"The integrated network will enable different organisations to co-ordinate and share a range of common information, such as hospital administration, clinical systems and electronic medication ordering," said Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike.
The move was announced yesterday in the state budget, along with a further AU$24 million allocated to establish Australia's first electronic prescribing program in key Victorian hospitals.
Information and Communication Technology Minister Marsha Thomson also announced yesterday that Victoria would be the first Australian state to appoint a government-wide chief information officer.
The government has allocated AU$3.3 million over four years to create the Office of the CIO, which will be established as soon as the CIO has been appointed. The CIO, who will report to Thomson, will improve efficiency and cut waste by playing a crucial role in providing authoritative advice and strong leadership of information and communication technology matters across government, government officials claimed.
Multimedia Victoria will continue to implement the government's Connecting Victoria policy, while the Office of the CIO focuses on internal, whole-of-government ICT policy, including government service delivery, strategic planning, and architecture planning and standardisation. An ICT strategy subcommittee of the Cabinet will also be established.
"The CIO will ensure the Bracks Government remains a leading-edge user of this technology and developer of innovative e-Government applications," said Thomson.
Several other measures announced as part of the budget are of significance to the IT community:
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image will receive AU$10 million in additional recurrent funding over two years for the to maintain its position as the premier destination for exploring the moving image in all its forms.
Non-government schools will get continued access to the VicONE Internet network thanks to an AU$8 million injection.
The AU$25 million, four-year VicStart program will ensure ideas developed in Victoria benefited Victorian businesses and the local economy, said Innovation Minister John Brumby. He said VicStart would -- among other things -- focus on strengthening the transfer links between public sector research and the private sector.
A further AU$2.9 million over three years will help regionally based business and industry to transform innovative ideas into business opportunities. Regional Innovation Clusters will "help businesses learn from others' experiences, reduce the risk and cost of introducing innovative practices and technology, and better commercialise new ideas," said Brumby.
