• Exhibition dedicated to children who migrated from Britain to Australia
• Personal stories, photographs, letters and mementoes tells story
• More than 100,000 British children sent to Commonwealth countries

The WA Maritime Museum will display an exhibition dedicated to the extraordinary stories of children who migrated from Britain to Australia, Culture and the Arts Minister John Day announced today.

Mr Day said On Their Own: Britain's Child Migrants recounted the child migration schemes established by charitable and religious organisations in Britain in the latter part of the 19th century and the profound impact it had on the lives of child migrants.

"From the 1860s, more than 100,000 British children were sent to various Commonwealth countries, including Australia," he said.

"Through personal stories, photographs, letters and poignant mementoes, the exhibition tells the story of how this experience changed the lives of these children; some succeeded in creating bright new futures, while others suffered lonely childhoods and the loss of identity.

"These stories are of children from orphanages - some as young as three years old - as well as those from families considered by the authorities, or sometimes by themselves, unable to provide for their own. Many would never see their families or their homeland again.

The Minister said child migrant schemes were established to combat the social and economic changes that occurred in Britain in the 19th century by addressing the over population and poverty sweeping the country.

"The schemes were seen as a solution to child homelessness and neglect, offering children a better way of life as well as a means of increasing the populations of Commonwealth countries and supporting their growth," he said.

The exhibition, a collaboration between the Australian National Maritime Museum and National Museums Liverpool UK, is supported by the Federal Government's Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program, aiming to improve access to the national collection for all Australians.

Fact File

• On Their Own: Britain's Child Migrants is a free exhibition on display at the WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle from May 19-August 14, 2012. Entry fees apply to the museum's permanent exhibitions
• WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle is home to the migrant Welcome Walls, with more than 21,000 inscriptions paying tribute to the contribution to the State by its migrant communities
• WA Maritime Museum also has a child migrant memorial statue on its grounds

Minister's office - 6552 6200

• WASC adds to WA's growing portfolio of world-class science facilities
• Partner countries potentially include China, Japan and the US
• Emerging space industry supported by new facilities located in WA

Science and Innovation Minister John Day today launched the Western Australian Space Centre (WASC) adding to the growing portfolio of world-class science and technology facilities in the State.

Mr Day said the WASC, located 40km from the township of Mingenew, would preserve the radio environment for space band communications. The decision to create the space centre was made in 2009 and SSC Space Australia had invested $8million in the project.

"The WASC is an attractive site for the location of earth space tracking and communications facilities, with SSC Space Australia in discussions with several countries - including China, Japan, the US and several European countries - looking to locate facilities at the site," he said.

"WA has long been a prime site for space-related facilities, due to our well-placed geographical location; vast radio-quiet zones; strong technical expertise; supportive infrastructure; and well-developed defence, science and trade relationships.

"The Mid-West region is already a hotspot for innovation in radio astronomy, with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) establishing a Mid West Radio Quiet Zone to protect the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory."

The Minister said the State Government was fostering the emerging space industry by developing technologies to support facilities located in WA.

"Horizon Power and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation will support remotely operated sites, and high performance computing facilities will be established in Perth to support the 'big data' needs of the industry," he said.

"The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research is also attracting world-class research and development talent to the State that will further benefit the industry.

"I have no doubt that the efforts of SSC Space Australia with this world-class facility, and the developments under way by the State to secure the SKA, will encourage further investment and the establishment of other space-related developments in WA."

Fact File

• WASC is owned & operated by SSC Space Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Swedish Space Corporation
• It comprises 114ha of land & falls within the area designated as Australia's only satellite park by the ACMA

Minister's office - 6552 6200

• Call for entrants in the 2012 WA Innovator of the Year Awards
• Winners provided with a financial boost and exposure to industry help
• Awards developed to provide support and assistance to innovators

Science and Innovation Minister John Day today called for Western Australian innovators, industry, entrepreneurs and academia to enter the 2012 WA Innovator of the Year Awards.

Mr Day said the awards were open to anyone with a great idea and the drive to take an idea from concept to market.

"The WA Innovator of the Year Awards program has been designed to support industry development by providing winners with a financial boost and the opportunity to build links between industry and academia to maximise the commercialisation of their ideas," he said.

"The program raises awareness of innovation as a driver of economic and technological change in WA and presents the opportunity to showcase the State's innovative capacity.

"In the program's five years, more than 420 innovators have participated with many going on to turn their idea into a commercially viable business.

"The State Government recognises the innovation process can be challenging and has developed these awards to provide support and assistance to WA's increasing number of innovators and entrepreneurs."

