![Data is at the heart of today’s government services. This is reflected in the federal government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy (the Strategy), which highlights its goal to use data, analytics, and technology to deliver simple, accessible services for people and businesses by 2030. As noted in the strategy, Australians expect personalised, integrated, and easy-to-use services from government entities they engage with. Such personalisation, especially across digital channels, is heavily dependent on data. Delivering such services becomes more effective when the data is more accurate and up-to-date. This is where real-time data comes into play. Why? Real-time data is more accurate because it is always up-to-date. This, in turn, improves the customer experience by enabling services to be more dynamic and interactive. However, because batch processing still accounts for the majority of data processing in government ranks, even the most recent data may become outdated when used to deliver government services. Engage with data in motion Batch processing is when the processing and analysis happen on a set of data that has already been stored for a period of time. This may be days, weeks, or even months, which just doesn't cut it for delivering dynamic and interactive citizen services. In recent years, data streaming has emerged as the technology that allows organizations to tap into their data in real-time in order to improve citizen engagement and experience. Event streaming, another name for data streaming, describes the continuous flow of data as it occurs. This enables true real-time processing and analysis for immediate insights. Streaming data distinguishes itself from batch processing by delivering the most up-to-date information when required. Apache Kafka, one of the most successful open source projects, is used by over 70% of Fortune 500 companies today and is well recognised as the de facto standard for data streaming. The open-source nature of Kafka lowered the entry barrier for working with streaming data, allowing companies to easily build use cases and solutions. However, as with all open-source software, there are limitations. Companies often end up spending more to efficiently manage, scale, secure, and evolve the streaming infrastructure. Why are we still using batch processing if data streaming is the future? Batch processing is still simpler to implement than stream processing, and successfully moving from batch to streaming requires a significant change to a team’s habits and processes, as well as a meaningful upfront investment. That is why Confluent has rearchitected Kafka to create a complete platform that provides a fully managed, cloud-native data streaming solution with the ability to turn data events into outcomes, enable real-time apps, and empower teams and systems to act on data instantly. Personalised for the people Confluent’s ability to utilise data as a continually updating stream of events rather than discrete snapshots means that public sector organisations can leverage data streaming to improve citizen engagement by offering personalised, data-driven services and insights. Confluent’s data streaming platform also enables real-time monitoring and analysis of government services and infrastructure, allowing public sector entities to quickly respond to critical events such as natural disasters or public health emergencies. At a more mundane level, Confluent supports data sharing and collaboration among government agencies, facilitating the seamless exchange of information to serve the public better and optimise resource allocation. And, importantly for government organisations, Confluent’s data streaming capabilities can enhance cyber security by detecting and mitigating threats in real time and safeguarding sensitive government data—a critical element in maintaining our national security. Indeed, 53% of Australian businesses surveyed in a recent Confluent study cited security and compliance awareness as the most applicable use cases for data streaming. It should come as little surprise, then, that industry analyst firm Forrester views Confluent as “an excellent fit for organisations that need to support a high-performance, scalable, multi-cloud data pipeline with extreme resilience.” Streamlining service improvement Data streaming is driving greater efficiency in more than three of four companies across Asia Pacific, according to Confluent research. Meanwhile, 65% of IT leaders polled see significant or emerging product and service benefits from data streaming. With this in mind, the potential for the government to do more with its data is clear, and personalisation is top of mind. Personalising citizen service experiences requires knowing who a customer is at any given moment. This is made possible by accessing data in motion, especially across multiple touchpoints. At the very least, this can help citizens avoid having to provide the same information over and over again as they interact with government agencies. And now, with Confluent assessed under the Australian Information Security Registered Assessors Programme (IRAP), government agencies with an Information Security Manual PROTECTED level requirement can use Confluent Cloud across Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Australian government agencies will then be able to gather and share data across departments, offices, and agencies securely and at scale. This means even more government agencies will be able to tap data in motion to integrate information across their applications and systems in real time and reinvent employee and citizen experiences for the better.](https://publicspectrum.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Confluent-Advertorial.png)
A grassroots national charity that finances climate action projects entirely from donations has helped Adelaide’s iconic non-profit Capri Theatre install a new 71.8 kW rooftop solar system and a 51.2 kWh battery.
Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia (CORENA) provided the $155,302 interest-free loan, which was sourced entirely from donations. The roof of the heritage-listed theatre is not suitable for normal solar panels, so instead a new lightweight type of solar panels were used.
The Capri is an independent, not-for-profit cinema run by volunteers, and it houses the Theatre Organ Society’s unique world-class theatre pipe organ. The majority of the theatre’s energy use is in the afternoon and evenings, and by storing some of their solar energy in an on-site battery rather than sending it to the grid, this energy can then be used onsite at peak demand times, thereby allowing greater uptake of solar in the community and indirectly reducing emissions.
The new solar system and battery are expected to avoid an estimated 94,458 kWh of grid electricity per year, which is equivalent to ~17 average homes using zero-emission renewable energy instead of grid electricity. It’s expected that solar will reduce Capri’s electricity bill by $32,500 per year, and once the loan is repaid, the theatre can redirect these future savings towards its core purpose of supporting the arts.
Capri Theatre’s President, Ian Carter, states, “The Capri has been making a concerted effort to reduce its impact on the environment for a number of years, by upgrading to LED lighting, improving recycling efforts, and purchasing compostable consumables. As a not-for-profit, run mostly by volunteers, the Capri is also very conscious of its expenditure. The rising cost of electricity makes transitioning to solar and battery-powered energy the natural next step for the organisation right now, and we are extremely grateful that this is possible for us through CORENA’s funding programme.”
CORENA operates Australia’s longest-running donor-driven revolving fund for practical climate action. CORENA offers interest-free loans to not-for-profit, community, and social enterprise organisations for projects that reduce their carbon emissions. Citizens who want to help reduce emissions make donations to collectively crowdfund these community climate projects. These donations are then returned to the fund in the form of loan repayments, and these funds, plus new donations, are then used again to fund future projects.
CORENA offers interest-free loans to community focused organisations to fund the following project types:
To date, CORENA has provided over $1.35 million to finance 52 completed climate action projects across Australia. Collectively, these projects have avoided using approximately 5,594 MWh of grid electricity and its associated carbon emissions.
CORENA’s Patron and Adelaide local, Monica Oliphant AO, DUniSA, shared her fond memories of the Capri, stating “I pass the Capri Theatre regularly with its distinctive and attractive art deco style. A visit there is a special event. The amazing Wurlitzer Organ emerges slowly from beneath the stage, with a most beautiful and imposing sound resounding round the theatre prior to the commencement of a movie. It’s always a great start to an evening out.
On behalf of our wonderful donors who made this amazing project possible, CORENA is very pleased to have assisted the Capri theatre. We encourage other community organisations to contact CORENA regarding funding and technical advice for their future emissions reduction projects.”
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