{{Short description|Australia's largest open data hackathon}} {{Infobox convention | name = GovHack | image = 175px | status = Active | genre = Hackathon | frequency = Annually | location = Australia, New Zealand, and International Virtual event | years_active = {{age|2009|10|30}} | first = 2009 | attendance = >15,000 total | website = http://www.govhack.org }}
'''GovHack''' is a significant annual open government and open data hackathon, attracting over 15,000 participants since 2009. First run as a small Canberra-based event, it quickly expanded to an international competition with simultaneous events taking place in major cities across Australia and New Zealand each year, with virtual events for remote and international participants. Since its inception, over 2,500 projects have been published by participants to demonstrate the practical value of open data.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://govhack.org/about/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=GovHack |language=en-AU}}</ref>
== Format == The competition requires small teams of competitors to produce a project using open data within 46 hours, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. The format of the project is unspecified, but web applications, mobile apps, and visualisations are common, with games and art also being encouraged.
Although competitors may use any available open data, certain prize categories mandate the use of certain datasets, such as "Best Geoscience Award" or "Best Use of Taxation Statistics Award". Typically, participating sponsors and government departments release new datasets for the competition each year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Handbook |url=https://govhack.org/handbook/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=GovHack |language=en-AU}}</ref>
Each team must produce evidence of work, such as source code, and are judged on a three-minute video they must produce about their project. Teams are required to publish their projects using an open license.
== History == GovHack was first run at the Australian National University in 2009,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=James |date=2016-07-26 |title=GovHack just gets bigger and better |url=https://www.innovationaus.com/govhack-just-gets-bigger-and-better/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=InnovationAus.com |language=en-AU}}</ref> funded by the Australian "Gov 2.0 Taskforce".<ref>{{Citation | title=Government 2.0 Taskforce [electronic resource] | author1=Australia Government 2.0 Taskforce | year=2009 | publisher=Government 2.0 Taskforce | language=English }}</ref>thumb|300px|Participants at GovHack 2014 in Sydney.In 2012, GovHack became an annual event and was run in two locations.<ref name=":4" /> During the early years of the competition, the Australian chapter of the Open Knowledge Foundation assisted with the operation of the event, with Pia Andrews as head of the national GovHack operations team.
From 2013 to 2017 GovHack rapidly expanded to become an international competition run throughout Australia and New Zealand, with virtual events for remote and international participants.
2014 marked the first annual GovHack Red Carpet Awards to celebrate the winners, sponsors, and volunteers of GovHack, taking place at Brisbane City Hall.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, GovHack was run entirely virtually. As a result, participation dropped significantly from 1500 participants in 2019, to less than half of that for the following years.<ref name=":6" />
==Events== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Date !Participants !Projects !Prize money !Events !Red Carpet Awards !Notes |- !2024 |6–8 September |590 |187 |{{Data missing|?|date=April 2023}} |27 |{{Data missing|30 November 2024 - Canberra Southern Cross Club, Canberra, Australia|date=August 2025}} |<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=GovHack 2023 Year in Review |url=https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/assets.govhack.org/yearinreview/2024/index.html#govhack2023 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GovHack Hackerspace |url=https://hackerspace.govhack.org/events |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=hackerspace.govhack.org/}}</ref> |- !2023 |18–20 August |672 |191 |{{Currency|70,000|aud}} |26 |19 November - University of the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Australia |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Competition Events {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2023.hackerspace.govhack.org/competition_events |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=2023.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GovHack Hackerspace |url=https://2023.hackerspace.govhack.org/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=hackerspace.govhack.org/}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> |- !2022 |19–21 August |521 |147 |{{Currency|61,000|aud}} |27 |29 October - Infosys Living Labs, Melbourne, Australia |<ref>{{Cite web |title=(2022) Projects {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2022.hackerspace.govhack.org/projects |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=2022.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=(2022) Events {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2022.hackerspace.govhack.org/events |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=2022.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Citation |title=GovHack 2022 International Red Carpet Awards | date=29 October 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT6j0KhYlIc |access-date=2023-04-28 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GovHack 2023 Sponsorship Prospectus |url=https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/assets.govhack.org/yearinreview/2022/index.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com}}</ref> |- !2021 |20–22 August |523 |155 |{{Currency|83,000|aud}} |24 |21 October - Digital livestream due to COVID-19 pandemic |<ref>{{Cite web |title=(2021) Projects {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2021.hackerspace.govhack.org/projects |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=2021.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=(2021) Events {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2021.hackerspace.govhack.org/events |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=2021.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=GovHack 2021 Digital Red Carpet Awards - Australia, New Zealand, and International | date=21 October 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdeTpkm7PQk |access-date=2023-04-28 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GovHack 2021 Year in Review |url=https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/assets.govhack.org/yearinreview/2021/index.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com}}</ref> |- !2020 |14–16 August |691 |158 |{{Data missing|?|date=April 2023}} |18 |14-26 October - Via social media due to COVID-19 pandemic |<ref>{{Cite web |title=(2020) Projects {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2020.hackerspace.govhack.org/projects |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=2020.