5th Oct 2017 by brandsa2018

World-first immersion therapy is changing lives

By Melissa Keogh

Adelaide man Peter Wilson’s life changed forever when he was severely injured in a motorbike accident in 2007.

A decade later the father-of-two has changed the lives of people with disabilities with his world-first therapy service, Determined2, that allows participants to enjoy freedom, regain confidence and build muscle strength.

Available on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Return to Work SA, ‘Immersion Therapy’ allows people with disabilities or injuries to move and breathe under water using specialised scuba diving equipment.

“One participant is walking under water and doing somersaults – this is someone who can’t walk on land,” says Peter, 37.

“Another of our participants is a wheelchair user who used to make three movements to get from their chair to the bed, but now they can do it in one.”

Peter Wilson, front, with Immersion Therapy participants.

While the world first therapy is available at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre and in Port Lincoln, Peter hopes for a national roll out, and has even received interest from overseas.

At the age of 27 Peter was left with severe injuries when he came off his motorbike and was hit by a car one day during work.

He was told he might never walk again and must use a colostomy bag due to injuries to his abdomen.

But Peter defied the odds and returned to work a year later in the used car industry.

He continued to struggle with worker’s compensation, insurance companies and a decline in his mental health.

“I realised that I had to make a decision to either give up on life or start again,” Peter says.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do but I knew that I wanted to give back and help other injured workers.”

One day Peter took up recreational scuba diving, discovering the weightlessness did wonders to his wellbeing.

Wanting others with a disability to experience the same under water freedom, he began planning his own therapy service with the support of Dr David Wilkinson OAM from the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

“We met a young lad, Ben, who had a high-level spinal cord injury and he wanted to be part of the immersion therapy trial,” Peter says.

While under water participants are able to have greater mobility.

“Ben’s reaction cemented for me that this is what I’m meant to be doing with my life.

“We have built the program from the ground up, and we have since had 200 people engaged.”

Peter largely attributes his success to the State Government’s passing of the new Return To Work Act in 2015, meaning significant changes to workplace insurance rules.

Determined2 participants have mild to severe impairments including spinal cord injuries, amputations, neurological conditions, autism, PTSD, and aches and pains.

Before getting in the water, they must undergo a hypobaric medical assessment by a team of doctors.

With the specialised diving equipment, participants are able to breathe under water, and often experience pain relief and increased mobility.

“The service has developed a lot since starting, it has now gained further support from senior doctors across the state including Dr David Wilkinson, Dr Adrian Winsor and, Dr Kade Davison,” Peter says.

“The University of South Australia is now moving towards evidence-based research on the benefits of immersion therapy.”

Peter says he’s proud to have launched the therapy in South Australia.

“It feels like the first time in life that I have purpose,” he says.

“Our state has an amazing resource of innovative and dedicated people.”

Determined2 was the 2016 winner of the National Disability Awards’ Excellence in Inclusive Service Delivery.

For more information on Determinded2 visit the website.

4th Oct 2017 by brandsa2018

Tailem Bend in the throes of change, but community centre still its heart

By Melissa Keogh

Tailem Bend is the Murray River town remembered by most as the gateway to Melbourne, but this important transport service centre is in the throes of huge change.

The Bend Motorsport Park, a multi-million dollar solar farm and the 25th National Scout Jamboree are just a few projects tipped to change the face of the old railway town.

But what about the hard-working locals who believed in Tailem Bend before these infrastructure projects were even heard of?

At the heart of the community’s spirit are the staff and volunteers at The Tailem Bend Community Centre (TBCC).

The centre has helped to build lifelong skills, reduce isolation and offer learning opportunities for locals since 1987.

This financial year the TBCC has already secured almost $500,000 in grant funding to support services in the Murraylands region.

Tailem Bend Community Centre staff and volunteers with State Volunteers Minister Zoe Bettison, centre.

TBCC co-ordinator Tammy Shepherd says Tailem Bend is a caring community that is wary of the changes ahead, but hopeful they will bring huge economic benefits for the town.

