creating opportunities and meeting desert challengesthrough partnerships, know-how and innovation

Desert Knowledge Australia

What is Desert Knowledge?Desert knowledge is the know-how, ideas and innovations that desert people have developed to thrive. Connecting people with desert knowledge, creating partnerships and using desert knowledge helps to build stronger economies and more sustainable communities.

What does Desert Knowledge Australia do?Desert Knowledge Australia identifies and develops key local and national projects that contribute to a social, economic and environmentally sustainable future for desert Australia.

major sponsors

Virtual Meeting Place

Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre

remoteFOCUS

Desert Knowledge Precinct

Desert Knowledge AustraliaDesert Knowledge Business & Innovation CentreDesert Knowledge PrecinctSouth Stuart HighwayAlice Springs NT 0870

PO Box 2114Alice Springs NT 0871

Ph: +61 8 8959 6000Fax: +61 8 8959 6025

Email: info@desertknowledge.com.au

www.desertknowledge.com.au

about usDesert Knowledge Australia grew out of extensive community opinion in Alice Springs with significant support from the Northern Territory Government, our cornerstone funder.

In 2003 Desert Knowledge Australia became a statutory corporation of the Northern Territory Government under the Desert Knowledge Australia Act.

The Act charges Desert Knowledge Australia to encourage and facilitate learning, research and sustainable economic and social development relating to deserts and arid lands.

Its national and intercultural board is chaired by the Hon Fred Chaney AO.

Desert Leadership Programs

Project partner:

Desert Knowledge Australia Outback Business Networks

Aboriginals Benefit Account

Project partner:

Desert Knowledge Australia

Cornerstone funding:

BATCHELOR I N STITUTE

Infrastructure provided by: Precinct partners:

our guiding principles

<<collaborativewe work with organisations and people that share common goals

<<interculturalwe actively work to bring Aboriginal and other Australians together

<<sustainablewe work to achieve long term widespread change

<<desert voicewe help build a voice for desert people

<<high impactwe focus effort where it will make the greatest change

<<localised and nationalwe work at a local level and in a national context

Desert Knowledge Australia Outback Business NetworksDesert Knowledge Australia Outback Business Networks is a free network for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and business support agencies operating in nine regions of outback Australia.

The network connects SMEs in the industries of: mining services, tourism, creative industries, local produce and sustainable building.

The network builds on partnerships with corporate and government sponsors and regional organisations and sponsors.

It builds the economy in regional areas by increasing business, expanding markets, generating cost savings and providing access to information and services.

Desert LeadershipDesert Knowledge Australia’s Desert Leadership Programs aim to develop individual and corporate leadership. Our programs are based on:

• An intercultural foundation - Aboriginal and other Australians working together for common purpose.

• The desert context - the desert provides unique conditions, challenges and opportunities for leadership

development.

remoteFOCUSremoteFOCUS is a group of people and organisations committed to improving the way governments govern, administer and engage with remote Australia. The group is working together to drive national change to improve governance, policy, infrastructure and service delivery.

Current projects for remoteFOCUS are the remoteFOCUS Pilbara Project and the national remoteREFORM package.

Desert Knowledge PrecinctDesert Knowledge Australia is responsible for the development and management of the Desert Knowledge Precinct. The Precinct is a 73 hectare site in Alice Springs that provides a national and international focal point for desert knowledge activities.

The Desert Knowledge Precinct is home to a range of organisations with a shared vision of developing the people, knowledge and economy of the desert.

Virtual Meeting PlaceThe Virtual Meeting Place connects people working in a range of industries across Australia, linked by a common interest in building a sustainable future for desert Australia. The network meets every six weeks via audio-conferencing with web support.

Since 2003, over 60 meetings have been hosted, with members discussing:• Projects and activities in their region • Common issues • Gaps requiring research or resources • Opportunities for future initiatives

our projects

Desert Knowledge Australia Solar CentreThe Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre, at the Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs, is the first site in Australia to publicly showcase a broad range of large scale solar installations.

The site demonstrates and compares over 20 solar installations with real time data fed to an interactive website. People can visit the site to see how each technology is performing at: www.dkasolarcentre.com.au

PartnershipsIn addition to these projects, Desert Knowledge Australia builds partnerships and supports local initiatives. An example of this is the Indigenous Employment and Education Taskforce (IEET) which is facilitated by Desert Knowledge Australia.

Desert Knowledge Australia is also an essential partner in the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation which is based at the Desert Knowledge Precinct.

Desert Knowledge Precinct

Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre

Desert Knowledge Precinct Open Day

Desert Leadership Program

A Virtual Meeting