As a corporate group, Fujifilm’s global approach is to contribute to society via education and advanced technologies. Recently they took on-board the challenge of creating a home for photography enthusiasts of all levels where they could come together, share ideas and their passion for imaging. For this, they developed and opened their first Fujifilm House of Photography in the southern hemisphere in Sydney’s CBD. Now FUJIFILM Australia have taken things up a notch and launched the first free photography workshop in a series of free and chargeable workshops and masterclasses at the Fujifilm House of Photography.

Ryuichi Matoba, CEO of FUJIFILM Australia, explained, “We decided to open the first Fujifilm House of Photography in the southern hemisphere in Sydney following the success of the northern hemisphere’s Fujifilm House of Photography in London. The Fujifilm House of Photography in Sydney showcases a wide range of products and services, from photo taking to photo making. It also pays homage to our heritage and the history of photography itself. Every single masterclass and workshop is custom-tailored to helping the Australian public. The first free workshop, Discover Fujifilm, helped photographers of all levels learn more about the technology and features that makes Fujifilm X Series, GFX System and FUJINON lenses unique. It also taught techniques on how Fujifilm gear can help develop your photographic and videographic style. There is also a wider goal in play as the masterclasses and workshops help to educate, invigorate and nurture Australia’s well documented passion for photography.”

As Matoba explained, Discover Fujifilm, presented by Experience Centre Specialist, Stephen Pierce, helped educate attendees as to the scope of the Fujifilm ecosystem, the capability of their cameras’ X-Trans sensor and the overall benefits of Fujifilm solutions, including image and lens quality, portability, suitability and film simulations.

Pierce added, “The content of the workshop centred around delivering value and benefits, including technical information, to the attendees and end users. We also covered objection handling and the best way to use the Fujifilm House of Photography as a one stop shop for your photography journey.”

Pierce presented the content, the workshop and held a Q&A session after the presentation for attendees, who included everyone from the most amateur of photographers through to enthusiasts and professionals.

Pierce continued, “It was a very interactive workshop with many questions asked around Fujifilm, our multiple X-H Series vs X-T product lines, hybrid and purely photographic solutions. A particularly popular topic centred around why we are creating many products with the same sensor size. To this I explained how each of the tiers of cameras provide a range of capabilities and portability. Our sensor range is two-tiered, X and GFX, with sensor size selected based on the best performance for the task, size and budget. As further added value, we also explained and covered film simulations, something that many of the attendees had heard about but not experienced. To do this, we harnessed the different solutions we had for our camera line up and helped educate the class about the higher specification cameras that are required and why.”

According to Pierce, the feedback at and from the workshop was extremely positive.

He added, “All of the attendees were very engaged with our content, and many were interested in attending the next free workshop on High Speed photography and the Fujifilm X-H2S high speed camera offering, including the latest firmware update V3.00.”

FUJIFILM Australia’s new masterclasses and workshops provide unique Fujifilm-only events and experiences to end-users in Australia. They also add value to those who have purchased or are considering purchasing Fujifilm cameras and FUJINON lenses. Future masterclasses and workshops will feature collaborations with well-known Fujifilm X-Photographers and third-party partners who manufacture all manner of photographic accessories.

Matoba continued, “The masterclasses and workshops are about FUJIFILM Australia giving back to the community and adding value for consumers. They provide existing Fujifilm users a home where they can learn more about their cameras and how to enhance their kit. For those new to Fujifilm cameras and lenses it’s a chance to explore and learn about our full range. Then, for those who are new to photography altogether, we will provide a rich environment where they can come and learn about cameras from the ground up and begin their photography journey in the most exciting way possible.”

The photographic market in Australia is evolving fast and over the past three years, Fujifilm has grown their Electronic Imaging business with the continued success of their Fujifilm X Series and GFX System. They have also broadened the appeal of the Fujifilm brand in the Australian market as a result.

Matoba continued, “The first Discover Fujifilm workshop provided dedicated Fujifilm content enabling customers to maximise the performance of their camera, tailor their methods to extract the best results and explore how to expand their photography skills by capitalising on the latest technology. Then, the upcoming masterclasses and workshops will cover a wide range of topics including different types of photography, high speed shooting, technical approaches and photographic experiences. They will also provide a learning opportunity no matter what your photographic area of interest or level of technical understanding. In short, the aim of the masterclasses and workshops is to provide attendees with a learning experience, led by professional photography educators and photographers that provides simple to apply insights and techniques for maximising the results of your camera.”

FUJIFILM Australia chose central Sydney CBD for the Fujifilm House of Photography as they wanted a standout location with high traffic which would attract lots of visitors. The location would have to also be able to showcase products, services and solutions and also host the new masterclasses and workshops, so they also included a designated studio which has been professionally set up with lights, product display stands and tripods.

In truth, the Fujifilm House of Photography is actually more of a ‘home’ than a house, where dedicated experts (or “X-Perts” as FUJIFILM Australia calls them) provide advice to photography enthusiasts of all levels on how to best express oneself through photography. There are also several interactive play tables with the very latest photographic technology and lenses for real hands-on experiences too.

