TSRA Online Action Plan

This document outlines the TSRA's Information and Technology (IT) capabilities and identifies strategies that use IT to achieve organisational goals and provide access to appropriate services online.

This Plan and the TSRA's current website are part of the Authority's Online Information Service Obligations (OISOs) which ensures that information about Australian Government agencies and their services are available online.

The National Office for the Information Economy, has responsibilities for OISOs and their ongoing development as required by the Commonwealth Government's Online Strategy released in 2000.

Agency Description
The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) was established on 1 July 1994, under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989, following a review of the Act. There has since been amendments to this Act and it has been renamed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005.

Under the Act, the Torres Strait was one of 35 ATSIC regions throughout Australia. The review proposed the creation of a separate Torres Strait authority with the same powers as ATSIC.

Following consultation with the Torres Strait Regional Council and the Council’s subsequent historic decision, the Parliament of Australia established the Torres Strait Regional Authority within the framework of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 (ATSIC Act).

The TSRA consists of an elected arm and an administrative arm. The elected arm is comprised of twenty elected representatives who are Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living in the Torres Strait region. Eighteen TSRA Members are Island Council Chairpersons elected under the Queensland Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984, and two TSRA Members are elected under Division 5 of the ATSI Act.

Members of the TSRA elect a Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson and an Alternate Deputy Chairperson. A General Manager is responsible for the TSRA’s administration and staffing.

The TSRA aims to improve the lifestyle and well-being of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living in the region through the implementation of programs that address their poor socio-economic and health status.

The vision of the TSRA is to empower the Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living in the region to determine their own affairs based on the unique ‘Ailan Kastom bilong Torres Strait’ from which they draw unity and strength.

To achieve the vision, the TSRA is working towards the following goals:
1. gain recognition of our rights, customs and identity as indigenous peoples;
2. achieve a better quality of life for all people living in Torres Strait;
3. develop a sustainable economic base;
4. provide better health and community services;
5. ensure protection of our environment; and
6. Assert our Native Title to the lands and waters of the Torres Strait region.

Description of the Agency's IT Capabilities
The TSRA maintains all its information technology and communications systems in-house and provides IT services to around 90 desktops, which includes Internet and email. The TSRA has both a wired and wireless LAN, which covers the agency’s main office and three other remote sites. The TSRA also provides network support, including internet and email services, to the Island Coordinating Council and its Infrastructure Support Unit. All of the agency’s telephone systems utilise Voice over IP (VoIP).

The TSRA employs a full time Senior Information Technology Officer, an IT Support Officer and an Assistant IT Officer. It is the role of the IT section, consisting of it’s three permanent staff, to manage and maintain the IT and communication services for the Agency.

Functions and Services Provided
The TSRA’s web site presents information to the general public in relation to the Agency and the services that it provides.  The following table provides details on the information service that is made available from the TSRA’s web site:

Services Appropriate to Provide Online
The TSRA will continue to provide its online information service. The agency may, at some time in the future, consider further online development regarding grants and the monitoring of client performance in relation to grants.

At this stage the TSRA does not envisage providing other services that would be appropriate online due to the small nature of the agency and the regional bases of its client group.

Enhancements to Services Already Online
The TSRA provides an information service via an online web site that is hosted by WebCentral web hosting service sited in Brisbane.  The aim of this web site is to disseminate information about the TSRA, the region and its people including the latest press releases to the general public, other government departments and agencies, research groups and TSRA clients.

Impediments to the Provision of Services Online
There is no major impediment to further increasing the online services that the TSRA currently provides.

Legislative Frameworks and Implications
The current legislative framework contains no impediments to the provision of services online.

Evaluation Strategies
The TSRA’s web site is only used to disseminate information.  Evaluation of the site mainly comes from feedback provided by those who access the site.  An e-mail facility is embedded in the site to assist users in sending e-mails to the TSRA.

Standards and Guidelines
The TSRA intends to do a review, including a re-design of it web site, with the view of implementing the following standards or guidelines as required in the government’s online strategy. 

Electronic Procurement and Payment
The TSRA does not accept any payments electronically using its website. However, the Agency is capable of purchasing from suppliers who wish to deal with the TSRA electronically using open standards.