“Our main industry is farming and it used to be a big railway community,” she says.

“Tailem Bend is experiencing massive changes and there’s certainly an awful lot happening here.

“We are a town to watch.”

On average 3500 people take part in the variety of courses, programs and activities offered by the TBCC to learn new skills, make friends or simply unload with a cuppa and a chat.

The centre receives funding from various State and Federal government programs to put on the courses, which include exercise, sewing, craft and woodworking classes, school holiday activities, grief education, and internet support for seniors.

Funding streams include the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, Communities for Children Murraylands Program, and the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion Community Services Support Program.

Along with a small handful of staff, 40 volunteers help to run the centre and its programs, putting in more than 3800 hours annually.

The community centre is not far from the main highway and helps bind locals by providing social support services and education.

The TBCC services a total population of 59,800 across the Coorong, Murray Bridge, Mid Murray and Mt Barker council areas.

TBCC co-ordinator Tammy Shepherd says Tailem Bend has limited health and social services, meaning the community centre is the “frontline” for providing assistance.

“Tailem Bend is a small community, so we don’t have any mental health services, people have to travel to Murray Bridge (25km away) to access these services,” Tammy says.

“So we are the frontline.

“We offer counselling services and support to people to be able to talk and get them through the tough times.”

The community centre partnered with four other groups to deliver a sea of colour to the Tailem Bend District Hospital earlier this year.

TBCC’s regular ‘Our Time’ group allows parents to have a coffee and a chat, while their bubs interact with other children.

The woodwork class is popular with seniors and allows them to acquire and build upon skills and socialise.

The services are affordable, accessible and targeted to those who are “most in need”.

“It’s a crazy busy centre,” Tammy says.

“The funding model in the centre is renowned and often replicated by others in SA.”

“We are definitely a caring community, it’s got that community vibe about it where everyone looks out for each other.”

Tailem Bend is about 96km from Adelaide and home to 1500 people.

For more information on the courses and activities available at TBCC visit the website or Facebook page.

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29th Sep 2017 by brandsa2018

SA school teaching kids jobs of the future

By Melissa Keogh

Fast forward 20 years and could the students of today be earning a living by making flying cars, travelling to space or building robots?

One thing is for sure – the jobs of tomorrow will be very different to those first projected to leading educator Jayne Heath when she was at school.

Jayne is principal of the Australian Science and Maths School (ASMS) and says the innovative institution, located on the Flinders University campus, isn’t waiting until tomorrow to find out what the future of work might hold.

Last week her Year 10 and 11 students embarked on the second Real Day Out excursion which engaged them with high-tech companies, organisations and future industry precincts across Adelaide.

ASMS principal Jayne Heath, centre, says it’s important for students to be future ready by exploring the jobs of tomorrow.

“It’s a really exciting time in SA,” says Jayne, who is a founding staff member at the ASMS which opened in 2003.

“There are all these pockets of opportunities in Adelaide that people don’t know about yet.

“So it’s important for our students to collaborate with others to solve the problems of the future.”

The annual Real Day Out excursion is part of the school’s 21st Century Capabilities and Careers Program, first piloted with the help of employment planning and development company, Workforce BluePrint, in 2016.

On September 21, about 200 students ventured into Adelaide’s CBD, the Tonsley Park Innovation District, Thebarton High-Tech Precinct, and the Mawson Lakes Defence Teaming Centre to investigate future jobs.

They explored future jobs such as drone operators, artificial intelligence trainers, bitcoin (digital payment) traders, coder artists, smart city designers and virtual reality designers.

Students visited Tonsley for a glimpse at future industries which are likely to form the backbone of the SA economy.

Students had the opportunity to speak with businesses already in these spaces, and tackle real life learning challenges.

ASMS student wellbeing leader Simon Illingworth accompanied students on the Real Day Out and says one of the highlights was meeting with Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese to explore the roll out of Adelaide’s Ten Gig City.