FUJIFILM Australia’s GM of their Electronic Imaging & Optical Devices Division, Shaun Mah, added, “Photography is a much-loved hobby which encourages creativity and self-expression. With the new masterclasses and workshops in the Fujifilm House of Photography we are demonstrating how photography is a real alternative and much healthier option to playing video games or sitting down and being glued to your smartphone. We also hope to help upskill photographers and create a wider sense of community.”

The Fujifilm House of Photography and its masterclasses and workshops have been greatly received by photographers of all ages, from all walks of life and have already generated robust conversations about the future of photography across the country.

Ryuichi Matoba concluded, “The Fujifilm House of Photography in Sydney is the first Fujifilm House of Photography in the southern hemisphere. We now also have these unique, masterclasses and workshops and a wide range of products and creative solutions available for photographers of all levels to touch, try, explore and learn with. We also offer sit down, one-on-one personalised consultations and have a printing and personalisation station where visitors can create a multitude of products from their favourite images. As a result, we believe the Fujifilm House of Photography and our masterclasses and workshops help deepen Australians’ love of photography and will help introduce photography as a new, healthy hobby for younger generations as well.”

Optus Business is launching the Optus Business Plus Roadshow, with leading mentors, Mark Bouris Chairman of Yellow Brick Road, Founder and CEO of Rare Birds Jo Burston and One Love Australia founder Jamal Elsheikh to share their insights with SMEs at a series of regional and metropolitan events.

The roadshow will leverage Optus’ growing footprint of Optus Business Centres (OBCs), local hubs offering help to Australian businesses. Optus currently has over 25 OBCs nationwide, with a further 13 planned for 2023.

Mark Bouris’ appearances form part of a wider partnership with Optus Enterprise and Business, including the Healthy Business campaign and the Optus Business Real Estate Industry Pulse 2022 report.

Optus will also donate $60,000 to select business chambers to support the implementation of technology that will increase flexibility through modularisation. Recipients will be chosen by these business chambers to receive grants of up to $15,000. The funds may be used to create a customisable and flexible technology solution from Optus to meet the unique evolving needs of the Australian business market. Interested parties can apply through their local Business Chamber.

Sean Casey, VP Optus Business, Enterprise and Business at Optus said, “Before we launched Optus Business Plus in 2021 we consulted our business customers to learn about their unique challenges. Many of our customers feel that traditional, business critical technology solutions aren’t flexible enough for their business’ needs.  

“The Optus Business Plus Roadshow will connect our business customers with others in the SME community, as well as provide insights from some of Australia’s greatest business minds. It’s our hope that this series will help Aussie businesses stop compromising on technology solutions and achieve more flexibility through freedom and modularity.”

Each stop on the roadshow will involve an intimate breakfast panel with a mentor and special guest, chaired by Sean Casey. Businesses will be able to connect with their OBC and local support team while building relationships with other business owners to further increase their support network.

Mark Bouris, Founder and Chairman of Yellow Brick Road, said, “I know what it takes to build a business from scratch and turn it into something special. From my experience, when it comes to technology, even with all the choices out there it can become easy to settle. However, there are things you shouldn’t compromise on. That’s why I want to share my knowledge, so other Australian small businesses can be armed with the tools they need to build something incredible.

“Teaming up with Optus for their Optus Business Plus Roadshow is a full circle moment – an opportunity to network with likeminded people and mentors is exactly what I would have wanted when I was first starting out. I’m looking forward to connecting with small business owners and giving back to those taking on the huge challenge of starting their own business.”

The Optus Business Plus Roadshow will commence on March 14 in Adelaide. SMEs interested in attendance should RSVP here, as space is limited.

Optus Business Plus Roadshow events:

• For information and to RSVP for the Adelaide event on 14 March, click here.
• For information and to RSVP for the Orange event on 22 March, click here.
• For information and to RSVP for the Shepparton event on 29 March, click here.

Jabra,have launched the Speak2 range, the newest products in Jabra’s world market-leading Speak line-up of professional speakerphones which include the Speak2 75, Speak2 55 and the Speak2 40.  

Hybrid work has shifted the way we meet, with 80% of all meetings now being either fully remote or hybrid*. The new Speak2 range is engineered specifically to meet the need for an intelligent speaker that is built to handle anything a busy hybrid working day throws at you – whether it be conference meetings, direct calls, streaming media, presentation or other.  

With more than 9 million speakerphones sold worldwide, Jabra has long been leading the speakerphone market. Now, giving more power to the speaker than ever before, the Speak2 range is like widescreen audio for your ears, offering mobile and futureproof professional quality sound so all voices can be heard, wherever they may come from. 

