The Australian Government’s Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) has launched a new co-Lab Innovation space in Sydney, aimed driving greater collaboration and coordination of digital projects across federal agencies.
 

The co-Lab offers “a dedicated space and resources” for multidisciplinary teams from federal agencies to collaborate on digital projects and products, according to Minister for Human Services and Digital Transformation, Michael Keenan.

“co-Lab will also help accelerate DTA’s goal of lifting digital capabilities within and across government, delivering on the government’s commitment to build digital skills and expertise within the Australian Public Service,” Keenan said.

The Department of Human Services will be the first to settle in the new collaborative space, working through a range of cross-agency projects, including the Govpass digital identity program.

The launch of the co-Lab comes in the wake of the DTA’s recent push to reform outdated IT funding methods by government, with a review submission to the Australian Public Service Commission earlier this year outlining the recommended changes.

“Budgeting processes should recognise the fast pace of change in technology, where the best solution to a problem today may be obsolete in just a few years’ time,” the submission states.

“[These] processes should support new models of working in the digital age, such as incremental, agile, approaches to delivery or cloud-based solutions.”

The collaborative hub will host three specifically tailored programs for all teams involved, including:

• single day experiences for teams to share and learn from others
• multi-week experiences for testing solutions or creating proofs-of-concept
• in-residency experiences for problem-solving initiatives that may span months

A second co-Lab space is expected to be launched in Canberra later this year.