Access to fast broadband can help ease region’s brain drain.

It’s hard to imagine anyone would want to leave the picturesque seaside town of Wollongong – but each year the Gong loses some of its best and brightest to areas like Sydney and other CBDs.

Wollongong has always been known for its heavy industry with the opening of the first coal mine in the Illawarra in 1849. From this point on coal mining was the primary industry for the region.

However, as local businesses continue to move away from traditional industries the region was once known for, there is a growth in its ‘knowledge worker’ base – particularly in ICT which is a key driver of innovation, productivity and economic growth in the region.

One of the key players in the region’s ICT sector is The University of Wollongong (UoW) which currently produces half of all ICT graduates in NSW and one in seven graduates nationally.

The university particularly understands the importance of harnessing talent and keeping it in the region, creating initiatives such as the iAccelarate program which provides the framework to accelerate and incubate innovation in the start-up sector of the Illawarra.

Wollongong Success Story

Daniel Rowan from digital specialist agency Internetrix is a case in point example of the UoW’s many success stories. Daniel is now the Managing Director of this successful company based in the heart of Wollongong.

Recently connected to the nbn™ network, the company has experienced huge growth and jumped into the global market with two offices running out of China.

Director of Online Performance at Internetrix, Michael David says he loves Wollongong, however, the region is now opening up to be an international city able to deliver services not only to the region, but across Australia and internationally.

Wollongong is now a highly connected region with a large nbn™ network footprint covering the Illawarra region.

The proximity to Australia’s largest city and the enhanced connectivity is critical to the ongoing position of Wollongong and the region as a place within which there are opportunities to work, trade, build and learn.

Check your address to find out when the nbn™ network is available at your home or business.