The WA Innovator of the Year Awards' principal sponsor is Mitsubishi Corporation; the encouragement award sponsors are Woodside and iiNet; the gold sponsors are Watermark Intellectual Asset Management, AusIndustry and IBM; and the silver sponsors are Wrays and WA Business News.

Fact File

• The WA Innovator of the Year Awards feature two categories: Emerging Innovation (pre-revenue) and Growth (post-revenue)
• All entrants must be able to demonstrate how the product, technology or service has an economic, social or environmental benefit to the State
• Applications close 1pm on Friday, July 6
• For more information visit http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/innovator

Minister's office - 6552 6200

• Innovative enterprises will receive a share of more than $260,000
• Innovations will assist in the creation of jobs and growth for WA
• Innovation Vouchers Program provides a financial boost for SMEs

A repellent to protect sheep from flystrike; a cure and prevention for colon cancer; and a unique valve to control offshore oil or gas wells are some of the innovations to receive a financial boost from the State Government today.

Science and Innovation Minister John Day today announced 14 enterprises would receive a share of more than $260,000 through round two of the WA Innovation Vouchers Program.

"The successful applicants are developing innovations that have real-world relevance and will assist Western Australia's reputation for developing quality solutions for key global markets," Mr Day said.

"Taking an idea from concept to market takes time, hard work, patience and money.

"The Innovation Vouchers Program aims to provide a small financial boost for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) undertaking this process to engage professional skills and services to help turn innovative ideas into a commercial reality.

"The Liberal-National Government would like to see the innovations developed and designed here provide opportunities for Western Australians.

"This program will not only help to ensure our community can access the benefits provided by these innovations first, it will also assist in the creation of jobs and financial returns for WA."

Successful SMEs have been selected by an independent panel of experts and will receive up to $20,000 to undertake an activity in one of the following areas: research and development, product development, technology transfer, intellectual property and commercialisation support services.

Fact File

• Innovation Vouchers Program administered by the Department of Commerce under the Western Australian Innovation Development Schemes
• See attached PDF for successful applicants
• For more information, visit http://www.innovation.wa.gov.au

Minister's office - 6552 6200

• Program will feature incredibly realistic life-sized dinosaur puppets
• Visitors to get up close and personal to a variety of prehistoric creatures
• Show brings entertainment, education and science together

Dinosaurs will roam the Western Australian Museum in Perth this winter as it welcomes the Dinosaur Petting Zoo, Culture and the Arts Minister John Day announced today.

Mr Day said the performance-based program would feature incredibly realistic life-sized dinosaur puppets, many of which had never been seen in Perth before.

"The show is engaging, combines fun and education and is suitable for children and adults," he said.

"This dinosaur spectacle will run over four weeks at the end of this school term and into the July school holidays, providing audiences with an opportunity to see dinosaurs that once roamed Australia.

"The WA Museum will be transformed into a petting zoo of prehistoric creatures ranging from baby dinosaurs to meat-eating giants. Included in the show is a carnivore, discovered in Queensland, known as the Australovenator (meaning southern hunter), and a titanosaur, which represents a diverse group of plant-eating dinosaurs including some of the heaviest creatures to have walked the earth.

"This show brings entertainment, education and science together and is another example of the WA Museum's commitment to providing dynamic and varied programs to engage all Western Australians.

"Performances by Erth Visual & Physical Inc. were a major drawcard for the WA Museum last year, and this year the show promises to be bigger and better with a full length performance and more dinosaurs to entertain audiences."

The Dinosaur Petting Zoo performances will be held in the Temporary Exhibition Gallery at the WA Museum in Perth from June 25 to July 22, 2012. The performances are suitable for adults and children five years and older.

Fact File

• All puppets are life-sized Australian dinosaurs; the petting zoo includes baby dinosaurs and adult carnivores: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/erth-dinosaurs

Minister's office - 6552 6200

• Professor Andrew Whiteley from the UK will relocate to WA
• Research Fellowships Program attracts distinguished scientists to WA
• Program targets work that is of strategic importance to the State

Science and Innovation Minister John Day today announced Professor Andrew Whiteley from the United Kingdom would relocate to Western Australia to lead an expert team in soil rehabilitation - research that will directly benefit the State.

Mr Day said the WA Research Fellowships Program attracted distinguished scientists and researchers from overseas or interstate to carry out work of strategic importance to the State.

"A strong foundation of knowledge and expertise is paramount to the continued growth and development of WA's economy," he said.

"Based at The University of Western Australia, Professor Whiteley will address issues of local importance, including new approaches to rehabilitating degraded environments on mine sites, and increasing agricultural production.

"His research into soil quality for sustainable mining practices will assist in balancing the environment with the economy and could also assist yields for our agricultural and pastoral sectors.

