ACS News

ACS-TSA welcomes the launch of the Telstra-TJA Christopher Newell Prize for Telecommunications and Disability

Wednesday, 24 June 2009 - Telstra, in conjunction with the Telecommunications Journal of Australia (TJA) and the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, today launched the Telstra-TJA Christopher Newell Prize for Telecommunications and Disability.

This new prize of $20 000 will be awarded for the best, original paper offered for publication by TJA that demonstrates the tangible benefits that an innovative use of telecommunications technology can deliver in assisting individuals with disabilities. The competition is world-wide, and the deadline for entries is 15 January 2010.

The prize recognises and commemorates the ground-breaking work that the late Revd Canon Dr Christopher Newell AM undertook within the telecommunications industry from 1990 to 2008 in representing the needs of people with disability.

Robert Morsillo, Telstra’s Group Manager Consumer Affairs, said Mr Newell had worked tirelessly to get the industry, government and society to listen to people with disability and accord them the same opportunities to participate as everyone else.

“As someone who worked with Christopher as a colleague and a friend, I think it is fair to say he was the one who taught the telecommunications industry about disability and about accessibility.

“Here at Telstra, Christopher’s contribution lives on in our industry-leading Disability Action Plans for making our products and services as accessible as possible. We are also strongly committed to providing an inclusive workplace and, through our company-wide Diversity Council, we actively encourage the recruitment and development of people with disability to help serve our diverse customer base,” said Mr Morsillo.

Officially launching the prize today at Parliament House, Canberra, Mr Shorten said, “I am excited by the potential for modern communications technologies, in particular broadband applications, to empower people with disability to participate in and contribute to our Australian society on a more equal basis: something which Christopher Newell committed so much of his time and intellect towards.”

“I congratulate Telstra and TJA for taking up this initiative, which I expect will continue to encourage high-quality contributions to “the literature” that Christopher Newell so often referred to, as well as to increasing the benefits of modern communications for people with disability.” Mr Shorten said.

Sam Burrell, ACS CEO, thanked Mr Shorten for his support of the Prize. “I recall that the idea of a prize for telecommunications and disability was first brought up earlier in the year by Mr Shorten when he presented the TJA Eckermann Prize for the Sustainable Environment. That Mr Shorten’s challenge has been met so quickly is a credit to all involved and the prize highlights the impact that ICT can have across all segments of society,” said Mr Burrell.

Information about the Telstra-TJA Christopher Newell Prize for Telecommunications and Disability is available by visiting www.acs.org.au/attachments/TelstraTJAPrizeRules.pdf. The competition is managed on behalf of the ACS-TSA (Telecommunications Society of Australia; a Special Interest Group of the Australian Computer Society) by the Managing Editor of TJA, Dr Peter Gerrand.

Contact

Seni Murni, ACS PR and Special Projects Executive Tel : 0410 027 706

About the ACS:
The ACS (Australian Computer Society) is the recognised professional association for those working in Information and Communications Technology, seeking to raise the standing of ICT professionals and represent their views to government, industry and the community. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the ICT sector, committed to ensuring the beneficial use of ICT for all Australians. It provides both members and non-members with opportunities for professional education, networking and certification, as well as enabling them to contribute to the development of their profession. Visit www.acs.org.au for more.

About the TJA:
The Telecommunications Journal of Australia (TJA) is a leading authoritative ‘journal of record’, issued online thrice yearly by subscription to ACS-TSA (the Telecommunications Special Interest Group of the ACS, which organises lectures, networking events and other activities within Australia for those interested in improving their understanding of new developments in telecommunications, in Australia and overseas) members. It includes: clear, concise and in-depth high quality articles on new developments in telecommunications around the world, written by both industry professionals and practical academics; interviews with the Australian industry’s leading change-makers; book reviews; news of forthcoming events and reports about the Society’s activities. Visit www.acs.org.au/tja for more.