The council project involves a city-wide 10Gb/s capable fibre optic network allowing businesses, government and researchers to connect to one another at lightning fast speeds.

Simon says students also met with the Local Government Association and were inspired to consider a career in local government and what the future of their community could look like.

“It’s about real connections and being able to interact with students, rather than me just talking about it at the front of the classroom,” he says.

ASMS students learn in an open plan environment.

The Real Day Out excursion is not the first time the ASMS has been forward-thinking in how it educates its students.

Jayne says it’s crucial for students to be able to wade through the plethora of online information and to “look for credibility”.

“So much information is available to our young people and they need to have the skills to be able to enter a 21st Century workforce and be future ready,” she says.

The ASMS is a school for students with passion for the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

At ASMS students don’t engage in a typical classroom setting, but instead have control over their learning environment which is described as an “open place 21st Century school design”.

The ASMS is the only high school in SA to offer aviation studies, featuring an industry standard flight simulator.

Also setting ASMS apart from other schools is the fact that it’s the only secondary school in SA offering aviation as a Stage 2 SACE program.

The subject involves students engaging with an industry standard flight simulator and is taught by qualified teachers and pilots.

This month’s I Choose SA for Industries stories are made possible by sponsor, the University of South Australia.

29th Sep 2017 by brandsa2018

Meet the Adelaide surgeon who is revolutionising burns care in SA

By Melissa Keogh

Sixteen years ago Professor Dr John Greenwood AM was headhunted from the UK to help save lives at the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s (RAH) Adult Burns Centre.

Since then the Englishman and now proud South Australian has developed a suite of skin substitute products that will completely transform burns care in South Australia.

With the help of these innovative procedures and the opening of the world-class new RAH, Prof. Greenwood says SA has built “the best burns unit in the world”.

“We have been working towards the introduction of new materials and these materials have not only improved what we do, they have changed the way we do it,” he says.

“They have created a complete parallel shift in burns care in South Australia.”

The RAH Adult Burns Unit’s catchment area extends across SA, the Northern Territory and western parts of New South Wales and Victoria.

About 450 inpatients come through the doors every year, suffering from thermal, chemical, electrical and radiation burns and many of them presenting horrific, “non-survivable” injuries.

Prof. John Greenwood’s suite of skin substitute products will replace the need for patients to undergo multiple notoriously painful skin grafts.

After specialising in chronic wounds management and treating victims of Australian bushfires and the 2002 Bali bombings, Prof. Greenwood longed to improve his patients’ chances at survival.

Typical burns treatment involves multiple skin grafts, which are notoriously painful skin transplants from other parts of the body.

“I realised I could do something about the skin problem by creating some materials that would replace the need for a skin graft,” Prof. Greenwood says.

He developed a world-first bioreactor which grows large amounts of skin in 28 days.

It is done by taking a small tissue sample from the patient to grow full thickness skin in the lab.

At the same time, Prof. Greenwood, with the help of the CSIRO and Melbourne company PolyNovo, developed a biodegradable dressing that is placed on the wound and provides a bed for the new skin to grow over.

“I wanted to use something that was easy to manufacture, that was light and cheap, that they could produce large volumes of quickly, sterilise and transport easily, and had no special storage requirements,” he says.

The dressing prevents the wound from contracting and acts as a barrier to infection until the new skin is grown from the lab.

This innovative process will replace the need for multiple, painful skin grafts often involving healthy skin being repetitively taken from the same site.

In 2016 Prof. Greenwood’s research efforts lead him to being named South Australia’s Australian of the Year.

He says the state’s encouragement of medical research and its world-class facilities have kept him in SA.

“Adelaide has some fantastic minds,” he says.

“St Peter’s College alone has produced three Nobel Prize winners and the government and other organisations have made it as such that funding for research is not only available, it’s encouraged.”

Prof. Greenwood is proud of the RAH’s accreditation with the American Burns Association and American College of Surgeons.

