http:// 2013-06-19T08:03:54Z 2013-06-19T08:03:54Z expert-to-brief-geelong-businesses-on-health-and-education-in-a-high-speed-broadband-world

Advocacy group ICT Geelong and the Australian Information Industries Association AIIA) will co-host a briefing next week on how businesses in the health and education sectors can meet the challenges and opportunities which are expected to flow from the changing economic profile of the Geelong region. As keynote speaker, Dr. Kate Cormick NBN Co’s general manager, health & education, will explore opportunities and expected trends in e-health and e-education in the context of the forthcoming rollout of the national broadband network. She will help illustrate the practical impacts on the Geelong region’s population of 250,000 people and the prospects for its workforce, some 20% of which is directly involved in health delivery and education.   ICT Geelong executive director Craig Hill said: “This is a very important briefing for two reasons.  With the recent news of Ford’s manufacturing withdrawal from Australia (amongst other retrenchments across the manufacturing sector), it is expected that the region will increasingly shift to be a services-based economy. With the roll out of NBN starting in September, new business opportunities now exist for the Geelong health sector and education sector.”The briefing is expected to attract more than 100 leaders from business, government, research and ICT. It will be held on Tuesday June 25 at the Captain’s Room, Geelong Football Club. For further information contact Kerryn Nelson of the AIIA (kerryn.nelson@bigmouth.net.au)   About ICT Geelong ICT Geelong is the representative voice and peak body of the Information & Communications Technology (ICT) industry in the Geelong region. Its foundation members are industry leaders from the private sector, experts from tertiary education institutions and community leaders from the public sector. ICT Geelong’s vision is to establish the Geelong region as a major Victorian ICT precinct, and act as a significant player in the State Government’s vision to position Victoria as a globally recognised ICT region.

2013-06-16T23:25:48Z qualified-carers-brings-businesses-families-amp-caregivers-together

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate has increased by 0.1 percent - now up to 5.6% as of May 2013. Those who do not have full-time employment, in many cases, are working multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet. Trying to balance work and personal life has been a struggle for decades. It is even more trying today, especially for those having to work multiple jobs in order to stay ahead financially. Oftentimes, family obligations come in second next to work related commitments. One company is looking to aid families, businesses and employees in this struggle, while helping to improve the local unemployment rate. Qualified Carers (www.qualifiedcarers.com.au) is the only Australian company dedicated to introducing professional caregivers providing a wide range of services to employers and families, all on one website. They are not a staffing agency, but rather in the “introduction services” industry - meaning businesses and families can connect with specific Carers through their website, check references, and schedule interviews with Carers that match their individual qualification needs. Qualified Carers have a variety of Care Services to choose from. Whether your business or family needs a babysitter, nanny, childcare worker, disability carer, aged carer, in-home nurse, housekeeper, cleaner, tutor, personal home assistant, or a house or pet sitter, Qualified Carers will be able to help you find who you are looking for within your local area. If your business is in need of new staff members, Qualified Carers takes all of the hard work out of searching for qualified staff members.The Carer’s qualifications and expertise range from college students looking for work experience to highly qualified Caregivers with over 20 years’ experience in their field. Many of the Carers working with children, the disabled, or the elderly obtain a First Aid Certificate, a police check or Working with Children Check, and are registered with the Family Assistance Office. If there are specific qualifications you seek prior to employment and the Carer does not have them, employers may request the Carer to obtain these certifications prior to the start of employment. In addition to the services offered for families and businesses, Qualified Carer also has opportunities open for new Carers to search for jobs. Whether you are looking for a full-time or part-time job, you can sign up for a free subscription on the Qualified Carer website and create your profile by uploading a photo or record a short video introducing yourself and what services you can offer. Employers can then search for you based on your Care qualifications and services, and contact you through the website. Additionally, you can search the Job Notice Boards available on the website to see what job opportunities are available within your local area. Subscription Information To subscribe as a Care Service Provider, please visit the website at: www.qualifiedcarers.com.au – Registration is free.   To subscribe for a family subscription, please visit the website. Subscription rates start as low as $29/mo. For a Business subscription, rates start as low as $99/mo.   About Qualified Carers Qualified Carers is an online introduction service for businesses and families to find local Caregivers in a variety of care industries across Australia. With quality Babysitters, Nannies, Child Care Workers, Disability Carers, Aged Carers, In-Home Nurses, Life Skills Educators, Tutors, Housekeepers, Cleaners, Personal Home Assistants, Pet Sitters, House Sitters and more, you can find the Care that suits your needs at the price that fits your budget.

