Hi World

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Hello cyber visitor, welcome! My name is Despina, I’m an Australian and a government employee and I’ve started this blog because as a researcher on the policy implications of Web 2.0 and citizen engagement by government, I thought I should take the practical plunge into blogging. I’m an enthusiastic exponent of using the web to expand public sector communications and in particular, to explore the potential for enhanced dialogue with citizens on policy and priority setting in government.  This little blog is a  platform for me to share what I can (and there are restrictions given my government role) but more importantly, to learn about e-participatory developments from you. Let’s talk, share and collaborate on all things e-empowerment! I welcome your contribution on this theme.

Visual Place – Victorian Govt map tool

VisualPlace is a trial project aimed at testing innovative ways of capturing, exploring and visualising government information and services through maps. Have a play and give feedback via the blog.

http://www.vic.gov.au/visualplace.html

The Social Web in 2010

Some great insights and further links relating to the rapidly evolving world of the social web and the avalanche of information and dialogue across the various web waves.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Hinchcliffe/?p=1152&tag=col2;topRated

Data Data everywhere…new gateway

A new gateway for government data from around the world….an opportunity to ‘knit a new jumper’ from various strands of disparate data.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jan/07/government-data-world

A reference guide for blogs, twitter etc

This is a very handy checklist for government.

http://bit.ly/4UhHXP

Public Servant 2.0?

An earlier piece by a thoughtful analyst on the complexities associated with the idea of Gov 2.0 – the often overlooked and potentially very rich resource of the public servant as both gatekeeper and broker of innovation for government.

http://blogs.gartner.com/andrea_dimaio/2009/09/15/from-athens-on-the-net-to-spartans-at-the-gates-the-missing-link-of-government-20/

Modernising Government Whitehouse Forum

A good selection of information relating to the latest US Government initiative to modernise government processes.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/15/what-we-saw-and-heard-modernizing-government-forum

Final Report of the Government 2.0 Taskforce

The final report was tabled on 22 December 2009. It’s a very detailed report that also identifies a further 19 related projects (see page 90 for details), including a web 2.0 toolkit for online engagement as well as the video service scoping study. It’s well worth looking at the full report.

http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/gov20taskforcereport/index.html

Using Online Video for Government Communications

It’s good to see a growing awareness of the value of online video platforms for communicating information about government services and programs. The old adage of ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ makes perfect sense, especially if the words are a tad pedestrian or the message, both wordy and deeply hidden in the mountain of information that surrounds us.

http://www.vquence.com.au/2009/11/18/developing-a-scoping-study-for-video-gov-au/

More Gov 2.0 videos

Short video interviews with key Gov 2.0 activists to bring you up to speed with thinking and actvities.

http://www.govloop.com/profiles/blogs/best-of-govfreshtv-in-2009

Immerse yourself in the 2.0 World

Heaps of great videos to bring you up to speed with all things 2.0 from the recent Government 2.0 Conference in Canberra, Australia. Beats reading huge reports and easier for the eyes so, get a cup of coffee, sit back watch and muse.

http://www.cebit.com.au/2009/conferences/gov-2