“We are the only unit in the world outside of North America that has that standard,” he says.

“We are maintaining a fantastic standard and it’s that kind of thing that keeps me going.”

This month’s I Choose SA for Industries stories are made possible by sponsor, the University of South Australia.

28th Sep 2017 by brandsa2018

Gelato and pancakes off the beaten track

By Melissa Keogh

Cruise along the Spencer Highway towards Maitland, but don’t blink because you might miss Moonta’s sweetest spot.

On the corner of the barren highway and a dusty dirt track is the Coffee Barn and Gelateria, an unsuspecting haven of artisan gelato and pancakes that will delight even the harshest of dessert critics.

Visit during school holidays and you’ll have to fight the sticky fingers and chocolate-stained grins to get a good look at the cabinet of homemade treats made from scratch.

School holidays are a busy time for the Coffee Barn and Gelateria.

School holidays is a busy time for the Coffee Barn and Gelateria.

The man with the gelato scoop is Italian man Franco Martino, while the woman flipping the pancakes is his wife Janette Martino.

The pair moved 12 years ago to the Yorke Peninsula from Adelaide for a simple sea change and with a vision to set up a quiet bed and breakfast to help ease them into semi-retirement.

They fell in love with gelato making and are now run off their feet, particularly in the hotter months of the year.

“Franco makes the gelato and the pancakes tend to be my baby,” says Janette.

“He’s the man for the gelato because it’s his passion. For the coconut gelato, he buys the coconuts, takes the shell off and creates it himself and the macadamia and pistachio nuts he roasts himself.

“We don’t use flavours, we want to give people our best.”

The Coffee Barn and Gelateria has 16 different flavours on hand.

Franco prefers to shy away from attention-seeking weird and wacky flavours and instead focuses on high quality classics featuring profiles such as caramel, fig or peanut butter.

The artisan gelato is made from scratch on site.

The artisan gelato is made on site with real ingredients, including fruit and nuts .

“The flavours change by the hour because if we put something like Ferrero Rocher out, it might go in half an hour,” Janette says.

The top three flavours are the mascarpone and caramel fudge, the peanut butter fudge, and caramel fig and roasted almonds.

Janette’s sweet and savory pancakes are popular in winter.

The most popular is the banana and caramel – made with real banana of course.

The Coffee Barn and Gelateria is on 11ha of the old Moonta Mines and includes a scattering of vintage machinery.

An 1860s building formerly known as The Stables and now named Villa Martini has been restored into a bed and breakfast.

“Moonta is booming at Christmas time. People come here to fish and a lot of people have a second home here – a holiday home – and they come here regularly,” Janette says.

“We consider them as locals.”

Gelato and pancakes – the ultimate crowdpleaser.

Franco has a background in the building industry and Janette also ran a cookie franchise in Adelaide for some time.

The pair travelled to Europe for two months recently, visiting an Italian university to gain inspiration on gelato making.

“Franco talked to every gelato maker we visited,” Janette says.

“I used to be a real coffee and cake person but it just doesn’t do it for me anymore, it has to be gelato.

“It’s our life.”

Coffee Barn and Gelateria, on the corner of Spencer Highway and Warren Street, Moonta, is generally open Fridays – Sundays, and every day during school holidays.

Header photo courtesy of the Yorke Peninsula Country Times Newspaper.

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26th Sep 2017 by brandsa2018

Top 10 SA pubs to catch the Grand Final action

By Cat Lever

Front bars across SA will be pouring pints and flying flags this Saturday for what will (hopefully) be the greatest day the Adelaide Football Club has seen since 1998.

We’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 SA pubs to catch the thrills and spills of the AFL Grand Final Day, whether it’s in the city or outback South Australia.

Not only do pubs create a pumping atmosphere on grand final day, but they are also pretty important to the SA economy.

A 15% increase in turnover in the hotel industry could lead to the creation of 2049 more jobs.

So unravel that Crows scarf and head down to one of these watering holes! #ichoosesa

Oh, and GO CROWS!