2013-06-12T03:31:00Z latest-release-of-akamai-aqua-ion-focused-on-improving-and-measuring-situational-performance

Akamai® Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the leading cloud platform for helping enterprises provide secure, high-performing user experiences on any device, anywhere, today introduced several important updates to Aqua Ion, the company’s flagship Web experience product. Designed to meet the unique challenges of optimising both the desktop and mobile Web experience, Aqua Ion is ideally suited for organisations serving dynamic Web content to a widely diverse set of users. The Web delivery landscape is in a constant state of evolution. Fragmentation across browsers and devices has exposed a need among content providers for a deeper view of performance measurement and the ability to optimise for unique user situations. At the same time, the need to optimise differently for each situation presented by an individual user – situational performance – requires new thinking about how to measure the user experience and apply this intelligence to the delivery equation as seamlessly and efficiently as possible. Aqua Ion is designed to help address the staggering range of devices and connectivity situations that can impact the user experience and maximise the performance of content delivered over the Web. According to a recent report from Forrester Research, Inc.,“Optimising a user’s experience requires information about what the user is doing, where the data is located, and where the devices are connecting from, etc. The fluidity of data, users, and applications makes it impossible for I&O teams to effectively manage this world with manual controls, tools, and resources; it is time to have automation take over, which requires fault, configuration, traffic, security, and performance information.”[1] Akamai pioneered the concept of addressing situational performance with the initial launch of Aqua Ion in October 2012. Since its introduction, leading companies around the globe have used Aqua Ion to help them reduce the complexity of delivering Web experiences, drive better business results through faster Web experiences, and generate greater infrastructure efficiency. Functionality enhancements in the latest release of Aqua Ion build on these benefits by making the technology faster and easier to deploy and manage; providing greater intelligence related to the user experience; and responding to the increasingly inconsistent user experience across a wide variety of devices. One organisation making use of Aqua Ion to address the challenges presented by situational performance requirements is Ozsale, a members-only online shopping club operating from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. A pure-play online retailer and recognised leader in its field, the performance and resilience of its online shopping platform is absolutely critical to the company, especially during peak sale events occurring multiple times per day. Further, Ozsale required a solution that could help increase scale and performance on desktop, mobile, and tablets regardless of user demand. “Akamai’s Aqua Ion solution has helped us to establish a site experience that is second to none,” stated Gavin Cliffe, CTO, Ozsale. “With Akamai, we were able to improve performance for our Australian users by more than 130 percent, and as a result, we’ve been able to generate more online revenue and reduce operational costs.” The latest version of Aqua Ion – to which existing Aqua Ion customers can automatically upgrade – tackles the need to understand the real user experience, rapidly and easily apply optimisations to meet situational performance requirements, and improve mobile performance. This is accomplished through new capabilities, including:• Real User Monitoring (RUM): RUM takes passive performance measurements from actual users of a Web experience to provide insight into performance across devices and networks. The addition of RUM to Aqua Ion is designed to help gain greater intelligence around the actual user experience related to the situation presented. This heightened intelligence offers key insight to content providers who can respond accordingly – and deliver smarter optimisations – when challenges are uncovered. RUM is a complementary capability to synthetic testing, and the two can and should be used to gain a comprehensive picture of user experience.• Enhanced Performance Capabilities: Aqua Ion builds on existing functionality to introduce new Front-end Optimisation (FEO) techniques designed to help apply the best optimisations presented by user conditions. New techniques include DNS pre-fetching, which can help relieve bottlenecks when third-party services are used alongside first-party content, and Placeholder Images, which can help deliver a usable, interactive page to the user sooner. • Improved Usability and Rapid Configuration: Aqua Ion provides users the agility required to respond to the situational performance requirements of their users through new features designed to make configuration and the implementation of configuration changes as fast and easy as possible. A new wizard-based interface is designed to improve usability by making it easier to implement a solution that is situationally aware. As important, enhancements that enable faster custom configuration pushes to the platform have been introduced to help organisations address user situations more efficiently.• Enhanced Mobile Performance: The latest version of Aqua Ion now features SHUTR (Suppressed Headers for Uplink Traffic Reduction) support to help improve performance for mobile users. Developed together with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, SHUTR is a HTTP protocol extension designed to reduce the size of HTTP request headers sent by a mobile user agent. SHUTR speeds up page downloads and reduces network data traffic, overall improving the mobile Web experience on Snapdragon processor-based devices. “As the leading developer of mobile chipsets powering today’s smartest phones, Qualcomm Technologies is acutely aware of the unprecedented data demand being placed on devices and networks worldwide and is pioneering the effort to solve the 1000x mobile data challenge,” said Jason Bremner, SVP of Product Management for Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Collaborating with Akamai to optimise HTTP connections via SHUTR is a step forward in addressing these demands and ensuring consumers have seamless connectivity to the vast amounts of data in our hyperconnected world.” Commenting on the benefit the latest version of Aqua Ion can bring to customers, Mike Afergan, senior vice president and general manager, Web Experience Business Unit, Akamai, said, “Consumers are now in charge of how, when and where they connect to Web content. These varied situations are powerful for online business but create complexity for content providers and can result in a loss of control over the experience and ultimately how well it performs.” He continued, “Aqua Ion simplifies the complexity of modern Web delivery while at the same time providing a faster experience that is highly available, secure and scalable.” About AkamaiAkamai® is the leading cloud platform for helping enterprises provide secure, high-performing user experiences on any device, anywhere. At the core of the Company's solutions is the Akamai Intelligent Platform™ providing extensive reach, coupled with unmatched reliability, security, visibility and expertise. Akamai removes the complexities of connecting the increasingly mobile world, supporting 24/7 consumer demand, and enabling enterprises to securely leverage the cloud. To learn more about how Akamai is accelerating the pace of innovation in a hyperconnected world, please visit www.akamai.com or blogs.akamai.com, and follow @Akamai on Twitter. # # # Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform ActThis release contains information about future expectations, plans and prospects of Akamai's management that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including, but not limited to, failure of Akamai services to operate as expected or to address intended market needs, a failure of Akamai's network infrastructure, and other factors that are discussed in Akamai's Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents periodically filed with the SEC. [1]Fuse Business Acceleration Technologies To Optimize User Experiences by Andre Kindness, Forrester Research, Inc., May 8, 2013

