In the season finale of Tech Hub Talk, host Joshua Groch is joined by Kristen Coggan, Community Engagement Manager at the Regional Tech Hub. They dive into a topic that’s crucial for rural and regional Australia: connectivity resilience during natural disasters.

Kristen shares expert tips on preparing for connectivity outages, from keeping power banks charged to downloading emergency apps. Drawing from her firsthand experience with NBN Local’s response to the devastating 2022 Northern Rivers floods, Kristen provides a behind-the-scenes look at how organisations help restore communications during crises.

Whether you’re looking for disaster preparation advice, curious about how telcos respond, or want to improve your communication resilience, this episode is packed with actionable tips and real stories to empower you.

🎧 Tune in for insights, inspiration, and practical takeaways.

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In this episode of Tech Hub Talk, host Joshua Groch chats with Wendy Hick — a seasoned advocate for rural communications and cattle grazier at Thorntonia Station — about the critical role of connectivity in emergency preparedness for remote regions of Australia.

Wendy shares her first-hand experiences navigating major natural disasters, including severe flooding in 2019 and 2023, and discusses:

✅ How to build connectivity redundancies on your property

✅ The role of emerging technologies like satellite solutions and GPS personal beacons

✅ Practical advice for staying connected during emergencies

Whether you're looking to enhance connectivity resilience at your place or curious about how remote stations manage crises, this episode offers valuable insights.

For more rural, regional, and remote connectivity resources, visit the Regional Tech Hub’s website at ⁠⁠regionaltechhub.org.au⁠⁠.

In this episode of Tech Hub Talk, we sit down with Telstra’s Regional Australian Executive, Loretta Willaton, to explore the 3G shutdown from the Telco's perspective. With nearly 30 years of experience, Loretta shares:

✅ The behind-the-scenes planning of the 3G shutdown

✅ The challenges of transitioning rural communities to new technologies

✅ The future of connectivity, including direct-to-handset satellite technology

Loretta also reflects on the challenges and successes of managing one of Australia’s largest telecom transitions, offering practical advice for those navigating the shift.

Whether you’re impacted by the 3G shutdown or curious about the next big thing in regional connectivity, this episode is a must-listen.

For more rural, regional, and remote connectivity resources, visit the Regional Tech Hub’s website at ⁠regionaltechhub.org.au⁠.

In this episode, host Joshua Groch speaks with Peter Thompson, a Queensland farmer and connectivity advocate, about the impacts of the recent 3G network shutdown on rural and remote communities.

Peter shares his journey from using outdated systems like the party line landline to embracing modern technologies such as 4G and satellite connectivity.

He discusses how these advancements have transformed farming operations, from tracking cattle to monitoring water systems, and offers practical tips for adapting to the recent 3G network shutdown.

The conversation also covers the importance of redundancy, connectivity literacy, and key considerations when adopting Ag-Tech.

Whether you're a farmer, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about rural connectivity, this episode delivers valuable insights and actionable advice.

For more rural, regional, and remote connectivity resources, visit the Regional Tech Hub’s website at ⁠regionaltechhub.org.au⁠.

In this inaugural episode of Tech Hub Talk, host Joshua Groch dives into the recent 3G network shutdown with special guest Kristy Sparrow, co-founder of Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia (BIRRR). 

Kristy discusses why the 3G network was phased out, the technical impacts on rural and remote connectivity, and the real-world challenges faced by individuals and businesses who relied on 3G. She also shares practical tips on navigating the transition to 4G and 5G, advice on upgrading outdated devices, and insights into improving connectivity reliability. 

The episode also highlights the crucial work of BIRRR in advocating for connectivity improvements across regional Australia.

Whether you’re navigating coverage issues or curious about the future of rural telecommunications, this episode is packed with essential insights for regional Australians.

For more rural, regional and remote connectivity advice, visit the Regional Tech Hub’s website at regionaltechhub.org.au

Welcome to Tech Hub Talk!

Thank you for joining us on this journey into the heart of regional connectivity across Australia.

In Tech Hub Talk, we’re here to share real stories from people in rural, regional, and remote areas who rely on connectivity every day. Whether you’re a small business owner, a parent, a primary producer, or just looking to stay connected, this podcast is for you.

Listen, follow, share, and subscribe to stay updated as we dive into topics like the 3G shutdown, emergency connectivity, and practical tech tips. If you enjoy the show, please consider giving us a 5-star rating to help others find us.

For more rural, regional, and remote-focused connectivity advice, visit the Regional Tech Hub's website at regionaltechhub.org.au.

Our first 5 episodes drop weekly starting on November 20th and we're looking forward to connecting with you on Tech Hub Talk!