1. THE ARKABA (Adelaide Metro)
There’ll be no standing on tip toes at this pub to catch a glimpse of the game on the screen. The Ark has big TVs to capture all the action.

A players sweeps will also entertain the masses, and free schooners will be awarded every time your player gets a goal. (Drink responsibly if you pick Eddie Betts).

2. THE FEATHERS HOTEL (Adelaide Metro)
Named best Australian beer garden at the national Australian Hotel Association Awards recently, The Feathers’ celebrations kick off from 12.30pm.

Footy food platters, drink specials and post-game entertainment will be on offer, $35 per person.

3. THE HAVELOCK (Adelaide Metro)
Word is that the ‘Havy’ will be a safe haven for Richmond fans. For $70pp, enjoy four hours of drinks and a gourmet barbecue lunch.

For $30pp, footy food will roll out every quarter, plus bites before the game, while exclusive drink specials will be available.

The Coopers Alehouse in Adelaide’s CBD is putting on a lock-in lunch.

4. THE ORIGINAL COOPERS ALEHOUSE (Pulteney Street, Adelaide)
The alehouse is putting on a lock-in lunch ($65pp) featuring finger food, selected tap beers, wine and soft drink siren to siren.

5. THE PORT NOARLUNGA HOTEL (Adelaide South)
Cheer on the boys at the Port Noarlunga Hotel, which is having an all day happy hour.

At half-time an U.G.L.Y barbecue will start sizzling, with donations going to the Leukaemia Foundation.

6. THE RENMARK CLUB (Riverland)
Two game-day packages will be on offer. One is pints of house beer and cider, glasses of wine and half-time snacks ($60pp).

The other is pints of house beer and cider, glasses of wine, house spirits and half-time snacks, $120pp.

The Prairie Hotel in outback SA.

7. PRAIRIE HOTEL (Outback)
The Prairie Hotel, in Parachilna 500km from Adelaide, never has a TV but this weekend calls for change.

The Prairie will bring in a telly screening the game in their new Stratco pavilion.

This pub is also renowned for its native Flinders dishes featuring kangaroo mettwurst, emu paté, and bush tomato chilli jam.

8. PORT LINCOLN HOTEL (Eyre Peninsula)
This seaside pub is part-owned by Crows legend Mark Ricciuto, so they will be playing the game live and loud.

Adelaide band Keep the Change will play live after the game.

9. THE PENNESHAW HOTEL (Kangaroo Island)
Feeling knowledgeable on game day? Try your hand at the AFL 20-question quiz, while a sausage sizzle keeps hunger at bay.

The whole pub will be decorated in Crows colours. Festivities start from 1pm.

The Marion Bay Tavern on the Yorke Peninsula.

10. MARION BAY TAVERN (Yorke Peninsula)
Six plasmas with surround sound and a prize for the best dressed couple are bound to create some noise.

The pub is also hosting The Yorkes Surfing Classic, which is one of the biggest amateur surfing events in SA, so it will be a huge day for the bay.

*Please drink responsibly*

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25th Sep 2017 by brandsa2018

Adelaide astronaut Andy Thomas on why SA is great for space

By Melissa Keogh

South Australia’s spaceman Dr Andy Thomas was the boy from Adelaide who became the country’s first NASA astronaut.

Over two decades, the University of Adelaide’s most famous graduate embarked on four space flights, one spacewalk, and even worked alongside Hollywood’s elite on the 2013 film Gravity.

But what is the perennial question people always ask the veteran astronaut?

How do you go to the toilet in space?

Adelaide's own spaceman Dr Andy Thomas. PHOTO: NASA.

Every astronaut needs their own space portrait. Dr Andy Thomas is Adelaide’s own spaceman. PHOTO: NASA.

“Everyone asks that,” Dr Thomas tells the September 22 SA Press Club luncheon.

“I got to meet the Prime Minister of Japan one year and he asked all the attendants to leave.