2013-06-12T01:51:03Z ripple-suspended-massage

Ripple Massage has launched suspended massages to aid women who are victims of domestic violence. More information is at www.ripplemassage.com.au Ripple’s suspended massages borrow from the tradition of suspended coffee, which began in Naples about ten years ago. In essence, a “suspended coffee” – or caffe sospeso in Italian – is a cup of coffee that a customer buys anonymously for someone who can't afford to buy one themselves. The customer pays for the coffee in advance and the cafe “suspends” it, later making the coffee for someone who could needs it. Ripple is the first massage business in Australia to have extended this concept to the massage industry. The concept is simple. Any customer can simply add $5 to their massage booking (or simply donate $5) which will pay for a fifteen minute massage for a woman who has been subjected to domestic violence. Ripple Managing Director, Alison Shaw, believes that a big part of being a massage therapist is the concept of giving back to the community. The suspended massage is an extension of the “Ripple Effect” programme already run by Ripple. “At Ripple, we have a deep sense of gratitude for our good fortune to be able to do such beautiful work. The suspended massage is a way that the kindness, that has been shown to us, can be forwarded to women who are in desperate need for some positive touch,” said Ms Shaw. “The issue of domestic violence is one that is close to our hearts here at Ripple. In the past month, the opportunity to help three women who have been subjected to violence in the home has crossed our paths, and it has prompted us to expand out programme of giving massages to those in need on a wider scale,” she continued.  “Anyone can give a suspended massage. Simply call Ripple on 0438 567 906 to donate one, $5 will pay for a fifteen minute massage for a woman who has been subjected to domestic violence, or you can donate one online at www.ripplemassage.com.au . It’s that inexpensive and it’s that easy. It is a very simple concept that pays forward some of the kindness and good karma with which Ripple has been blessed.” Ripple provides a unique mobile day spa service to women, men and couples throughout the Gold Coast, Mt Tamborine, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay, Hervey Bay, Melbourne, Yarra Valley, Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula and Geelong regions. Also all Sydney, and Tasmania. For more information on Ripple or to make a booking please phone 0438 567 906 or visit the website www.ripplemassage.com.au -Ends- We welcome journalists trying out any of our massage styles, please contact us for details. High res pictures available. Alison Shaw - 0434 991 879     alison@ripplemassage.com.au         www.ripplemassage.com.au    Twitter : www.twitter.com/rippleali   Facebook : www.facebook.com/ripplemassage

2013-06-06T04:38:37Z technology-today-only-tough-is-good-enough

Fancy handsets and whizzy tablets are great to look at but stop being useful the moment they’re accidentally dropped. As a result, more people than ever before are considering toughening up their latest gadgets. That’s because the nature of mobility these days sees our phones, tablets and cameras venturing forth into places which would make most manufacturers shudder and start reaching for their 20-page warranty terms.Like it or not, whether you’re a parent with a destructive 2 year old, the local hard-wearing builder, or a techy IT manager, your Smartphone, laptop or tablet could be one slip away from destruction.Unless, of course, your device is ruggedised.One such player paving the way for rugged technology is Panasonic. Its range of Toughbook laptops and Toughpad tablets are being snapped up by an increasingly wide number of new converts.“Whether it is for travelling salesmen, controlling vehicles in the field, construction, forestry or even out at sea, tough technology lasts longer. It means your technology systems are available when –and where – they are needed, every time,” says Darryn Smith, Panasonic Toughbook Mobility and Channel Manager at Comworth.But it is also the office worker who faces constant ‘tech-killers’ every day. “Hands up if you’ve dropped a phone, spilled a coffee on a laptop, or had a child get hold of a tablet and introduce it to the toilet,” says Smith.Chances are, your hand is up – and the fragile screen or keyboard of your device, which can cost upwards of $250 to replace, has suffered the consequences.Repair time means serious downtime and frustration when you have to revert back to fumbling through a printed newspaper to get your morning news.CF_30_Toughbook17_NEUAnd it’s not just you that seems to be doing one too many insurance claims. A recent IDC study found that 19.6% of notebooks used in U.S. businesses break or require repair at some point in their lifetime.”Human error and carelessness” were responsible for the greatest sources of damage with 72% of respondents saying they dropped their laptops, 66% spilled liquid onto the devices and 55% said their machines fell off a desk.With the odds stacked against you it’s worth considering the alternatives.Smith says rugged devices fall into two broad categories: semi-rugged and fully-rugged. “Semi-rugged devices are ideal for the office worker. They offer moisture and dust resistance, the ability to handle knocks and minor drops, and don’t look too different from standard laptops,” he explains.Fully-rugged devices, on the other hand, look the part. They shout – ‘I’m tough, don’t mess with me!’ – and are capable of withstanding rain, snow and sea spray. They also offer screens viewable in bright sunshine, and are certified to military specifications for keeping out dust and water.Smith says Smartphone and tablet vendors are cottoning on to consumer demand for tougher technology with options available for every personal computing need. “You might use an Android tablet or perhaps prefer a Windows 8 laptop that combines a touch screen with a keyboard.“Whatever you are getting up to with your favourite gadget, if you’ve had enough of devices that must be handled with kid gloves – or kept away from the kids lest they break the device – there are options available capable of handling whatever life throws your way,” he concludes.

