Australia - Digital Economy - Health, Education and Government

This annual report offers a wealth of information on the trends and developments taking place in the e-government, e-health and tele-education sectors. The report provides analyses of the issues surrounding the growth of such services and includes global and regional statistics. Comprehensive information on the exciting developments taking place on a regional level is also included.

Subjects covered include:

• The importance of broadband infrastructure;
• Key issues and strategies needed for countries to develop their digital economies;
• E-government market overview, analyses and statistics;
• E-health market overview, analyses and statistics;
• Tele-education market overview, analyses and statistics.

Researcher:- Paul Budde

Current publication date:- March 2009 (2nd Edition)

Next publication date:- March 2010

Executive Summary

E-health

E-health is rapidly shaping up as one of the key killer apps on the truly high-speed broadband networks and millions of people around the world can potentially benefit from e-health applications. In the western world we are facing a massive dilemma in relation to healthcare. New technologies and knowledge has resulted in increased life expectation and improved lifestyles. The cost of this however is enormous, and we simply can no longer afford to finance these huge advancements through the public health systems.

In countries with proper broadband infrastructure, we see e-health shaping up as a way that will allow us to enjoy these advances in medical technology and medical services, at a more affordable cost. This report provides overviews of the developments occurring in the e-health market, including analysis and statistics. For more information, see chapter 2, page 8.

E-education & e-science

The Internet and associated Web 2.0 technologies has further broadened the quality and possibilities for remote education and the 'virtual classroom'. Tele-education is also becoming increasingly important in training health professionals in remote areas.

Corporations and universities are continuing to adopt e-learning solutions in an effort to lower costs and provide training and education to a wider audience. Enterprises also adopt e-learning for similar reasons. However, in the current economic environment, BuddeComm sees e-learning growth being curtailed somewhat as companies reign in spending, which in turn will impact upon training and education budgets.

The Labor Government made this a key element of its election campaign. This report provides an overview of e-education in terms of both tele-education and e-learning. For more information, see chapter 3.2, page 34.

The report also introduces and analyses the concept of e-science. For more information, see chapter 4, page 37.

E-government

Many countries around the world are now well aware of the importance of e-government and many governments have shown leadership in developing online services. The benefits of e-government applications can include cutting costs and improving processes and information flow - but one of its primary aims is to improve customer service for citizens.

This report provides information on e-government with a focus on web-based services. The report identifies the leading governments, common applications and benefits of e-government. For more information, see chapter 5 page 41.

Paul Budde

February 2009

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

This annual report offers a wealth of information on the trends and developments taking place in the e-government, e-health and tele-education sectors. The report provides analyses of the issues surrounding the growth of such services and includes global and regional statistics. Comprehensive information on the exciting developments taking place on a regional level is also included.

Subjects covered include:

• The importance of broadband infrastructure;
• Key issues and strategies needed for countries to develop their digital economies;
• E-government market overview, analyses and statistics;
• E-health market overview, analyses and statistics;
• Tele-education market overview, analyses and statistics.

• 1. Government Policies for the Digital Economy
  • 1.1 Australian government is leading the way
    • 1.1.1 Significant financial incentive
    • 1.1.2 Benefits are beyond telecoms
  • 1.2 Essential for health, education and energy services
    • 1.2.1 Multiplier effect creates new jobs
    • 1.2.2 FttH long term infrastructure goal
    • 1.2.3 Vertical models won't deliver the national benefits
    • 1.2.4 Other sectors need tadjust their policies as well
  • 1.3 Innovation
  • 1.4 Digital economy industry workgroup
  • 1.5 Trans-sectoral thinking required for governments
  • 1.6 Regulatory frameworks are failing
  • 1.7 National benefits are astounding
  • 1.8 Conclusions
• 2. E-Health
  • 2.1 Global e-health
    • 2.1.1 Scope
    • 2.1.2 E-health - killer app on true broadband
    • 2.1.3 Massive costs of healthcare
    • 2.1.4 Key developments - 2008
    • 2.1.5 IT key tsustainable healthcare
    • 2.1.6 E-health project examples
    • 2.1.7 Published market statistics and forecasts
    • 2.1.8 Conclusion
    • 2.1.9 How tkick-start e-health
  • 2.2 E-health in Australia
    • 2.2.1 Australian Health Information Council
    • 2.2.2 Clever Networks program
    • 2.2.3 Overview of other projects
    • 2.2.4 Telstra's e-health initiatives
• 3. E-Education
  • 3.1 Global e-education
    • 3.1.1 Introduction
    • 3.1.2 Case studies
  • 3.2 E-education in Australia
    • 3.2.1 National government policy - FttH tthe schools
    • 3.2.2 Australia's largest online library
    • 3.2.3 Media literacy
• 4. E-Science
  • 4.1 Innovation networks: where e-science and telecoms meet
    • 4.1.1 E-science
    • 4.1.2 Citizens e-science
    • 4.1.3 From videtvirtual knowledge
• 5. E-Government
  • 5.1 Global e-government
    • 5.1.1 Introduction
    • 5.1.2 Benefits of e-government
    • 5.1.3 E-government applications
    • 5.1.4 Leading e-government around the world
    • 5.1.5 Fibre key te-government
  • 5.2 E-government in Australia
    • 5.2.1 E-government
    • 5.2.2 Survey on e-Government services usage
• 6. Glossary of Abbreviations
• List of tables
  • Table 1 - Projected regional increases in total healthcare spending - 2020 - 2050
  • Table 2 - Number of consumers using health monitoring - North America Western Europe1 - 2008-2012
  • Table 3 - Spending on IT in healthcare sector - Western Europe - 2006- 2012
  • Table 4 - Market value and growth of telehealth - 2012
  • Table 5 - Worldwide e-learning market value - 2005-2008 -2010
  • Table 6 - Percentage of government agencies offering online services worldwide - 2005 - 2007
• List of exhibits
  • Exhibit 1 - Healthcare spending statistics
  • Exhibit 2 - Advantages of e-health
  • Exhibit 3 - E-health project examples
  • Exhibit 4 - Popular health related websites in the US
  • Exhibit 5 - Advantages of e-learning
  • Exhibit 6 - Examples of e-learning market participants
  • Exhibit 7 - Examples of Tele-education initiatives in developing markets
  • Exhibit 8 - Many Eyes - e-science website example
  • Exhibit 9 - GigaPort and SURFnet
  • Exhibit 10 - Examples of Web 2.0 developments
  • Exhibit 11 - Definition of e-government
  • Exhibit 12 - Examples of common web-based e-government applications
  • Exhibit 13 - United Nations e-government readiness ranking - top 35 countries - 2008
  • Exhibit 14 - Brown University's top five e-government countries - 2007