National Gravity Challenge - Media Release

9 November 2019

Driving Innovation: National Space Forum Focusing on NT Health Solutions

Could International Space Technology be used to improve health service delivery in some of the most remote communities in the world?

That’s the question the Departments of Health and Trade, Business and Innovation have posed at the Australia’s 8th Annual Space Forum’s National Gravity Challenge.

The departments entered the Challenge with the question: How can satellites be used to improve the health of Territorians in the wet and dry season?

Working with the Asthma Foundation NT, NT Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Charles Darwin University Centre for Bushfire Research to source the required Challenge data, the team will be delivering their solutions in Adelaide this weekend, where a winner will be announced.

The Challenge is a national six-week intensive innovation program for Australian corporates, entrepreneurs and universities to design and build solutions to real industry, social and environmental problems using spatial data.

The Territory Labor Government is driving innovation and encouraging our next generation with the STEM in the NT Strategy in schools, supporting local community-based ideas, and the growing space industry in Arnhem Land. Grants are also available through innovationNT.

Quotes from the Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles:

“We have some of the most challenging health problems in the Territory.

“Encouraging home-grown innovation that can make the job of delivering and improving our health outcomes easier, is a win for Territorians.

“We are in good hands with bright minds finding solutions that improve the lives of Territorians while placing us at the forefront of innovation.”