2013-06-06T02:41:39Z life-insurance-direct-press-release-income-protection-insurance-from-as-little-as-1-0-of-your-salary

You can take out income protection insurance from as little as 1.0% of your salary according to leading life insurance comparison website Life Insurance Direct.

2013-06-04T23:52:19Z 2degrees-and-business-mentors-nz-partner-to-help-smes-find-someone-to-talk-to

Two of the country’s fastest growing business networks are joining forces to provide more help for New Zealand small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in response to growing demand for business mentor support. 2degrees, the leading supplier of mobile communications solutions to SMEs has become a Partner Patron of Business Mentors New Zealand, the only national network of volunteer, independent business mentors, supported by private enterprise, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and local economic development agencies and chambers of commerce. Ray Schofield, CEO of Business Mentors New Zealand believes that 2degrees’ support will enhance the business mentoring service. ‘We’re delighted that 2degrees has come on board,’ explains Ray. ‘Our mentors and mentoring clients tell us that mobile communications is the future of their business growth. 2degrees understands their challenges and with our combined experience, we will be able us to improve our offering. It is set to be an important and very exciting partnership.’ 2degrees Senior Campaign Manager Rhona Hamilton says  Business Mentors is an ideal fit for the company: ‘2degrees launched in 2009 and we have enjoyed phenomenal growth since then. However, like all businesses, we have experienced our fair share of challenges and growing pains along the way and are looking forward to sharing those learnings and success stories through our relationship with the Business Mentoring team and their clients.’ Mrs Hamilton says 2degrees can not only offer New Zealand businesses sage advice, but also fairer, better deals on their mobile plans. ‘2degrees has been operating in the NZ business sector just under two years now and our mission is to make life easier for kiwi businesses. We offer great value, flexible plans that will enable NZ businesses to stay connected in today’s mobile workplace,’ says Mrs Hamilton. ‘As a start, we are planning to announce some special deals for NZ Business Mentor clients shortly. By supporting the services of over 1900 business mentors and their thousands of clients we believe we can make a real difference to the range of support available to local businesses wherever they are in the country,’ she adds. Ray Schofield says 2degrees’ commitment will make a real difference to the service Business Mentors New Zealand can offer: ‘Business Mentors New Zealand is a non-profit organisation, which is largely funded by patrons from the private sector. Without the support of our sponsors, such as 2degrees, we would not be able to keep providing our free mentoring service to companies across New Zealand.’ About Business Mentors New Zealand Business Mentors New Zealand was established in 1991. It is funded largely by patrons from the private sector, with additional support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. It provides a mentoring service to trading businesses that employ less than 25 FTE’s and is the owner's main source of income. A registration fee of $150 + GST applies, which entitles businesses to use the mentoring service for two years. This is the only cost - the mentoring received is free.   About 2degrees Launched in August 2009, 2degrees Mobile has significantly lowered the cost of making mobile phone calls and texts for Kiwis. 2degrees now has over 40 retail outlets, 97% network coverage across the country and the team has grown to over 770, with a mix of over 40 different nationalities.   The company has committed over $550 million to building New Zealand’s third mobile phone network. Company shareholders include US-based mobile communications specialists, Trilogy International Partners, the Hautaki Trust, Communication Venture Partners and KLR Hong Kong Ltd. The combined shareholders bring a wealth of international experience and knowledge which is of huge benefit to New Zealand mobile users. More information at: www.2degreesmobile.co.nz    

2013-06-03T06:45:22Z macquarie-life-joins-the-coveraustralia-network

Macquarie Life recently announced their plans to join the CoverAustralia network of life insurance providers. CoverAustralia has been operating online and assisting Australian residents with their life insurance needs for several years. During that time this leading online life insurance brokerage firms has cemented themselves within the industry for their high standards and quality service. It came as no surprise that the life insurance company Macquarie Life would join the CoverAustralia Network.Macquarie Life is a leader in the insurance industry. The insurance company first opened their doors back in 2005 and within the first 2 years in operation they were awarded five star status in the WA Taylor (now known as the Beaton) intermediary report for service. This insurance company went on to receive the award again in both 2009 and in 2010. This insurance company joining the CoverAustralia network speaks highly of the level of care that the staff at CoverAustralia provides. CoverAustralia has over 27 years of experience in the life insurance industry and over 70 years of combined life insurance experience. The Spokesperson for CoverAustralia stated “Cover Australia offers a full advice service, unlike many competitors, which enables us to provide you with an insurance solution catered to your needs. We understand that not everyone is the same and that your financial goals are going to be unique.”The specialists at CoverAustralia are the first line of communication for their clients. These specialists take great care in ensuring that they have only the most qualified personnel in this position. The advice is always free for their clients or prospects. CoverAustralia believes in offering exceptional service and support with no obligation. Aussies are saving money, getting access to quality advice, and ending their communications more knowledgeable about their life insurance options or situations.  Macquarie Life is just one of the life insurance companies that work with this online life insurance brokerage firm. All of the insurance provides offer a no penalty, no obligation cover option. This means great things for the policy holder. A policy holder can cancel their policy at any time and for any reason with no penalty or further obligation.  To learn more about this growing relationship between Macquarie and the CoverAustralia team visit the website at: http://www.coveraustralia.com.auFor more information regarding life insurance or other forms of insurance dial 1300-366-817. Clients/Prospects will be directed with one of CoverAustralia leading insurance advisors. The company offers a free live chat feature or email option available on their website.