Next generation engineering for each and every voice 

For all meeting participants to not only feel heard, but also listened to, the Speak2 range is engineered to go beyond standard speakerphone performance, and a full duplex audio. This speakerphone allows users who are talking simultaneously to conduct much more natural two-way dialogues, as though each speaker was there in person, without disrupting conversation flow.  

42% say they can’t hear what is being said in meetings*. With the Speak2 75, Speak2 55, and Speak2 40, gone are the days of raised voices straining to be picked up by poor quality speakerphones. Every speaker in this new range features cutting-edge Voice Level Normalisation technology and state-of-the-art beamforming microphones that eliminate background noise for superb voice pick up. 

Built with versatility in mind, the Speak2 range ultimately offers, professional, pocketable, and portable devices packed with the latest technology. All packaged up in a stylish, contemporary design with premium materials including 100% sustainable fabric for the speaker. When in call mode, the subtle user-interface ring lights up and brings use functions with relevant icons to life.  

Advanced professional speakerphone with superior audio  

Jabra Speak2 75 is like a boardroom in your pocket, being the only speakerphone in this range to feature a custom-designed Microphone Quality Indicator. The 360-degree light ring shows users how well their voice is being picked up by the microphones, giving users the reassurance of true professionalism from wherever they may be working. 

In addition, this speakerphone includes an advanced full range 65mm speaker, offering a dramatically more powerful audio experience and ultimately resulting in much more efficient and productive meetings.  

Compact speakerphones full of productivity-boosting tech  

With the Jabra Speak2 range, users can be sure to rely on seamless plug-and-play connectivity, so users can focus on what matters most; hosting professional and reliably brilliant meetings. For those who like choice, use the USB cable for a direct line with the Speak2 40 or go wireless with the Speak2 75 or Speak2 55.   

Finally, each Speak2 product is designed to work with all leading virtual meeting platforms, meaning users can participate confidently in calls and meetings from any location, without the worry of poor audio quality or connectivity issues. There’s even no need to be concerned about durability, since all of Jabra’s Speak2 products feature IP64-rated protection from dust and water. 

Aurangzeb Khan, SVP for Collaboration Solutions at Jabra says, “Sound clarity is fundamental when looking to ensure all employees feel included in hybrid meetings. Therefore, Jabra decided to take on the challenge of re-engineering the world-leading Jabra Speak series for better performance and optimised experiences. Engineered for the hybrid worker who wants to hear and be heard in the most productive way, the new Speak2 range demonstrates to those working flexibly between home and office, that their voice matters too. So, get ready to speak up.” 

Key shared features of the Speak2 range: 

·         Four beamforming noise-cancelling microphones with innovative background noise reduction technology 

·         Advanced full duplex audio  

·         Voice Level Normalisation technology 

·         Designed to work with all leading virtual meeting platforms, like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom 

·         IP64-rated protection from dust and water 

Speak2 75 only: 

·         Super-wideband audio and full range 65mm speaker  

·         Microphone Quality Indicator  

·         Up to 33% sustainable materials (from mechanical parts) 

·         Easy connection with Microsoft Swift Pair 

·         Plug-and-play straight out of the box  

·         Up to 32 hours of wireless battery life 

·         Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms 

Speak2 55 and Speak 40: 

·         Plug-and-play for ease of use, with Jabra Speak2 55 boasting up to 12 hours of wireless battery life  

·         Contains more than 50% sustainable materials (from mechanical parts) 

Speak2 will be available from end of March 2023. 

Speak2 75 MSRP $559 AUD 

Speak2 55 MSRP $269 AUD  

Speak2 40 MSRP $239 AUD  

Find out more about Jabra Speak2 at www.jabra.com.au/speak2 

*Jabra Hybrid Ways of Working Global Report 2022 

Serving as the perfect companion for the office and on the go, Bon.elk’s extensive range of stylish accessories has been widely embraced by professionals and creatives across all disciplines. Taking that extra step further to add a splash of colour to the everyday routine, Bon.elk has launched a 3-in-1 USB-C Hub and a Slim 4 Port USB-A Hub in different colour variations suited to any aesthetic and mood. The new coloured hub range brings the essential connections that you need to connect your USB-C laptop or tablet to your monitor and peripherals or extend your device’s USB-A port to accommodate more USB-A devices or peripherals. Built using premium grade aluminium and featuring Bon.elk’s FLEX-SR™ strain relief along with a braided nylon jacket to protect the cable, your new hub will be sure to have a long life. These hubs are the perfect size for travelling and will be protected when you’re on the go with the included premium carry pouch, with room enough for an additional cable or small devices such as a USB or SD card.

Bon.elk USB Hub Key features:

3-in-1 USB-C Hub:

– Five colours; Black, Blue, Green, Space Gray and White

– HDMI: 4K@30Hz, FHD 1080p@60Hz

– USB-A 3.0 SuperSpeed 5Gbps

– USB-C PD Charging 100W

– Premium grade aluminium housing

– Durable Long-life cable with braided nylon jacket and FLEX-SR™ strain relief

Slim 4 Port USB-A Hub:

– Five colours; Black, Blue, Green, Space Gray and White

– Four additional USB-A 3.0 ports

– USB-A 3.0 SuperSpeed 5Gbps

– Premium grade aluminium housing

– Durable Long-life cable with braided nylon jacket and FLEX-SR™ strain relief

The new range is available for purchase at JB HI-FI and Bonelk’s Online Store. The 3-in-1 USB-C Hub is available for AUD$59.99 and the 4 Port USB-A Hub for AUD$39.99.

