Australian natives Leigh Harris and Julie-Ann Lambourne want to create technology hubs led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to help share digital skills and knowledge with communities in the city of Cairns, Australia.

Harris, the creative director of digital agency Ingenious studios, told the media that he hopes it will be functional early next year.

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"For the past six years, I had this concept of an indigenous-led innovation hub in the community," Harris said.

He added that as an aboriginal, he has always believed that "you've got to stay within that 'black box'." He went on to say that working in the digital economy has led him to realize that the world is bigger than that.

Harris is a digital entrepreneur, and he hopes that the hub will support people who tend to be left out of the conversation. This includes the indigenous people, migrants, and people living with disabilities.

Furthermore, the Kanolu and Gungarrii native wants to share the message that innovations in technology are not a reserve of capital cities. The two innovators hope the hub will be a center for collaboration, whether with learning institutions or individuals passing through Cairns or multinational corporations.

In the beginning, the pair plans to utilize a space owned by Torres Strait Islander in Cairns that can seat around fifty people. Lambourne owns a virtual reality training vehicle that travels through northern Australia, and they plan to take the show on the road in the near future.

The project is still sourcing for funding, but Harris remains upbeat, saying that even if no money comes in, they are still going to push the project on their own.

TagsTech, Australia, digital