Marcus Butler
18 November 2015: The days of making the daily commute for many Canberra and region workers could be numbered, with a University of Canberra report finding local areas are ideally suited to adopt smart work practices.
The Smart Work in the ACT and Region report was launched this week. Commissioned by Regional Development Australia ACT and Southern Inland (NSW), the report was produced by associate professor of urban and regional planning Richard Hu and other UC researchers including professor Lawrence Pratchett, Dr Fiona Buick, and Mr Lucas Carmody.
Dr Hu said smart work uses information and communications technology (ICT) to allow people who are primarily employed in knowledge industries and services, such as public servants, to work from alternative locations, cafes, libraries and home offices.
"Smart work practice is based on principles to balance life and work, to alleviate commuting pressure, and to enable more flexibility in delivering work."
"The study found Canberrans typically commute for around 40 minutes each day, travelling about 35 kilometres to and from work," Dr Hu said. "However, increasing numbers of workers are turning to smart work or telework and breaking the cycle.
"Canberra (and the region) is a prime candidate to adopt smart work. It has a highly educated workforce, a knowledge-based economy, and higher rates of internet connection and usage compared to other Australian states and territories."
According to the report, the Gungahlin town centre has been identified as a potential pilot site for a smart work facility, or hub, based with the area's exponential population growth and NBN connectivity.
The surrounding urban region surrounding the ACT, including Queanbeyan and Yass, has also been singled out as a strong candidate for a smart work hub.
From 2006-2011, the number of teleworkers increased locally by 12 percent, to almost 3,000 people, 56 per cent are women.
Dr Hu said ICT's capacity for facilitating smart work to contribute to productivity and sustainability in the ACT has not been fully explored yet.
"The private sector is quicker to adapt to the changing mode of work, and while the public sector is starting to be aware of this trend, it might take longer to put it into action," he said.
"In Australia, a few initiatives have begun in recent years, such as the Digital Work Hub initiative in Southeast Queensland and in New South Wales we have seen smart work hubs established across the Greater Sydney region."
"Smart Work in the ACT and Region will give government, business and employees a lot of information to think on, as we examine the way we work in Australia and move towards the necessary cultural change to translate smart work into action," Dr Hu said.
The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Singapore are leading countries for widespread adoption of smart work practices, he said.
Dr Hu is a member of the University's Smart Work Research Group, which is led by the dean of the Faculty of Business, Government and Law, Professor Lawrence Pratchett.