2013-06-03T04:53:17Z new-law-means-crackdown-on-illegal-workers-has-begun

3 June 2013, SydneyThe Migration Amendment (Reform of Employer Sanctions) Act 2013 commenced on 1 June 2013. Without needing to prove fault, negligence or intention, the Department of Immigration can now issue infringement notices of $15,300 to businesses employing workers in breach of visa conditions or work rights. There are currently 1.6 million people in Australia holding temporary visas, each with different visa conditions and expiry dates. Keeping track of all the details to make sure staff are working legally can be overwhelming. Employer Sanctions Legislation The Department of Immigration introduced the Migration Amendment (Reform of Employer Sanctions)  Bill in 2012. The House of Representatives passed the Bill in November last year and it has just taken effect this past weekend on 1 June 2013. The new legislation puts the onus on businesses to thoroughly check the work rights of employees. People most affected by the new legislation are:  Employers – who are responsible for direct employees as well as any contractors they have working on site. Recruitment companies – who need to check every candidate before referral to an employer. Company directors and officers – who may be personally liable if they don’t implement adequate systems and processes to check work rights.  If a business is found to have engaged illegal workers, the Department of Immigration can impose an instant fine of $15,300 - for each person in breach of visa conditions. This can rise to $76,500 per worker if they decide to take the business to court. It is already an offence for businesses to have illegal workers. The new legislation allows the Department of Immigration to levy fines on a strict liability basis, without needing to show any intent, knowledge or recklessness by the business. Keeping Compliant To avoid the new fines, employers must check work rights prior to employment and also keep a record of visa expiry dates so that the employee does not continue to work after their visa ceases. Records of visa checks should be kept just in case there is an inquiry from the Department of Immigration. Most employers currently check work rights before an employee commences employment. However, this does not guarantee that the employee continues to have work rights on an ongoing basis - for instance:  The employee's visa may be cancelled meaning that they no longer have work rights - this is particularly common for international students For bridging visa holders and temporary partner visa holders, the employee's main visa application may be refused, in which case work rights would generally cease within 28 days An employee may move onto a visa with less favourable work rights – for instance a working holiday maker may be able to work full time, but can only work for 40 hours per fortnight if they move onto a student visa  Unless visa checks are being conducted regularly, a business may unknowingly be breaching the Migration Regulations by engaging workers without proper work rights. Conclusion The Employer Sanctions Bill significantly raises the immigration compliance bar for businesses. Many will need to revise their visa checking systems and processes to avoid the hefty fines and embarrassment of breaching the new legislation. -- Ends -- Mark Webster is the Founder and CEO of vSure and Acacia Immigration Australia. He has a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Science (Hons, University Medal majoring in Pure Mathematics) also from University of Sydney. Mark has been a Registered Migration Agent since 1999, and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) since 2001. He is the immediate past NSW/ACT MIA President. Mark frequently presents seminars on Australian Immigration Law for IARC, the MIA and for Acacia Immigration. He has also presented for the University of NSW, and worked on the General Skilled Migration topic for the MIA's migration agent entry course. He was a major author of the MIA submission to the Joint Senate Committee on Migration on skills assessment. A recognised expert in the field, Mr. Webster has been quoted in print numerous times, including in Phillipe Legrain's 2007 book, Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them(Princeton University Press). Mark wrote the chapters on General Skilled Migration and Temporary Workers for the current edition of the Immigration Kit (Federation Press), which is the definitive Immigration Law textbook used by migration agents. Mark can be contacted on 02 8203 5433 or via email at mark@vsure.com.au. About vSure vSure is a cloud-based immigration compliance system which makes it easy for businesses to do regular, automated visa checks for employees and contractors. It maintains an audit trail of visa checks to avoid the new penalties, as well as providing calendar, email and SMS notifications of visa changes and expiries. www.vsure.com.au

2013-05-31T04:51:27Z new-deakin-university-s-business-analytics-course-addresses-skills-shortage

Advocacy group ICT Geelong (the Geelong Region ICT Cluster) has endorsed Deakin University’s development of a new business analytics course to cater for the growing demand from industry for skills in this specialty field.     The course, which is the first Master’s Course in business analytics in Australia, will be launched at the Deakin University (Burwood Campus) in July. Developed on the back of significant industry consultation the course has attracted lots of interest from the ICT and beyond.   Analytics involves mining the huge volumes of data being generated by information systems to inform business strategy and to drive performance.   Craig Hill of ICT Geelong said “the region would benefit by increasing the pool of people trained in analytics and help to create employment opportunities.   “Once the NBN starts rolling out in Geelong, we envisage local IT consultancies will need people with the skills to meet the fast growing demand for business analysis services,” he said.   The Head of the School of Information and Business Analytics at Deakin University, Professor Dineli Mather, said it is hoped the Master’s program, the first coursework based degree, will accept between 80 and 100 students a year.   Professor Mather said extensive consultation with regional IT industry leaders confirmed the need for the course to meet projected demand from business and industry.   The course will be delivered through a mix of on campus lectures and online mechanisms including live and recorded webcasts she says.   Senior lecturer in IT at Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong, John Lamp said typical candidates for an analytics course are managers and IT/IS graduates with some organisational experience. The inaugural course at Burwood campus has also attracted enrolments from marketing professionals, finance specialists, analysts, mathematicians and health industry managers.   The School of Information and Business Analytics at Deakin’s Burwood campus is home to the IBM Centre of Excellence in Business Analytics. Professor Mather said IBM has committed to offering free analytic certification programs for students enrolled in the new Master’s course, as is SAS, another Deakin industry partner.   About ICT Geelong   Deakin University is a foundation member of ICT Geelong, the representative voice and peak body of the Information & Communications Technology (ICT) industry in the Geelong region. Its foundation members are industry leaders from the private sector, experts from tertiary education institutions and community leaders from the public sector. ICT Geelong’s vision is to establish the Geelong region as a major Victorian ICT precinct, and act as a significant player in the State Government’s vision to position Victoria as a globally recognised ICT region.    

