ABS and GovHack to unleash the power of statistics

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MEDIA RELEASE
25 July 2017
Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)

88/2017
ABS and GovHack to unleash the power of statistics


The Australian Bureau of Statistics is teaming up with GovHack to challenge everyday Australians to come up with ideas for an innovative 2016 Census data application or product.

The GovHack competition is a two-day event held simultaneously around Australia to create concepts, mashups and models using open government data. At the end of the weekend, teams submit their project including a project video, their open data story, or project page for government agencies to judge.

For the first time ever, the GovHack Census award category will call on entrants from around the country to develop and present a proof of concept for a creative and innovative interactive mashup that showcases the latest 2016 Census data.

2016 Census Director, Sue Taylor, said the GovHack partnership would allow the ABS to find ‘outside the box’ ideas that highlight the value of Census data and capture the imagination of the Australian public.

“We’re tremendously excited about the GovHack competition,” Ms Taylor said.

“Crowdsourcing ideas provides a fantastic opportunity to collaborate between government, industry and citizens and find out exactly what value others can create from Australia’s Census data.

“Census data is for all Australians, and the ABS is keen to see fresh, exciting concepts showcasing Census data for individuals and communities to increase its benefits for all Australians.”

For the Census award category, two winning entries, to be shortlisted by a GovHack judging panel and chosen by the ABS, will receive $3000 and $1000 prizes awarded at the GovHack International Red Carpet Awards later this year and the ABS may further develop the concepts.

2017 marks the fifth year the ABS has been involved as a sponsor of GovHack, helping it grow into one of the world’s largest open data competitions. In addition to the Census award category this year, the ABS will again sponsor a general award category, encouraging participants to use ABS economic data to find insights and create stories about Australia, using technology in new and innovative ways.

GovHack is a free event to attend for competitors. For more information or to register, go to the GovHack website.

Media inquiries: Census Media (02) 6252 6617 or census.media@abs.gov.au

GovHack media inquiries: media@govhack.org