Astronomy engineer David Brown lives in Launceston, but works in Sydney – and believes the city’s fibre-to-the-premises connection has allowed him to spend more time working from home.
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Mr Brown is working for the Australian Astronomical Observatory on a prototype instrument for the one billion dollar Giant Magellan Telescope – expected to be completed in Chile by 2025.
“Optical astronomy is limited in Australia because of our atmosphere, and there’s only two unique places on the planet where the conditions are best for optical astronomy,” he said.
“The Giant Magellan Telescope is going to have 10 times the resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope – which is currently the most productive telescope we have.”
Mr Brown said he works on the 3D modelling, and research – travelling home to be with his family in Launceston every second weekend.
“They’ve got (the Australian Astronomical Observatory) a policy where people can work from home...when I do that I work at home for two weeks at a time,” he said.
“When I’m just designing or doing documentation, I will be doing it from home. The NBN enables me to remotely access my desk computer and working from here is identical to me working in the office.”
Mr Brown is one of many Australians ditching the office desk – according to a new report by KPMG demographer Bernard Salt, which revealed small and micro businesses were Australia’s fastest growing employment sector.
Although Mr Brown does not work for himself, one example in the report showed that many sole traders were able to use the NBN to work in exotic locations, including Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula.
The NBN enables me to remotely access my desk computer and working from here is identical to me working in the office.
- Astronomy engineer David Brown
BOFA in Action is leading Launceston’s push to become a smart city, but is asking the community to put their ideas forward as to how the city can benefit, including improving the health and education sectors.
To submit ideas head to Tasmania Made Open or contact the Launceston Chamber of Commerce president Donna Bain to get involved: donna@selfhelp.com.au
If you’ve got an exciting start-up and want to talk to The Examiner about it email our reporter Toli Papadopoulos: toli.papadopoulos@fairfaxmedia.com.au