2013-05-31T01:42:36Z gimrs-major-brand-promotion-goes-global

MAY 31, 2013 GIMRS has upped the stakes with an exclusive corporate brand promotion to win three month's premium advertising worth $12,000 (AUD). Due to overwhelming global feedback GIMRS has extended this promotion and increased the prize pool. This promotion presents an excellent opportunity to expand market visibility by show casing international or local corporate brands and services to over 350 publicly listed companies and their key decision makers. Submissions close the 24 June 2013. In order to enter the promotion please email GIMRS your contact details and outline the reason why our executive members would benefit from your brand or service and what places your brand or service in front of market competitors. Prize details can be located here. The winning entry will be drawn Tuesday 25 June 2013 and the winner will be notified by email. Entries can be submitted via this link. 

2013-05-31T01:31:45Z children-s-health-diary-helps-parents-find-answers

HOBART, Tas, 31 May 2013 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEIt’s not unusual ... you’re at the doctors with your child, you’re seeing someone different (again), being asked a myriad of questions and expected to have the last 6 months’ of your child’s medical history on the tip of your tongue ... or ... you’re in the ER, anxious and emotional, you can’t remember what you had for breakfast, let alone when ‘Billy’ last had antibiotics or reacted to eating a muesli bar ...1 in 10 babies born in Australia today will develop a food allergy and at least 1 in 9 Australian children has asthma §. The diagnosis of many childhood conditions results from observing and monitoring symptoms over a period of time.  This applies to the most prevalent conditions to those less easy to identify, such as autism spectrum disorders and chronic illnesses like coeliac disease.Those caring for young children need to be able to help doctors identify symptom patterns, recognise reactions and triggers and generally be attuned to their child’s health.When consulting a GP or specialist, it is vital to recall and relay as accurately as possible what has happened, when symptoms started, what measures have been taken, over-the-counter treatments administered and so on.  Once there, parents will often be asked for other important background information, such as the child’s weight, blood type, existing and previous conditions and medications (especially when seeing a different physician).  Healthcare professionals often expect parents to have this information to hand, even though it may also be recorded in electronic files.The busy-ness of life can make it difficult for parents to keep track of such details.  So, many parents go in search of tools and resources to help keep organised – an exercise Australian mum and author, Monique Smart, also undertook.Like many, Mrs Smart embraced being a new mum with good intentions, albeit undermined by feelings of complete inadequacy and general overwhelm. After enduring months of severe infant colic, and various other infant-ills, the start of childcare signalled a whole new plethora of infections, dramatic x-ray and hospital dashes for her and her son.To gain an insight into his health, Mrs Smart started keeping notes of her son’s symptoms, surrounding circumstances and doctor visits. And while she had a very good GP, having her own ‘big-picture’ view of her son’s health helped Mrs Smart identify patterns and triggers, resulting in more meaningful discussions with her son’s doctor and a proactive involvement in her son’s general health and asthma management.“As a new mum, with a not unusually unwell child, I was surprised there wasn’t already a purpose-designed product on the market where I could jot down my sons symptoms, coughs and fevers etc as they arose.” says Mrs Smart.  “The government Child Health Record book I received after birth is great for developmental notes but there simply wasn’t enough room to record everything beyond the first few illnesses.”This lead Mrs Smart to create I’ve Got an Ow – a children’s health journal/diary to help parents maximise medical consultations and monitor their child’s health and wellbeing.While there are other children’s or family health records available, the majority are quite prescriptive as to the information to be recorded or cover so many aspects of a child’s development as to be impractical for frequent note taking.  Digital apps are another option but are not necessarily practical nor do they suit everyone.I’ve Got an Ow! is different. It is purpose-designed to provide parents a practical tool for use on-the-go, and, when used regularly, culminates in a consolidated medical history to pass on to children when they grow up. Separated families and those with chronically unwell children will find it particularly useful too.In response to overwhelmingly positive feedback, Mrs Smart has published an international edition of I’ve Got an Ow, which has been nominated for the AusMumpreneur Product Innovation Award 2013.§ Sources: Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/allergy-and-anaphylaxis); National Asthma Council of Australia (http://www.kidswithasthma.com.au/)

2013-05-30T05:19:00Z akamai-introduces-new-elements-to-aura-network-solutions-family-1