Deel, the global HR company, today published its State of Global Hiring Report. Findings from 260k+ worker contracts across 160 countries, show that from January through December 2022, global hiring grew across all regions.

In APAC, Australia took the top spot for fastest growth by organisations’ rate of hiring and number of organisations hiring. Of all 2022 contracts, 89% were for remote roles.

Shannon Karaka, Country Leader, Australia and New Zealand, Deel, said: “The latest Deel data shows that amid Australia’s ongoing talent crunch, local businesses are having to look further afield and find alternative ways to recruit and employ talent.

“Many industries in Australia are beginning to explore a global HR strategy. From January to December 2022, Australia witnessed a 107% increase in organisations’ hiring of workers based in the United States, which saw more workers hired globally than any other country. It’s possible that Australian organisations are turning to the US to employ some of the talent that has been laid off in that country over the past few months.

“Given that software engineers and developers are among the most in-demand roles for international hiring, the hunt for tech talent is clearly a major driver of global hiring among countries like Australia. More broadly, as the desire for flexible work options sets in and the challenge of securing talent locally continues, the new global hiring model is answering the needs of local businesses,” Karaka added.

Key global hiring trends worth noting in Australia:

●      Australian organisations’ hiring of workers in the US has increased, year-on-year, by 107%. And hiring of workers in the Philippines increased by 200%.

 Top 3 job positions in Australia are:

1.     Software Engineer

2.     Business Development / Sales

3.     Content / Design

The top countries Australian organisations are hiring from are:

1.     Philippines

2.     India

3.     US

4.     Canada

5.     UK

The top roles Australian workers are being hired for are:

1.     Software Engineer

2.     Statistician

3.     Digital Designer / Content

The most common home countries of companies hiring remote workers in Australia on Deel are:

1.     US

2.     Canada

3.     UK

4.     Singapore

5.     Hong Kong

More broadly, global hiring in APAC:

 APAC companies hired globally at the fastest rate of all regions. The Philippines is the hottest market in APAC to hire from.

Top three countries by number of organisations hiring:

1.     Australia

2.     Singapore

3.     India

 Top three fastest-growing countries by organisations’ rate of hiring:

1.     Australia

2.     Hong Kong

3.     India

Operations & customer support saw the biggest salary gains across all roles.

Social media isn’t exclusive to big business anymore. With over 4.7 active social media users globally, a consistent and engaged social presence is crucial to growing an audience and connecting with customers in 2023 — for businesses of any size. As small businesses look to navigate this wild and often unpredictable space in what will be another defining year, leader in social media management, Hootsuite, is sharing five ways to boost social media marketing to drive small business growth.

Determine the right social channels for your business and steer clear of cross-posting

In the fast-paced and rapidly-changing social landscape, competition can be steep for social networks looking to attract new audiences — and as a result, many are introducing new trends and features often on a daily basis. For businesses, this means constantly being sidetracked and challenged to consider which features and platforms to consider as part of their social marketing strategy.

To be most effective, it’s important that brands take a step back and assess which platforms (and features) are most likely to drive business objectives. Every platform comes with unique benefits, as well as different audiences, and it’s critical that brands recognize that their audience not only gets different value from different networks — they explicitly use different social networks for different purposes. . To maximise success this year, small businesses should ask themselves which platforms will be the most effective in driving return-on-investment based on how their audience is using each platform and, in turn, which ones they should reduce their focus on, or even let go of all together.

At the same time, as social continues to evolve at lightning speed, the weight seems to increase on small businesses’ shoulders, who are wearing multiple hats and are largely limited in the time and resources they can allocate towards social marketing. This often makes shortcuts — including cross-posting content on different social platforms — tempting for small businesses wanting to get the job done quickly and with few resources. In fact, Hootsuite’s research found that 52% of survey respondents said they cross-post content to multiple social platforms with as few changes as possible, with a mere 18% creating different posts from scratch for each platform.

While common, this social strategy can often lead to the detriment of the business. As each social platform provides different value to its audience, cross-posting the same content means running the risk of audiences seeing repeated content — and also seeing content that is not suitable for what they are using the platform for, leading to boredom and/or frustration. In 2023, the most successful small business marketers will be the ones that focus on creating content that’s well suited to those platforms, rather than trying to keep up with every feature-level change the networks throw their way.

