The IDX (Indigenous Digital Excellence) project is an initiative that will enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to ride the digital technology wave while staying connected to country and culture.
The Indigenous Digital Excellence (IDX) project was launched some three years ago by the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in partnership with the Telstra Foundation.
The purpose of this project is to support Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to embrace, engage with, implement and influence the use of new technology.
During the recent Garma festival the project relaunched what they call the IDX roadmap.
This roadmap tries to set the next step forward for the communities.
Kristie Parker, CEO of NCIE, says that the most exciting part of the IDX roadmap is a program called Flint that runs under IDX.
She says that Flint tries to spark in communities the thirst and hunger for knowledge about new technologies and turn ideas around to apply them in local settings.
During the activation period of the IDX Flint program, IDX crews are sent to selected communities to help them develop capabilities in an area of their choice whether it is coding, 3D printing or robotics.
Kristie Parker says that during the activation process IDX crews work with young people, generally through schools.
IDX crews introduce new technologies to Indigenous as well as Torres Strait Island communities and train them in these technologies so that after the activation process the thirst lives on.
While younger generations have shown a propensity to be early adopters of new technologies, one of the guiding principles of the IDX project is to be inclusive and reach all sections of the community and age groups.