Victoria University won the Innovator of the Year award for its Avatar project, which is using 3D virtual online environments and technologies to keep refugee and disadvantaged secondary students engaged in education. The University is running the project in partnership with teachers from Debney Park Secondary College.

The Government Agency of the Year award was given to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies for its AUSTLANG project, which is a database of Australian Indigenous languages compiled from more than 700 references and provides information about name, documentation, number of speakers, location, language programs, endangerment level, and classification of each language.

Other winners include:

• Mission Australia’s MACSIMS software system, which streamlines social workers’ workflow, allowing them more time to help people;
• Vodafone Australia Foundation’s Young People Connected project that enables young people who are homeless or living in unstable conditions to stay connected to their families, youth workers and other support networks;
• FlowConnect’s GrantsFlow software, which streamlines applications for government funding for children with special needs;
• Status Works’ Employee Hot Prospects website, which more efficiently connects employers and job-seekers; and,
• RSPCA (ACT)’s online pet adoption system.

Michelle Perl

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