Get ahead with content planning and scheduling

As new trends are constantly emerging on social, social marketers are challenged with needing to spontaneously create and push content, and strategically planning content ahead of time. While striking a balance is ideal, developing a content calendar and scheduling social posts is the more effective way to ensure impactful, quality content is being published — consistently. Mapping content out ahead of time also allows businesses to be more strategic with the content they are sharing and increases the likelihood of engagement with their audience — whether that’s through aligning social posts with relevant upcoming days of note (think: Black Friday), or planning engaging contests and giveaways for followers to participate in.

To get started, businesses should look to develop a content calendar that maps out the content for at least the month ahead, if not longer. This should include drafted copy, accompanying assets such as imagery or video, any important links, and timing for the post. As well, leveraging social media management tools at businesses’ disposal is a key way for small businesses to get organised, while lightening the load in the long run. Once a content calendar is in place, businesses can create their social posts in advance using scheduling tools like Hootsuite to have them posted automatically, at the right time.

Foster a community on social and reap the rewards

While brands are increasingly being called on to be more creative and authentic with their content to reach and capture the attention of existing and prospective customers across every channel, fostering a sense of community among followers is arguably just as important. For small businesses in particular, committing to community management is key to seeing results on social. As social platforms are increasingly driven by algorithms that favour engagement, businesses can expect to be rewarded the more actively they interact and engage with users.

Engaging with customers online, and fostering a sense of community on social channels should be thought of as an extension of a business’ customer service, and can be achieved by creating two-way interactions with customers online — whether that’s through responding to comments and answering questions, or simply re-sharing a tagged story. This engagement will result in a network of customers who feel connected to the brand and are more likely to become loyal, repeat customers — on and off social.

Tap into trends (and so much more) with social listening tools

Running a small business is no easy feat. With a million and one things that need constant attention, it’s nearly impossible to allocate endless time to monitoring social media, on top of all the other daily tasks a small business owner bears the responsibility of. . To make keeping up with social a more efficient task on the mile-long list of things to do, small businesses should consider implementing a social listening tool, like Hootsuite’s, which would enable them to work smarter, not harder. By gleaning valuable insights on brand sentiment, customer pain points and needs, as well

as intelligence on trending topics and competitor activity, businesses can make sense of thousands of conversations happening in real time, to keep up with industry trends and get ahead of customer needs.

Measure success every step of the way

While an appealing benefit to running a small business is (oftentimes) discretionary reporting, measuring the impact of their social marketing outputs must not be an element of reporting that is overlooked. As small businesses test and iterate on social to identify what resonates best with their audience, collecting and analysing performance data is the only way to better inform future content strategies — and is a key element of growth and success on social.

Social marketing doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With social media analytics tools, businesses can track progress over time and easily access a metrics-driven representation of which platforms and content type are generating the most engagement with customers (through likes, comments, shares, clicks, etc.) — allowing them to put more effort behind the content that is working, and pivoting from the content that isn’t.

Keeping up with the pace of social, and adapting strategies along the way, is challenging for businesses of any size — but particularly for small businesses. Having the foundational skills to navigate the ebbs and flow of the wild world of social is essential to success, and that’s where expert guidance comes in — Hootsuite’s Social Media Marketing Course is an invaluable resource for small businesses to grow their social presence, and in turn, their businesses too.

Soaring living costs, inaccessible housing markets and years of remote working have driven a major shift in people’s interest as Aussies plan to relocate, according to research by leading payroll and HR services company ADP. 

The People at Work: A Global Workforce View survey found that nearly half (45%) of Australian workers  either want to relocate within Australia, or are already in the process of doing so. Additionally, 40% of respondents were planning or in the process of moving overseas. 

Exposure to working from home was an important influence on whether people wanted to relocate, with those who worked from home (58%) being almost three times more likely than those who were not (20%) to want a sea or tree change.

“The last few years have given some employees the confidence that remote work is viable for them. This has opened up a plethora of opportunities to relocate and pursue a better quality of life, affordable housing, and new job opportunities,” said Kylie Baullo, Managing Director ANZ at ADP. 

“The pandemic changed workers’ expectations and we are seeing an increased need for employers to provide a better work-life balance to retain and attract top talent,” adds Mrs Baullo.  

The desire to relocate was strongest for 18-24 year olds, with well over half (60%) looking for a change in scenery. Meanwhile only half as many (28%) of 45-54 year olds felt the same. Additionally, men (55%) were more likely to be motivated to move than women (36%). 

“This dispersed workforce creates a win-win for employees and employers,” adds Mrs Baullo. “The high cost of living in major cities has made rural and regional areas more appealing, especially to younger workers.” 

“Employers can access a greater talent pool in opening up new geographies to source grass-roots talent from,” says Mrs Baullo.

The research also found that more than half (54%) of 18-24 year olds and nearly two thirds (65%) of 25-34 year olds would consider looking for another job if their employer insisted on a full-time return to the workplace, compared to 46% of the 45-54 age bracket and only 27% of the 55 and over demographic, with a strong correlation between the desire to relocate and the demand for flexible working models amongst the younger age bracket.