Akamai® Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the leading cloud platform for helping enterprises provide secure, high‑performing user experiences on any device, anywhere, today announced that Aura Lumen and Aura Spectra are now available as part of the company’s Aura Network Solutions family of Operator CDN (OCDN) technologies. Designed to address the growing demand for online content and video, Aura Network Solutions can help network service providers support new revenue generation opportunities, provide a superior user experience, manage network costs, and simplify the video delivery infrastructure for both operator-owned content and over-the-top (OTT) services. Recognising that operators have different requirements driving their CDN deployments, the Aura Network Solutions suite is comprised of two distinct OCDN product lines – Aura Lumen (licensed CDN) and Aura Spectra (Software-as-a-Service CDN). This model is designed to maximise flexibility in how operators deploy the solution and, in turn, increase the value of their OCDN investment. Further, the integration of products obtained through Akamai’s acquisition of Verivue has allowed Akamai to deliver Aura Lumen as a comprehensive solution that can be owned and run by the operator, giving them greater control of their investment. The ability to use video and other online content to provide innovative new services, increase average revenue per user and reduce subscriber churn is critical to ongoing operator success. To address this new reality, operators are offering their own multi-screen video solutions as a type of OTT service. In addition, operators have sought opportunities that allow them to deploy a cost-efficient network that capitalises on traffic growth and new subscriber services without undertaking the cost and complexity associated with developing an “in-house” CDN. “Many carriers are taking a very different approach to their CDN strategy than they did only a few years ago,” said Paris Burstyn, senior analyst, Ovum. “In the past, there was a strong desire for operators to build their own CDN and go it alone in the market. Now, they actively seek a partnership approach to address their needs. Working with the right partner can improve their network economics by offloading more Internet traffic, help sell enterprise and media CDN services to their customers, and leverage an open system CDN to deliver multi-screen video experiences to their subscribers.” Unlike large infrastructure-based OCDN deployments that rely primarily on equipment, Aura Network Solutions are focused on delivering Akamai’s industry-proven expertise and history of CDN innovation from the outset. For example, operators can more rapidly meet the subscriber demand for multi-screen video options through Akamai’s ability to deliver HTTP video in multiple formats. As important, using Aura Lumen or Aura Spectra can help operators reduce CDN complexity by eliminating the need to deploy multiple point solutions or proprietary/specialised hardware typical of other offerings in the market. Further, Akamai OCDN solutions have been shown to allow operators to offload a significant amount of their global Web traffic, increasing overall network efficiency. Operators turning to Akamai to help support their OCDN strategies may be able to benefit from the following: · Aura Lumen: A Licensed CDN (LCDN) software suite based on CDN technology obtained through the Verivue acquisition. Designed to run on standard commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware or preapproved Virtual Machine (VM) environments, Aura Lumen includes a number of software components intended to meet the critical requirements of an LCDN deployment. These features include: o Aura HyperCache (AHC) provides HTTP caching and delivery for operator content, operator customer content, and OTT content, including content from Akamai’s global customers; o Aura Request Router, a highly scalable, DNS-based content request router that maps user requests to the best available CDN node; o Aura Intercept Service provides HTTP traffic intercept and redirect to support caching and offload of OTT content in transparent caching deployments; o Aura Object Store offers licensed storage software to provide scalable origin services for the OCDN; o Aura Control System provides system management and analytics to allow operators comprehensive management of the OCDN components such as provisioning content, and usage reporting; and o Aura Off-net Routing offers the ability to federate the OCDN with the Akamai Intelligent Platform for both overflow and off-net delivery. · Aura Spectra: A SaaS CDN suite providing operators with media CDN capabilities that can be deployed quickly and with far less upfront investment required with a traditional DIY model. Aura Spectra is based on Akamai’s CDN software technology and includes the following SaaS components: o Aura Edge eXchange (AEX), an Akamai-managed set of servers dedicated to establishing the OCDN specifically for the operator. The operator has the ability to determine network locations, capacity, content provisioning, reporting, and billing while Akamai operates, manages and upgrades the CDN software and systems on behalf of the operator. The AEX solution also provides access to other value-added services running on the Akamai Intelligent Platform™ to enable the operator to sell commercial CDN services to enterprises or to third-party content owners; and o Aura Control System which, in addition to management and analytics, includes the Aura Control Plane, providing access to Akamai advanced cloud services. The Aura Control System also includes white label access to the Luna Control Center for Operator content provisioning. In addition, Akamai Federation is designed to provide an operator the ability to federate its OCDN with the Akamai Intelligent Platform. Akamai Federation provides global delivery of operator content with a single business agreement using the Akamai Intelligent Platform. “The value of CDNs is very clear to the operator community, but getting to a place where they could benefit involved significant investment, technical complexity and a means to more effectively deal with ‘off network’ content proved extremely difficult,” explained Mick Scully, vice president and general manager, Carrier Products Division, Akamai. “Through our Aura Network Solutions we’re able to provide operators with new ways to take advantage of the IP media revolution, evolve their business models and attract and keep new subscribers. And we’re doing it in a way that’s intended to be as flexible and cost effective for our customers as possible.” About Akamai Akamai® is the leading cloud platform for helping enterprises provide secure, high-performing user experiences on any device, anywhere. At the core of the Company's solutions is the Akamai Intelligent Platform™ providing extensive reach, coupled with unmatched reliability, security, visibility and expertise. Akamai removes the complexities of connecting the increasingly mobile world, supporting 24/7 consumer demand, and enabling enterprises to securely leverage the cloud. To learn more about how Akamai is accelerating the pace of innovation in a hyperconnected world, please visit www.akamai.com or blogs.akamai.com, and follow @Akamai on Twitter. # # # Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act This release contains information about future expectations, plans and prospects of Akamai's management that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including, but not limited to, failure of Akamai services to operate as expected or to address intended market needs, a failure of Akamai's network infrastructure, and other factors that are discussed in Akamai's Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents periodically filed with the SEC.

