The Australian Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a new three-year, whole-of-government agreement. This agreement aims to enhance data management and cloud services across all levels of the Australian public sector (federal, state, and local). This agreement advances digital transformation by optimising efficiency in government operations, enabling cloud upskilling for public sector employees, and strengthening contractual terms and conditions for procuring cloud services.
This initiative tackles the critical needs in data management and digital government by enhancing government digital infrastructure and procurement processes, aligning with the goals of ICT investments and digital service delivery. This collaborative effort aims to accelerate community-centered services, enhance decision-making through data insights, and provide greater value for public resources.
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This new arrangement enhances the success of the previous agreement and expands advantages for all levels of government, including local councils, state and federal agencies, as well as all public sector entities. The initiative establishes a reliable contracting structure, streamlines the procurement process, and guarantees improved value for investment.
“With over 140 Commonwealth, state and territory public sector agencies currently using AWS to support service delivery in areas such as transport, health, education, and tax, this new whole-of-government arrangement improves the value, reliability, and security of cloud services in government,” stated Chris Fechner, CEO of the DTA. “The new AWS arrangement will drive better contract performance, vendor accountability and maximise value.”
The agreement highlights several key areas:
- Enhanced data management: Agencies can extract actionable insights from their data by enabling access to AWS services like analytics, data science, data modelling, and data governance tools. Health agencies examine patient data to enhance preventive care programmes, while transportation authorities refine traffic flow through real-time data analysis.
- Accelerated digital government: Streamlining procurement and giving people access to advanced cloud technologies, like AI and generative AI, speeds up the process of creating and deploying digital services. This initiative will facilitate the faster processing of citizen applications, provide customised service delivery, and improve overall efficiency in government operations.
- Strengthened cyber security: AWS’s extensive security offerings, including network and cybersecurity solutions in Australia, empower agencies to safeguard their sensitive data and infrastructure effectively. Upholding public confidence and protecting against the ever-changing landscape of cyber threats is essential.
- Cloud upskilling: Improving the skills of public sector employees ensures they can leverage cloud technologies effectively. This builds a skilled workforce with digital capabilities, enabling them to drive innovation and maximise the benefits of cloud investments.
- Improved contractual terms: Enhanced contractual terms and conditions, paired with ethical supplier practices, promote transparency and accountability and boost value for taxpayer investments.
“AWS is pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with the Australian Government through this new and enhanced whole-of-government arrangement,” stated Louise Stigwood, Managing Director for AWS Public Sector in Australia and New Zealand. “This arrangement includes access to more than 240 AWS services including leading Artificial Intelligence (AI), security and quantum technologies to enable faster delivery of citizen-centric services. Our investment in Australian infrastructure, workforce upskilling, and support for local partners enables sustainable economic growth and technological advancement in Australia. AWS look forward to continuing our collaboration with the DTA and public sector agencies to accelerate Australia’s digital future and create lasting value for citizens.”
The DTA and AWS collaborate to mark a major milestone in advancing Australia’s public sector digital transformation. This initiative enables government agencies at all levels to use cloud computing for better data management, faster digital service delivery, and enhanced cybersecurity measures. The DTA enhances procurement processes, fosters cloud upskilling, and creates robust contractual agreements, enabling agencies to focus on their core mission: delivering better outcomes for Australian citizens.
This partnership meets current needs and lays the groundwork for future progress. It enables the public sector to adapt to changing technological landscapes and enhances service delivery in a digital world. Making decisions based on data and using cutting-edge technologies, like AI and generative AI, will help the Australian government provide more personalised, effective, and customer-focused services in the future.