“He said, ‘now that everyone has gone, let me ask you a question’.”

Dr Thomas doesn’t explain space toilet procedures, instead suggesting to “go to YouTube”.

“I get a lot of questions … what is it like to be weightless for 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Bizarre is the best way to describe it.

“What is it like to recover when you get back to earth? Also bizarre.”

Dr Andy Thomas was born in Adelaide in 1951.

In the 1970s he completed a bachelor’s degree and PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Adelaide before moving overseas to work in the US aviation industry.

Throughout his NASA career, Dr Thomas spent 177 days in space.

One of his most memorable experiences was his third space mission in 2001 aboard the shuttle Discovery, during which he carried out a 6.5-hour spacewalk.

“I was high up in the solar array … I could see the space station below us, stretching out and beyond that is infinity. You could see this deep blackness of infinity,” Dr Thomas says.

“It was an amazing view.”

Dr Andy Thomas addresses the SA Press Club about the importance of Australia having a national space agency.

Dr Thomas’ visit to Adelaide comes as 3500 space industry experts descend upon the city for the 68th International Astronautical Congress from September 25–29.

On day one of the congress, the Federal Government announced a national space agency would be created in Australia to tap into the $420 billion industry and create thousands of jobs.

Australia is one of the world’s only developed countries without a national space agency.

Dr Thomas says space is as important to Australia as “railroads were in the early development of the country” and that SA is well-placed to play a part in the national agency.

“The Defence SA organisation put together a listing of all the companies in SA who are involved in space … there are over 50 of them so it’s a really big part of the SA economy,” he says.

Despite Australia lagging behind in the national space agency stakes, Dr Thomas applauded Premier Jay Weatherill’s recent announcement of a new space industry centre for SA.

He says the state is already competing in the space sector.

In 2013 Dr Thomas consulted on the space movie Gravity alongside Hollywood A-lister Sandra Bullock and he notes that Adelaide-based visual effects company Rising Sun Pictures generated scenes for the film.

“A lot of people say SA can’t compete in the space sector,” he says.

“Well, that’s an example where they do on the international stage.”

Watch the video below to see Andy Thomas in space.

Header photo courtesy of NASA.

This month’s I Choose SA for Industries stories are made possible by sponsor, the University of South Australia.

22nd Sep 2017 by brandsa2018

Riverland realtor gets real about business

By Melissa Keogh

While many regional youth leave their hometown to chase their dreams in the ‘big smoke’, for young Riverland local Kyle Hand, the country will always be home.

The 28-year-old property aficionado is behind Berri real estate agency Hand Property Co, a business helping to bring new energy to the industry and dispel old clichés.

“The way I do business is not all about the money,” he says.

“For me, it’s about helping people.”

From fruit blocks to Riverland businesses and homes, Kyle sells properties across the region including Renmark, Berri, Loxton, Barmera, Monash and Glossop.

Kyle Hand launched real estate agency Hand Property Co in 2015 and has been achieving success ever since.

His Berri-based real estate agency will celebrate its third birthday in March 2018 with the recruitment of more staff and a new, bigger location.

Kyle, who grew up in Loxton 250km from Adelaide, launched Hand Property Co in 2015 from his parents’ garage.

Despite growing up in a “tradie family”, once Kyle finished high school, he moved to Adelaide and became a door-to-door salesman.

“My mate said, ‘why don’t you give real estate a shot’,” he says.

“I worked for Raine and Horne for the first 12 months and Toop&Toop for three years.

“I enjoyed that but it was solely residential (properties) and I wanted to do commercial.

“So I worked at Century 21 Commercial on West Terrace in Adelaide, managing over 300 commercial properties.”

Despite laying the foundations of his career, Kyle still longed for fresh air and beautiful scenery, so he moved to the Fleurieu Peninsula before making the final trek home to the Riverland.

“But I knew that I wanted to have my own business even through school I knew that one day I’d end up working for myself,” he says.

“The day I finished unpacking my things off the last moving truck I started Hand Property Co from mum and dad’s garage.