"WA will provide an ideal environment for Professor Whiteley to advance his work and also use the experience gained while working at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the UK's premier environmental research institute, to transfer skills to local researchers."

The Minister said the WA Research Fellowships Program had been very successful in attracting world-leading expertise to WA.

"WA is leading the way in many important areas of scientific investigation and research, including high performance computing; water management; land and conservation; mining; biomedical; radio astronomy; and renewable technologies," he said.

"Professor Whiteley's appointment joins the prestigious likes of past and present Fellows, including Professor Ian Small, Plant Energy Biology, ARC Centre of Excellence; Professor Shaun Collin, UWA Oceans Institute; and Professors Steven Tingay, Peter Quinn and Lister Staveley-Smith, International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research. Each and every WA Research Fellow is consistently evaluated at the highest level and all have greatly benefited the State."

Fact File

• There have been 9 WA Research Fellows since the program started in 2003
• The next round of the program will open in early June
• This is a State Govt initiative supporting industry, science and innovation: http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/scienceinnovation

Minister's office - 6552 6200

• World-class research and development with benefits for WA
• Centre receives significant State Government funding

Science and Innovation Minister John Day has congratulated the John de Laeter Centre for Mass Spectrometry Stage II (JDLC) on its innovative scientific research, which is benefiting the minerals and petroleum industry and the environmental sector in Western Australia.

During a recent visit to the centre, based at Curtin University, Mr Day said the State Government had provided the JDLC with more than $2.06million in funding which the centre had used to make significant headway with its research.

"The highly skilled researchers at the JDLC have carried out world-class research and development with far reaching benefits for WA and beyond. The centre has been identified as the world leader in zircon geochronology, research that now forms an integral part of the State's geoscience mapping programs," he said.

The Minister said the research output by JDLC scientists was excellent, with 658 peer-reviewed journal publications in five years. The research had been used in diverse areas.

"JDLC researchers carried out a study on treated water for drinking purposes, which led to the development of guidelines for water re-use that underpinned the decision to proceed with a $48million water re-use trial north of Perth," he said.

"The crime and security sector has also benefitted. The centre has developed effective methods for trace analysis of hair samples recovered at crime scenes, reducing the waiting time for such reports from three weeks to three days."

During the visit, Mr Day was also briefed on an innovative diamond exploration tool that will reduce exploration risk for industry and spur investment in the regionally important diamond industry in Western Australia.

"The JDLC has successfully leveraged the funding provided by the State to secure Federal funding and external investments. It has brought $9.8million into the State from the Australian Research Council, and received almost $19million in external cash income," he said.

"The centre has also developed a number of commercial projects and collaborative links with industry, and anticipates receiving more than $6.5million in further external cash investment in the next three financial years."

Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket presented the Minister with a specimen of the world's oldest crustal material from the Jack Hills Formation in Western Australia, which JDLC researchers have found to be 4.4 billion years old.

Fact File

• The John de Laeter Centre for Mass Spectrometry Stage II (is a collaborative research venture between Curtin University, the University of Western Australia (UWA), the CSIRO and the Geological Survey of WA
• For more information visit http://jdlc.curtin.edu.au

Minister's office - 6552 6200

• $500,000 available for preservation of WA's coastline
• Program makes a significant contribution to the health of WA's coast
• Applicants can apply for up to $150,000 per coastal project

The State Government today launched the 2012-13 round of Coastwest grants making $500,000 available for the preservation of Western Australia's coastline.

Planning Minister John Day said the Government had overseen almost $1.8million worth of coastal management programs in the past two years.

The Coastwest program made a significant contribution to the health of WA's coast.

"Funding from Coastwest increases the community's involvement in coastal management activities, including dune recovery projects, educational programs and efforts to protect marine life," Mr Day said.

"Applicants can apply for up to $150,000 per project. By fostering partnerships between coastal managers and community groups it encourages them to work together to improve the condition of WA's coastline.

"We see the benefits of this program in our beautiful beaches which are enjoyed by so many West Australians and tourists to our State."

The Minister said the program was administered by the Department of Planning on behalf of the Western Australian Planning Commission and the recent special edition of WA Coastlines celebrated the achievements of the Coastwest program.

"Some of the highlights of the publication include the internationally recognised South West Marine Debris Project, the popular Adopt-a-Beach initiative and the Saltwater Country Projects in the Kimberley," he said.

"The continued protection and management of our coastline is something we can all be proud of and can all take part in."

Fact File

• Grant guidelines and application forms are available for download from the Planning WA website; applications close Monday July 2, 2012
• For the period from 2003-2010, 167 projects worth $3.7million were funded

Minister's office - 6552 6200