However, with office occupancy now at its highest level since the pandemic began in Australia, potentially driven by less-accommodating work-from-home policies, ADP suggests employers need to be best prepared for a hybrid workplace. 

“With flexible working here to stay, employers should instead look to embrace and plan for a dispersed workforce,” says Mrs Baullo. “Businesses should look to offer remote work options. With the potential for multiple employees moving at any given time, and the variety of payment conditions that can occur in different locations – both domestically and overseas, working with a payroll expert to manage smooth transitions is important. ” concludes Mrs Baullo.

For more information on ADP’s payroll and HR software solutions, go to au.adp.com.

A new monitoring system developed by Monash University researchers uses artificial intelligence AI to track bees’ movement to help improve pollination and crop yield. 

The research, published in the International Journal of Computer Vision, involved recording pollinators like honey bees, hover flies, moths, butterflies and wasps, to build a database of over 2000 insect tracks at a commercial strawberry farm in Victoria. 

The recordings were then analysed using Computer Vision and AI to track individual movements of individual insects, to count them, and to monitor their flower visits. This enabled farmers and researchers to understand the contributions of different species to pollination.

Optimal pollination requires the right number of pollinator visits to flowers. Too few or too many visits, or visits by ineffective insect pollinators, can reduce the quality of food a flowering plant produces – ultimately impacting the yield. 

Research co-author, NativeBee+Tech Facility Lab Director Associate Professor Alan Dorin, from the Faculty of Information Technology, said traditional methods of insect monitoring on farms are time-consuming, labour intensive and can produce inaccurate or unreliable data.   

“The monitoring system developed through this study can generate same-day data of crop pollination levels and provide farmers the evidence they need to inform decision-making,” Associate Professor Dorin said. 

“Knowing the extent to which a crop has been pollinated allows growers to alter hive locations and numbers to boost pollination levels.

“Farmers might also open or close greenhouse sidewalls to encourage or discourage insect visits from particular directions. They may decide to add flowers to entice insects to explore crop regions that have not been pollinated adequately.

“These simple interventions can ensure a better rate of successful pollination, and a higher yield of market-quality fruit. We believe that this system will serve as a benchmark for future research in precision pollination.”

For the monitoring system, the researchers developed customised software to analyse the huge volume of data and reliably track individual insects flying through complex foliage.

The study’s lead researcher Dr Malika Ratnayake said a key challenge during the research was to identify the movement of individual insects within a video so that the same insect path is not accidentally counted multiple times.

“The advanced software developed for the system combines AI-based object-detection capabilities with separate foreground detection algorithms to identify the precise positions of insects and the flowers they visit in the recorded videos,” Dr Ratnayake said. 

“The software also includes features to make data processing more efficient and save on computer power.

“We have opted to keep this software open-source so it is accessible to anyone who wants to build similar monitoring systems or other applications to optimise and analyse different data points captured through videos.”

Looking to the future, the researchers are using the monitoring system to study long-term impacts and results of precision pollination techniques, and how it changes the quality of food production and yield over several crop cycles. 

Building on this study, the researchers will be collaborating and working with the Australian Blueberry Growers Association, Costa Group’s berries division, CSIRO, Western Sydney University and University of New England. 

The team is also exploring links to European insects via collaborations with the University of Trento, Italy and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany.

This research was supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects grant, the Monash-Bosch AgTech Launchpad Primer Grant, AgriFutures and the ARC Research Hub. 

Lead researcher from the Faculty of Information Technology, Dr Malika Ratnayake, is available for interviews. 

To know more about the NativeBee+Tech Facility at Monash University’s Faculty of Information Technology, please visit: https://www.monash.edu/it/nativebee 

See an example video tracking the path of different insects in a strawberry patch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyU7Yf6axco  

Data analysed by Australia’s leading travel management provider for SMEs has revealedRegional business flights are growing.

In the year to 31 December 2022, regional flight bookings were 10.5 per cent higher than in 2019^[1] – with Queensland regions landing in eight of the top 10 destinations. The data was derived from regional business flight bookings via Flight Centre Corporate.

Tom Walley, Australian-based Global Managing Director at Corporate Traveller, says: “It’s promising to see the increase in businesses travel to regional Australia in the last 12 months. By the end of the 2022 financial year, the regional tourism industry recovered to 96 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels,^[2] while the population in regional Australia has increased rapidly in the last two years and is predicted to continue growing – 10.5 million people are forecasted to be living outside our major capital cities by 2032.^[3] 

“I anticipate we’ll continue seeing an uptick in businesses travelling regionally this year and beyond, as the promising growth of many regional communities will likely bring with it increased investment in infrastructure, technology, tourism, transport and housing that will prove rewarding for businesses.”

Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff says: “This data underscores what an essential hub Brisbane Airport is for Queensland and our role in supporting regional economies. BNE is Australia’s most connected domestic airport, with connections to 53 towns and cities, 30 of them in Queensland. These services enable the tourism, resources and agricultural sectors and the dispatch of high-value exports to global markets. Importantly, they connect Queenslanders to the world and communities with each other.” 