“Now we’ve almost outgrown the office in Berri in 12 months and we’re looking at a bigger location.

“I have three full time staff and looking to recruit two more.”

After cutting his teeth at real estate companies in Adelaide, Kyle found the sc

The best part about being a real estate agent in the regions? Getting out and about in the SA countryside of course!

Kyle sells up to six properties a month but says he hopes to one day reach a point where he is selling at least 10 a month.

“I’ve picked up a lot of properties which have been up for sale for ages and I’ve sold them in a couple of weeks,” he says.

“I’ve got a lot of people relying on me to get the job done, especially when other agents have had a shot.”

The ambitious Loxton man attributes his success to work-life balance and a number of daily rituals such as memorising his life plan and meditating.

“I read my life plan twice daily,” he says.

Kyle plans to grow Hand Property Co and one day expand the business to have a presence in six locations across South Australia.

He says the Riverland is the perfect place to live.

“I want to see the area thrive and I want to share it with people who might never have considered it as an area to live,” Kyle says.

“The Riverland has a great lifestyle, it’s affordable, there’s a lot of work and we’re only two-and-a-half hours from Adelaide.”

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21st Sep 2017 by brandsa2018

Top five events to catch at Open State

By Melissa Keogh

The future. What will we eat and where will it come from? Will bugs save the planet? Will the robots take over? What will become of planet Earth?

Some of the brightest brains will gather in Adelaide later this month for the Open State Festival from September 28 – October 8 to ponder what the future will bring.

The festival features more than 100 events and workshops exploring the themes of future planet, cities, democracy, enterprise, humans and food.

Last year’s Open State attracted more than 25,000 people who rocked up to 65 events, bringing in $11m in economic value for South Australia.

The Open State hub is in Victoria Square but events will pop up at venues across Adelaide.

So, without further ado here’s our guide to the Top Five Open State events.

1. Bugs for dinner?
Stay with us.

Bugs are not only nutritious, but they are sustainable and research shows that they could hold the key to managing population growth and demands on natural resources.

Entomophagy is the practice of eating insects for food and at this family friendly bug eating expo you can meet Australia’s passionate bug eaters.

Attendees will learn about the financial, environmental and health benefits of eating insects and how creepy crawlies can be farmed sustainably.

You can sample a range of insects, insect based products and even learn how to match insects with wine.

Another bug event, an interactive forum, will go ahead earlier in the day from 9.30–11am (tickets $15).

When: October 2, 5–6.30pm
Where: Open State Dome, Victoria Square
Tickets: Free

2. Robots, Robots, Robots
What are your concerns and curiosities about robot brains?

Dr Jordan Nguyen and Dr Fiona Kerr will lead the Robot Brains V Human Brains Q&A that will explore how robotics can help us understand more about humans.

Attendees can learn how robotics teach us more about ourselves and where the robotic evolution is headed? Is a world with robots as intimidating as it sounds?

Dr Fiona Kerr is from the University of Adelaide and is a head thinker in cognitive neuroscience, human connectivity and the impact of technology on us mortals.

Dr Jordan Nguyen completed his PhD in biomedical engineering at Sydney’s University of Technology.

Drawing on a past experience of almost breaking his neck, Dr Nguyen developed a mind-controlled smart wheelchair for people with high-level physical disability.

When: October 2, 11.20am–12.20pm
Where: Open State Dome, Victoria Square
Tickets: Free

3. Work of the future
It’s no secret that the general workforce is transitioning to a more global, technology driven economy.

New, unheard of jobs are being created and young Aussies must reshape their mindset and current systems to keep up.

South Aussie Emily Rich will join fellow speakers Andy Barley and Bronwyn Lee at Preparing the Digital Workforce of the Future.

The trio will explore the research being undertaken to prepare young people for the future workforce and what skills they need to thrive.

