Newcastle steelworkers are wired for safety thanks to an innovative local company that has developed an internationally-successful safety training system using iPods.

Voicemap of Newcastle has developed an automated learning system that uses iPods to deliver audio orientation tours to help train staff in a variety of settings.

They include the Smorgon Steel plant in Waratah where steelworkers have been fitted with the Voicemap iPod system to maintain occupational health and safety awareness and promote workplace safety.

The Voicemap system has also been adapted for use in hospitals, railway stations, office environments, and oil and gas plants.

Minister for Regional Development David Campbell said: "This revolutionary approach to induction training has taken off internationally, with Voicemap licencing its systems to a variety of industries and corporate giants both in Australia and overseas."

Voicemap, which has been assisted by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development with marketing and business development support, was invented by Newcastle behavioural scientist Dr Maggie Haertsch who was inspired by art gallery audio self-guided tours.

The groundbreaking orientation system is now being used by several hospitals in the UK and is in use at Liverpool Street Station in London - the busiest rail station in the UK with 141 million people a year.

DSRD helps develop Hunter biotech winners

The Department of State and Regional Development has helped two Hunter biotechnology companies develop significant business deals.

The NSW Government's BioFirst biotechnology strategy has helped Newcastle’s ViroTarg Pty Ltd negotiate a $15 million research, development and license agreement with Sydney anti-cancer company Psiron Ltd.

Psiron, which licensed technology from ViroTarg, has developed the use of a human virus, Coxsackievirus A21, to attack melanoma cells.

It could also potentially be used against prostate, ovarian and breast cancer.

A phase 1 human trial of the virus, recently completed at Newcastle’s Mater Hospital, saw three patients with advanced melanoma given a single injection of the virus.

Preliminary results have opened the door for larger human trials in treating melanoma, to be held in Australia and around the world. There are also plans for ovarian and prostate cancer trials.

ViroTarg secretary David Fleming said: "Proof of Concept funding provided by the NSW Government has been instrumental in ViroTarg Pty Ltd being able to continue the research and develop data which has lead to the commercialisation of the technology with Psiron.

“Approximately 10 new employment positions have been created as a result of the Proof of Concept funding."

The Proof of Concept program, part of the Government's BioFirst strategy, had also helped Newcastle's Probiotic Health Pty Ltd develop a probiotic bacterium with potential applications for lowering cholesterol and boosting vitamin B12 deficiencies.

Probiotic Health has also signed an agreement to further develop its technology with Sydney agricultural company Agrilance Pty Ltd as a potential feed supplement to stimulate rumen development and growth in cattle.

Probiotic Health Pty Ltd spokesman Chris Kelleher said: "The Proof of Concept funding provided significant support to the development of the company and our product."