Deaf Children Australia’s (DCA) Auslan Anywhere project involves the design of mobile software technology to compliment the current Auslan resources.This software will enable DCA to satisfy unmet need of parents and families of deaf children for Auslan tuition. Stage 2  of the project will further develop the Auslan Anywhere technology to a point where it can be officially launched and made available for sale.
Grant Received $20,000

Efterpi Soropos
Human Rooms part A (In-patient Room System)

This project hopes to further the findings of ‘The Disambiguation Room’ and to apply these principles to a pilot system for individual patient rooms that comprise audio, visual projection and lighting. The objective is to provide relief from pain and suffering in the chronically ill, immobile and for those at end of life. Currently there is no one system available for this purpose.  The project will also help to educate and train staff in offering another therapeutic option for relief of suffering that is easy to access. 
Grant Received $20,000

Federation Square
Schools Interactive Bigscreen Ideas Forum

The Schools Interactive Bigscreen Ideas Forum (S.I.B.I) at Federation Square is a pilot project for what is aimed to be an ongoing, relevant, exciting and inspirational event on Melbourne’s education calendar. Fed Square Pty Ltd aims to partner this project with key events in order to further develop existing relevant educational content. The Bigscreen will be utilised for programming video conferencing that will enable both school groups in video-conference forums to talk to up to four leaders from anywhere in the world at one time about the topics that really matter. With relevant topics tied into existing primary and secondary curricula, students can arrive at the square already engaged in the subject matter and ask relevant questions live to the forum. Students within the square would also be able to engage in the discussion by either texting or emailing their questions live to the screen, or by simply asking the host moderating the session via a remote microphone. 
Grant Received $10,000

RMIT University
Engaging Indigenous Plumbing Students through Digital Technologies

This project will support RMIT indigenous students to improve the outcomes of, and participation in, theory and practice sessions at RMIT. This project will assist to determine how to use a range of e-learning tools to engage and improve the learning of Indigenous students from remote and regional areas enrolled in Certificate III in plumbing. This project will also assist to identify and implement best practice for VET trainers working with indigenous students and provide strategies and resources for workplace trainers.
Grant Received $29,700

Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit
VTPU Continuous Learning & Support Project

The goal of the Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit (VTPS) is to deliver introductory training to all clinicians as well as in-depth training programs. VTPS has highlighted a gap in appropriate training to support the needs of Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This project will supply high quality and easily accessible cultural competence training to the Victorian mental health and disability support workforce whilst also making continuous learning available through on-line access and support frameworks. 
Grant Received $30,000

 

Application Process

The Telematics Trust funds initiatives within Victoria involving the application of technology to education which are innovative, educationally driven and market oriented.

Click here to download the guidelines

Who Can Apply?

  • Individuals
  • Educational Institutes
  • Government
  • Business
  • Non-profit organisations
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Assessors

Important Information for Assesors

If you have been asked to be an Assessor by an applicant you must ensure that you are both qualified to give an opinion and that you do not have any conflict of interest.

Assessors May Not:

  • Be directly involved in the project
  • Be related to individuals directly involved in the project
  • Benefit financially from project or from providing their report
  • Be directly involved with the Telematics Trust as an Advisory Committee Member, Trustee or any other member of the Secretariat.

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