When: September 28, 9.30–11am.
Where: Open State Dome, Victoria Square
Tickets: Free

4. Dumb diets
Three South Australians Dr Fiona Kerry, chef Simon Bryant and wine expert Paul Henry will lead this session to ponder Is your Diet Making You Dumb?

We already know that what we eat impacts us physically, intellectually and psychologically.

But is how we eat and who we eat with just as important as what we eat?

When: October 3, 3–4pm.
Where: Open State Dome, Victoria Square
Tickets: Free

5. Girl power
South Australia has had a pretty good run in the gender equality stakes.

In 1894 in SA, women were granted the right to vote and stand for Parliament – the first legislation of its kind in the world.

But there is still things to be done, particularly with the representation of women in parliament.

The Women’s Parliament will debate and discuss economics, legislation, business, export, education, health, human rights, indigenous rights, arts and culture, social change and welfare.

When: October 5, 9.30–11am.
Where: Hawke Building, UniSA City West
Tickets: Free

This month’s I Choose SA for Industries stories are made possible by sponsor, the University of South Australia.

21st Sep 2017 by brandsa2018

New space industry centre for South Australia

By Andrew Spence

A space industry centre is being established in Adelaide as part of South Australia’s push to grow the sector in Australia.

Launched today, the South Australian Space Industry Centre is an expansion of Defence SA’s Space Industry Office and aims to drive space industry innovation, research and entrepreneurial development.

This month Cabinet created an expanded portfolio of Defence and Space Industries for the state’s Defence Industries Martin Hamilton-Smith.

The space centre will support SA’s emerging space industry by providing grant funding of up to $1m each year to space entrepreneurs, along with new and existing space startups.

It will be initially staffed by a core group of three workers: a director; aerospace specialist, and; senior project officer and be supported by Defence SA staff and a representative from the Department of State Development and Investment Attraction South Australia.

Today’s launch was held at Hamilton Secondary College, which has been earmarked as a specialist school for space studies.

South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill, Defence and Space Industries Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith, and Minister fro Education and Child Development Susan Close announce the space industries centre.

The announcement comes as hundreds of the world’s space industry leaders begin arriving in Adelaide for next week’s 68th International Astronautical Congress.

Mr Hamilton-Smith says the state is working to establish itself as a hub for space industry research and development.

“We’re not talking about an agency the size of NASA that sends people to the moon,” he said.

“We are looking at capabilities that benefit society, communications and national security.”

SA has been a strong advocate of a campaign to establish a national space agency.

Last month the State Government joined forces with the ACT to lobby the Federal Government for an agency in a bid to shore up its local space industry.

Mr Hamilton-Smith said at least 60 local organisations with space-related expertise, or the potential to apply current expertise to the space value chain, had been identified in the state.

“The space economy is one of five key areas paramount in transitioning our local economy,” he said.

“You are not a credible player in this industry if you don’t have a have a space agency and a well-coordinated plan and the kinds of partnerships you need to get Australians into space require a space agency.”

The space congress is expected to attract about 3500 members of the global space industry to the Adelaide Convention Centre from September 25-29. Delegates will include the heads of all the major space agencies and Space X founder Elon Musk.

The Federal Government announced a review into the long-term plan for the sector in Australia in July, which will not be complete until March. Although this means any meaningful pledge of an Australian apace agency is unlikely at the congress, many expect a Turnbull Government pledge of some kind.

The space industry in Australia currently employs about 11,500 people and generates $4 billion a year in turnover – less than 1% of what the global industry is worth.

Defence SA released a report this month into the economic benefit of establishing a national space agency.

The report found that if Australia could replicate the performance of the UK space economy in its first eight years after the establishment of a national space agency in 2010, 11,700 jobs and an additional AU$5.3 billion would be generated annually, a 132 per cent improvement on current figures.

This would take the annual turnover of the industry in Australia from AU$4 billion this year to AU$9.3 billion in 2025 and the number of people working in the industry from 11,500 to 23,198.

This month’s I Choose SA for Industries stories are made possible by sponsor, the University of South Australia.