Workstar

29 April 2008

Workstar has recently been selected as the Queensland finalist in the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) annual iAwards in the Education and Training category for their Ice Console project for Queensland Health.

The iAwards recognise innovation excellence across a range of important fields including education, finance, government, media and security. The most outstanding ICT innovators from each state are nominated to be put forward for the prestigious national award.

Workstar and their Ice Console project were announced as state winners of the Education and Training category in recognition of the great work they have been doing in conjunction with Queensland Health and the community.

Targeted at 18-24 year olds in both University and TAFE settings, the Ice Console delivers important public health care information about Ice (Crystal Meth) and its risks in a way that is best suited and engaging to the audience.

By using game based interactive learning consoles, Workstar designed a bite-size info approach entitled "What's the Buzz". The multimedia touchscreen technology enabled them to target the demographics' ability to absorb, sort and discard messages at a rapid pace.

The Ice Console is the first immersive learning solution that educates youth about the issue of Ice. Early demonstrations of it have already generated Australian academic interest from a health promotions research perspective. The University of Queensland Manager of Student Health commented that it was the best Queensland Health initiative in her ten years in the field at UQ.

The judging panel consists of high-profile representatives from the Australian media, academia and government. A gala dinner announcing the national iAward winners will be hosted in Melbourne on 28 May as part of Technology Week.

The Ice Console is one example of a serious game produced by Workstar. Serious games describe the use of games in education, training, health and public policy. While they are entertaining, the main purpose of serious games is to educate, inform or convince the player of something important. Serious games can be more effective than traditional training and marketing strategies, as they employ specific game design characteristics that contribute to their ability to help people engage with the game content.

About the AIIA

The AIIA sets the strategic direction of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. They influence public policy, engage industry stakeholders and provide member companies with business productivity tools, advisory services and market intelligence to accelerate their business growth.

About Workstar

Workstar and its subsidiaries are part of the TodayCorp group, providing total learning and development solutions to people and businesses of all sizes. Many of the region's leading employers use Workstar’s award winning technology, learning content and consulting services to deliver increased sales, productivity and compliance, whilst reducing training and recruitment costs. Workstar has also been awarded major national and international multimedia projects in education and training and has received global recognition for its solutions and impact on business success.