Telework is an activity to use information and communications technologies to free staff from traditional office locations and enable them to work elsewhere.
The Government has supported the development of the Australian Telework Online Resource Centre. This website, entitled Telework Australia, provides businesses and employees with a wide array of information and resources about telework.
The scope of telework is broad, it can include a range of activities performed by employees from home, including the self-employed, and work activities performed in ‘satellite' working centres.
The increasing availability of broadband is making telework much more technically feasible and thereby increasing uptake.
The Sensis Teleworking Report, July 2009 contains survey results concerning telework arrangements in small and medium business in Australia. Overall 22 percent of businesses reported that they or their employees teleworked, with a higher incidence occurring in medium sized businesses - over double the overall rate. The report notes that businesses list several obstacles to the uptake of telework; technical, administrative and supervisory issues. The incidence of telework in larger organisations has not been surveyed by Sensis Pty Ltd.
A number of Australian Government agencies have useful information on teleworking from different perspectives and some links are included here.
Related Links
Contacts
The Manager
ICT Industry Development
Ph. [+61] 02 6276 1708
Email: tess.mcdonald@innovation.gov.au