NSW launches digital transformation strategy

The NSW government has unveiled a comprehensive new digital transformation strategy aimed at reforming use of ICT within government and improving service delivery for residents.

The three-pronged Designing our Digital Future strategy focuses on improving the customer experience of government services, enabling better policies and services through the use of data insights and adopting digital technologies to streamline and simplify government processes.

Announcing the new strategy, Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello said the new strategy “represents a bold vision for ICT reform and cultural change within the NSW government”.

In order to achieve its digital goals, which include having 70% of government transactions conducted over digital channels by 2019, Dominello said the government will adopt a digital-by-default policy for all government services.

Each department will also be required to report its performance against the strategy goals on a six-monthly basis to the government chief information and digital officer (GCIDO).

The strategy will include legislative reforms to enable the NSW public service to use digital ways of conducting businesses where they had previously been prohibited.

The public service will also be instructed to adopt a policy of co-designing services with customers and co-developing technology solutions with industry, and to adopt a digital-by-default starting point when designing or updating policies.

In addition, the new policy prioritises experimenting with new technologies that can facilitate new ways of delivering services, including AI, predictive self-learning and automation.

The strategy also identifies four enablers for digital service delivery — technology, cybersecurity, legislation and delivery capability.

In recognition of these enablers, the strategy will involve optimising technology spend within government, building a whole-of-government capability for risk management, ensuring future legislation supports digital transformation and increasing collaboration and agility across government.

“The NSW government is committed to exploring and implementing new and innovative ways of doing things to achieve the best outcomes for the people of NSW,” Dominello said.

“We recognise the importance of this to ensure NSW remains at the fore of best practice in Australia and beyond.”

Pictured: Victor Dominello at CeBIT. Courtesy NSW Government.

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