Local councils and communities in Gippsland are being encouraged to prepare for a digital future by nurturing clever technology projects. Councils can register for the Future Ready series of webinars, masterclasses and project sharing events on building technology know-how. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said Future Ready would help the councils prepare for a high-tech future through learning, collaboration and ideas generation. “For Gippsland, technology can open up markets which would otherwise be unreachable for local businesses and creating opportunities for new ventures that haven’t existed before.“Technology is advancing and changing all the time and it’s important our communities stay in touch with new developments so they are not left behind. This program will provide practical advice and real-life examples, and share success stories and tales of failure.” Mr Chester said Future Ready was an opportunity to bring together service and technology providers with governments, community leaders and business owners. “Together, they will share knowledge, grow ideas and stimulate innovation. The councils and their communities will be able to create valuable connections with industry leaders, experts and service providers to accelerate local technology plans and projects,” Mr Chester said. Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor said Future Ready complemented the Australian Government’s $50 million Smart Cities and Suburbs Program. “Future Ready is designed to help councils and their communities create valuable connections with industry leaders, experts and service providers to accelerate local technology plans and projects,” Mr Taylor said. A wide range of projects are expected to be developed, such as app-based detection of infrastructure wear and tear, traffic sensors, smart street lighting, or computer generated programs that support local services. Future Ready events will run between May and September with collaborative activities and project incubation continuing beyond the formal program. The program has been developed for local government, but is open to anyone. Registrations are now open. To find out more, visit https://cities.dpmc.gov.au/future-ready.