Queensland dominated the top 10 regional business routes 

The travel booking data also uncovered the top 10 regional routes booked by businesses in 2022. Regional routes from Brisbane proved popular, with six out of 10 of the top routes travelling from the major capital city. Queensland regions took out eight spots out of the 10 placings.

The top regional routes, ranked:

1. Brisbane-Mackay
2. Perth-Kalgoorlie
3. Brisbane-Rockhampton
4. Brisbane-Townsville
5. Brisbane-Moranbah
6. Brisbane-Emerald
7. Brisbane-Cairns
8. Sydney-Gold Coast
9. Melbourne-Gold Coast
10. Perth-Port Hedland

Tom says Queensland is a stand-out destination for regional business travel thanks to its population boom over the last couple of years. “Of all the states and territories, Queensland had the highest population growth rate in the year to June 2022, at two per cent.^[4] This is higher than Australia’s average growth of 1.1 per cent in the same period.^[5] Interstate migration was the major contributor.” 

The growth has created strong house prices, rents, and business activity – and includes regional Queensland. While the growth of property values has reversed across the country, Queensland house prices are still faring better than in other states and remain well above pre-COVID values. Across Australia, regional migration is still 30 per cent higher than before the pandemic.^[6]

Tom says: “The interstate migration to Queensland has included business owners and employees relocating to regional areas, prompting businesses to shift to remote and hybrid working models, at least for some valued employees. Some businesses may also have chosen to open ‘satellite’ offices in regional areas for their staff.

“The regions that topped the list of business flight routes in our ranking have also undergone recent promising growth. For instance, Mackay, which placed first, is among Queensland’s highest growing locations in the state’s property market – prices increased by 7.4 per cent in the year to 31 January 2023. Other regions that also appeared in our top 10 list have also seen strong property growth, with property prices in Townsville increasing by 6.4 per cent and 5.5 per cent in Cairns.^[7] Cairns has also seen an 11 per cent year-on-year increase in rental yields.^[8]”

Tom says more regions are also home to several industry hubs. “In Mackay, its Resources Centre of Excellence, which offers regular training programs and spaces for businesses to hire for events, workshops, and meetings, will see $5.7 million injected into its training and business incubation services over the next three years.^[9] Cairns also boasts the major events venue Cairns Convention Centre, that recently underwent a significant expansion. The Cairns Marine Precinct is also a popular hub for the tourism, fishing, shipping, and cruising yacht sectors, which is also set to undergo a $150 million expansion.^[10]” 

Ranking of top five industries travelling to regional destinations

Corporate Traveller also ranked the industries that have grown their travel to regional areas, against 2019 regional business bookings. While the mining, Government and construction industries continued to top the list, the accommodation and food services and manufacturing industries also frequently sought regional areas in their travel.

Top industries travelling regionally, ranked:

• Mining
• Government
• Construction
• Accommodation and food services
• Manufacturing

Tom says: “With Australia’s significant increase in mining exports, it’s no wonder the mining industry topped the list – and I expect to see the industry continue to lead all business sectors flying to regional areas this year.” Export earnings in commodities reached a record $422 billion in the 2022 financial year and is forecast to reach $450 billion this financial year.^[11]

“Supply chain disruptions in the last couple of years likely led many businesses to localise operations, such as manufacturing. In fact, several manufacturing hubs have emerged in the regions on our list, including Cairns, Townsville, and Rockhampton, suggesting they’re promising areas of growth for the manufacturing industry.^[12] The bounceback in regional tourism may also be driving more businesses in the accommodation and food services industry to travel regionally to expand into fast-growing communities.”

 Amazon Web Services (AWS) has released the report, “How startups create a culture of possibilities”.Prepared by research consulting firm Lonergan Research and commissioned by AWS, the report reveals that Australia’s startup ecosystem is moving beyond perks like ping pong tables and office kegs, with nearly nine in 10 (86%) startup leaders surveyed agreeing that a strong organisational culture and an intentional focus on work-life balance are at the heart of successful businesses.  

The report highlights a happier and more resilient workforce as the leading outcome of a thriving startup’s culture, with the vast majority stating that it plays a critical role in their ability to grow (86%), attract talent (85%) and secure investment (85%). Underscoring this, the data also shows that as Australia’s startup ecosystem matures, leaders and their teams recognise that “grind culture” – or, a mentality that expects and encourages long hours and team availability beyond a standard work day – is not a sustainable way to run a startup for long-term growth and success.   

Tapping into the expertise and deep experience from more than 500 founders, leading investors, advisors, and startup ecosystem influencers, the report explores the critical ingredients for, and outcomes of Australian startup culture. It aims to provide guidance to current and aspiring founders on how to build a thriving and productive company culture from day one – as well as what to watch out for.  

