Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch said the Digital Skills for all Queenslanders Roadshow was about engaging people with technology and discussing community needs in digital literacy.

There will be workshops for students, teachers, librarians, community care providers and seniors to learn about coding and robotics, drones, virtual reality, 3D printing and more.

Some of these technologies will also be on display at an expo in the afternoon along with a discussion on how to meet local digital skills and literacy needs.

“All Queenslanders can tap into digital skills to connect, interact, find employment, access services, research and improve education and health outcomes, and we want to understand how we can help them do that,” Ms Enoch said. “This roadshow allows people in regional towns to interact with exciting digital technologies, and consider the benefits and opportunities the digital age brings and what it could mean in their lives.

Presenters include Advance Queensland Community Digital Champions Mic Black, Emily de la Pena, Anne Livingstone, Yash Dutt and Dunija Ariyaratne and the young entrepreneurs will be presenting the Innovative Technologies: For Youth, By Youth workshop to inspire local high school students to be technology creators, rather than consumers.

“Digital technology is constantly changing, and we want to encourage teenagers to consider what the future might look like and how they can use digital technology and skills to develop real world solutions,” Mr Dutt said. The free expo is from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at Mount Isa Civic Centre, Studio Area. To register go to http://godigitalqld.dsiti.qld.gov.au/Digital-Skills-Roadshow

Advance Queensland Research Fellow Dr Paul Shaw will also talk about his work as a UQ sensor team leader and their research to develop sensitive and reliable technology for detecting explosives by vapours.

“It’s important that regional and remote communities are able to engage with and have access to science and technology activities, and that’s what the Flying Scientist program is all about – bringing STEM awareness events to regional centres,” Dr Shaw said.

Participants will be able to see the prototypes of explosive detection technologies and learn how non-contact detection can help keep the public, police and military safe from explosive devices.

Workshops for students, teachers, librarians, community care providers and seniors include The Robots are Coming, Add Wi-Fi to Everything, the Future of Creative Technology: Makers, Coding Kids, She Flies, Innovative Tech: for Youth by Youth, Digitally Transformed and Inclusive Community Living, and Robotics and Technology in the Classroom.