2013-05-29T04:13:43Z driving-innovation-oki-printers-open-new-frontiers

As it seeks to grow market share in the highly competitive printer market, OKI is pushing the possibilities of what can be achieved with digital LED printing ever further. Exclusive New Zealand OKI distributor Comworth says that among the advances the Japanese vendor has recently introduced are machines that print using white toner, a DICOM range designed specifically for the medical industries, and the world’s most compact A3 laser printer.Paul Francois, OKI product manager at Comworth, says these devices expand the addressable market space for the vendor. “Specialist printing solutions support specific businesses by easily integrating with existing infrastructure and delivering outputs which align with their business processes,” he explains.Niche solutions also deliver higher returns for resellers in a commoditised marketplace, Francois notes.White Printing:He points out that strange as it may seem to some, printing the colour white is an essential requirement for some businesses where they need to print white on coloured paper, card or fabric. “That’s particularly applicable to companies working in the graphic arts and related industries.”OKI has met this requirement for the first time with digital LED technology. It's OKI C711WT and C920WT model A4 and A3 white toner printers deliver an industry breakthrough. “Previously, printing white was only possible with inkjet, dye sublimation or transfer film-ready devices,” Francois notes.The new machines deliver scratch-resistant prints, improved reliability and reduced cost-per-image over older methods, he adds. They are suitable for vertical market applications including T-shirt transfers, film printing, in-store point of sale applications, ceramic decoration, back light signage by transparency film and film printing for packaging.As the first company to introduce a toner-based solution to the ‘white printer’ sector, Francois says OKI can expand into what has to date been a highly specialist, complex, costly and low-volume market. Furthermore, like all OKI machines, the white toner models are versatile, easy to use and highly reliable.Medical Printing: New OKI printers designed specifically for the healthcare industry incorporate particular requirements for data exchange while delivering reliable, low-cost and efficient LED-printers suitable for hospitals, doctors’ rooms and other medical applications.“These machines, available in A3 and A4 configurations, incorporate embedded DICOM Print Servers for easy integration into existing medical technology environments,” says Francois.DICOM, or Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine, is a standard for handling, storing, transmitting and printing information in medical imaging. Incorporation into OKI machines means they can receive and print images from X-Ray machines and other medical devices.Francois notes that OKI is one of the first to introduce LED-based print solutions for medical imaging. “These new devices are significantly faster, more flexible and cost-effective than existing DICOM solutions based on film or solid ink technologies. Because a DICOM Print Server is fully embedded in the new OKI A3 and A4 printers, there is no need for conversion software or extra hardware.”As they are based on existing machines, R&D and manufacturing costs are reduced, while the DICOM machines double up as day-to-day office printers.Smallest A3 Printer:Finally, Francois points to OKI’s C800 series which is comprised of the world’s smallest A3 digital LED printers. “Small doesn’t mean fragile; like all OKI machines, reliability and quality is an integral focus.”That’s reflected in the C822n, which recently won the PCPro Laser Printer award by scoring 97% for print quality and beating out all competitors with 91% for reliability. It also secured the PrintIT Editor's Choice Award. “The machine sets a new standard for A3 printing – it costs far less than its market counterparts and has much smaller dimensions, without any loss of print quality,” he says.With all new models, Francois says OKI’s innovation extends to driving down energy usage and reducing carbon emissions. “All OKIs now feature ‘Deep Sleep’ mode, which reduces consumption to the barest minimum - often less than 1 watt - and ‘Auto Power Off’ technology, which automatically turns off devices after periods on non-use,” he says.These and other developments, Francois believes, underpins OKI’s ambition to grow its share of the market. “Printing is a mature market; by pushing the boundaries of innovation and delivering solutions for specific printing requirements, OKI is creating attractive value propositions,” he concludes. 

2013-05-27T01:29:22Z pro-val-safety-products-coming-soon-to-new-zealand

RCR International are brand owners of Pro-Val Safety Products, our focus is to provide you with the complete package - product, services, knowledge, innovation and support. The Pro-Val safety product range includes a large variety of: - Gloves - Disposable, Rubber, Nitrile, PVC, Liners/Solo, Industrial and Cut Resistant gloves. - Disposable Protective Clothing and Health Care Range - Coveralls,  Sleeve protectors , Lab coats, Aprons, Splash gowns, Hair nets, Shoe and Boot covers - Respirators - P1 and P2 - Wipes - Heavy duty and General purpose - Pallet and drum coversWith such a diverse range of products, Pro-Val supply to a wide variety of industries. These industries include food handling & processing, manufacturing, engineering, beauty, laboratories, industrial, medical, warehousing, automotive and sheet metal, just to name a few.For more information on our products and when they will be available in New Zealand, please visit our website at www.proval.co.nz and sign up for our newsletter or call us on 0800 776 825.