THE Shire\u2019s first co-working space, the Smythesdale Digital Hub, has opened at The Well.<\/p>\n
Run by the municipality, the facility has undergone $97,000 worth upgrades to offer desktop computers, and monitors for laptop connectivity, National Broadband Network internet, and a meeting area.<\/p>\n
The space has been fully funded by the State Government.<\/p>\n
Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Helena Kirby said the Digital Hub is a way of supporting local enterprises.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder our COVID-19 financial hardship policy, it will be free to businesses and residents for the first 12 months of operation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is office space, individual desks, group meeting space and a sound-proof booth for online meetings and phone calls.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Digital Hub is a wonderful co-working space and we look forward to it being a popular place for people to work in the Golden Plains Shire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas officially opened the \u201cwarm, welcoming and friendly\u201d facility alongside the mayor last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis really is a story about the community. We all know that COVID has meant we\u2019ve had to work in ways that we perhaps never imagined we would,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking from home is something… some of us continue to do, but from time-to-time we need to get out of our homes for privacy, to separate from the kids, or to access better connectivity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why this project is so important at Smythesdale, and it\u2019s the first of its kind across Victoria, funded under our $3.5 million Regional Digital Fund. This will have many benefits that flow on to local businesses, emergency services, our agriculture sector, and so on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Terri Pryse-Smith and Alan Smith operate their business Minitube Australia from Smythesdale, supplying assisted animal reproduction equipment to the world.<\/p>\n
As their office has grown, so has their need for an additional meeting area when hosting interstate staff and visiting overseas distributors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe plan to have business meetings or training sessions at the Digital Hub,\u201d Ms Pryse-Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be more peaceful to come up here and have a meeting. It\u2019s marvellous, and if it can draw more people out, we\u2019ll probably get some community-cross pollination going on, a meeting of minds and ideas-swapping.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a location close to Minitube Australia\u2019s base, Mr Smith said the co-working and meeting space is very convenient.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can get food from over the road brought up. It\u2019s a fantastic facility that\u2019s clean and professional,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes visiting suppliers and people we\u2019re trying to impress might think, \u2018what are you doing in a little town like Smythesdale?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when they come here they feel a sense of community, there\u2019s convenience and it sells the benefits of the small town.\u201d<\/p>\n
Western Victoria upper house MP and Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford said the Digital Hub is a \u201cgreat step forward\u201d for the rural area.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving access to reliable digital technologies helps communities stay connected and businesses adapt to new ways of doing things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The Smythesdale Digital Hub will be open five days a week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Shire\u2019s first co-working space, the Smythesdale Digital Hub, has opened at The Well. Run by the municipality, the facility has undergone $97,000 worth upgrades to offer desktop computers, and monitors for laptop connectivity, National Broadband Network internet, and a meeting area. The space has been fully funded by the State Government. Golden Plains Shire […]<\/p>\n