Perks passing their peak  

“Work perks” are often synonymous with startup culture, with ping pong tables and paid lunches routinely featuring in “best places to work” lists. However, the research indicates a move beyond these mainstays of startup team motivation, with “work-life balance initiatives” listed as the most common (47%) factor cited as critical for building a flourishing organisational culture.   

This finding is affirmed by Craig Cowdrey, co-founder and CEO of workplace wellbeing startup, Sonder, who says that workers have grown skeptical of these perks, especially when they are prioritised over more meaningful benefits. “So much of that has been recognised as not particularly relevant or determinative in an employee’s choice,” he says. “A lot of them think that it’s just to keep them working in the office longer.”  

Grappling with grind culture   

Despite the clear recognition that strong culture leads to a startup team’s happiness and better business outcomes, the research shows that the Australian startup ecosystem is still navigating some of these negative facets like grind culture, with the vast majority (93%) acknowledging that it exists. The research indicates it is typically driven by internal performance pressures (45%), perfectionism to ensure the business’s success (43%), and competition from other startups (42%).  

To move away from this, startups are beginning to take steps to minimise “the grind,” with some intentionally embedding self-care as a company value. Dr Ben Hurst, Founder and CEO of patient engagement platform HotDoc, works hard to instill this in his business, and says that striving towards balance and self-care is critical for wellbeing in a startup. Reflecting this belief, HotDoc’s values include “Take ownership,” “Always be empathetic,” and “Speak up,” which are designed to encourage team members to look after themselves, and each other. “You are doing the wrong thing if you are working in a way that is not self-sustaining,” says Dr Hurst.  

Impact on founders’ mental health: tall poppy and imposter syndromes  

The research also shines a light on the common pressures and dynamics impacting the mental health and wellbeing of founders, and outlines how some of Australia’s startup leaders are managing those personal challenges, and providing guidance for future founders to learn from.  

Two thirds of startup leaders (66%) believe tall poppy syndrome – a cultural attitude that resents, disapproves of, or condemns success – is alive and well within the startup community, with most respondents experiencing it personally (80%).   

According to leaders, this can manifest as an aversion to risk (46%), stunted career development (45%), and weakened mental and emotional wellbeing (43%). But the most common source of tall poppy syndrome is social media, with almost half stating it as the primary source (46%), as well as sentiment from Corporate Australia (35%) and the media (34%).   

Imposter syndrome is another key concern for the mental wellbeing of founders, with more than three quarters (77%) of startup leaders feeling it. Managing those feelings can be a challenge, but according to the research, the most common strategies include focusing on building resilience (28%) or taking time to celebrate success (27%).   

Some, however, do not manage it positively. A quarter (26%) simply mask it and a fifth (21%) manage it by working until they burn out. Nearly the same number (19%) indicate that they would like help managing the mental wellbeing challenges that many founders experience.   

Expert advice and insights for Australia’s future founders  

John Kearney, Head of Startups, Australia and New Zealand, AWS, said the report intends to provide practical knowledge, expert guidance, and hard-earned lessons from established founders, to support Australia’s future founders to prioritise building a strong culture in their own startups from the very beginning.   

“Full of insights and real-world experience collected through ecosystem research, this report highlights the many attributes that make startups so inspiring to us all. They seize opportunities and solve problems in innovative ways, they question societal norms and question the status quo, and they help solve some of the biggest challenges of our time by using technology to build the future. But all of this is only possible if a startup has established a strong culture that encourages experimentation and testing of ideas, quick decision making, and learning from mistakes,” said Kearney. “That’s the cultural foundation that AWS is built on, too – that’s why, for over 15 years, we’ve helped more startups launch, build, and succeed than any other cloud provider, offering the technology tools, mentorship, and technical support to enable startup founders to bring their ambitious, world-changing ideas to life.   

“While cloud computing has removed many of the traditional barriers to entry for entrepreneurs, launching and growing a startup is not an easy journey. But the rewards can be great – for the founders, the people who work for them, and society at large – so we are keen to encourage more future founders to follow this path. By highlighting the achievements of startups and the importance of culture in supporting their vision, we hope to not only accelerate their success, but to inspire the next generation to prove what’s possible.”  

Taking the first steps to starting a startup  

Are you inspired to give your business idea a go? AWS is here to help future founders take that first step, with a range of programs and initiatives to support startups. At the earliest stages, the AWS Activate program provides qualified startups with a range of benefits, including AWS credits, technical support, and training. Hundreds of thousands of startups around the world have benefitted from the program since 2013, and in the past two years alone, AWS has provided more than US$2 billion in Activate credits to help early-stage startups launch their businesses and accelerate their growth. With this help, startups are using scalable, reliable, and secure cloud services like compute, storage, database, analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, and many others from AWS to scale their businesses. To join AWS Activate, visit https://aws.amazon.com/activate/  

Check out the rest of the research and insights in the report, “How startups create a culture of possibilities,” to learn from established Australian founders about what it takes to create a culture for success, and the key factors and considerations that have made the difference as they’ve grown.