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=(2020) Events {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2020.hackerspace.govhack.org/events |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=2020.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GovHack 2020 International Red Carpet Awards Opening |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eCMfO2klUo |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.facebook.com | date=13 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> |- !2019 |6–8 September |1500 |259 |{{Data missing|?|date=April 2023}} |38 |9 November - National Museum of Australia, Canberra, Australia |<ref>{{Cite web |title=(2019) Projects {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2019.hackerspace.govhack.org/projects |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=2019.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=(2019) Events {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2019.hackerspace.govhack.org/events |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=2019.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=GovHack 2019 International Red Carpet Awards | date=9 November 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT-FFn4BHBA |access-date=2023-04-28 |language=en}}</ref> |- !2018 |7–9 September |2000 |243 |{{Data missing|?|date=April 2023}} |37 |10 November - Australian Technology Park, Sydney, Australia |<ref>{{Cite web |title=(2018) Projects {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2018.hackerspace.govhack.org/projects |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=2018.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=(2018) Events {{!}} Hackerspace |url=https://2018.hackerspace.govhack.org/events |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=2018.hackerspace.govhack.org}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=GovHack 2018 Red Carpet Awards Livestream | date=10 November 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vApoCboU4Mk |access-date=2023-04-28 |language=en}}</ref> |- !2017 |28–30 July |2300 |379 |{{Data missing|?|date=April 2023}} |36 |14 October - Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane, Australia |<ref>{{Citation |title=2017 Govhack Red Carpet Awards | date=15 October 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBidk9auWu0 |access-date=2023-04-28 |language=en}}</ref> |- !2016 |29–31 July |3000 |480 |{{Currency|300,000|aud}} |40 |22 October - State Library of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia |<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=GovHack raises the bar for data |url=http://www.innovationaus.com/2016/08/Data-set-go-GovHack-s-new-firsts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414030551/https://www.innovationaus.com/2016/08/Data-set-go-GovHack-s-new-firsts |archive-date=2019-04-14 |website=InnovationsAus.com}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Govhack 2016 Red Carpet Awards | date=23 October 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz3aFP6CZgk |access-date=2023-04-28 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-21 |title=2016 Year in Review – GovHack Hackathon |url=https://govhack.org/competition/2016-year-in-review/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |archive-date=2017-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121064405/https://govhack.org/competition/2016-year-in-review/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> |- !2015 |3–5 July |2200 |270 |{{Currency|120,000|aud}} |31 |5 September - Power House Museum, Sydney, Australia |<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=2015 Red Carpet Awards |url=http://archive.govhack.org/2015-red-carpet/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815144654/http://archive.govhack.org/2015-red-carpet/ |archive-date=2016-08-15 |access-date=2016-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=GovHack Australia 2015 Red Carpet Awards | date=5 September 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6r4vL-T5Q0 |access-date=2023-04-28 |language=en}}</ref> |- !2014 |11–13 July |1300 |170 |{{Currency|70,000|aud}} |13 |10 August - Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane, Australia |<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=GovHack 2016 |url=https://govhack.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305183647/https://www.govhack.org/ |archive-date=2016-03-05 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=GovHack |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Thomler |first=Craig |date=2015-07-15 |title=GovHack 2015: a wildly successful idea that keeps spawning more |url=https://www.themandarin.com.au/44225-govhack-2015-throws-spotlight-uses-government-data/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=The Mandarin |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Govhack Red Carpet Awards 2014 | date=10 August 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxLqBjTJcQo |access-date=2023-04-28 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mannheim |first=Markus |date=2014-07-13 |title=GovHack finishes but the ideas it planted are just starting to grow |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/govhack-finishes-but-the-ideas-it-planted-are-just-starting-to-grow-20140713-zt69c.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> |- !2013 |31 May – 2 June |900 |108 |{{Currency|170,000|aud}} |8 |<small>(No Red Carpet Awards this year)</small> |<ref name=":3">{{cite web |last=Thomler |first=Craig |date=3 June 2013 |title=GovHack 2013 - my top ten picks |url=https://egovau.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/govhack-2013-my-top-ten-picks.html |publisher=}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> |- !2012 |1–3 June |140 |40 |{{Currency|40,000|aud}} |2 |<small>(No Red Carpet Awards this year)</small> |<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2012-08-15 |title=GovHack 2012 |url=http://www.govhack.org/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |archive-date=2012-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815040518/http://www.govhack.org/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-04-26 |title=GovHack 2012 Winners |url=http://www.govhack.org/winners/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |archive-date=2013-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426083153/http://www.govhack.org/winners/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> |- !2009 |30–31 October |150 |20 |{{Data missing|?|date=April 2023}} |1 |<small>(No Red Carpet Awards this year)</small> |<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2009-11-16 |title=GovHack 2009 |url=http://govhack.org/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |archive-date=2009-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091116123025/http://govhack.org/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> |}
==External links== *[http://www.theage.com.au/data-point/blogs/the-crunch--data-point/cool-govhack-projects-20130603-2nlqt.html Data Point (The Age blog)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703125430/http://www.theage.com.au/data-point/blogs/the-crunch--data-point/cool-govhack-projects-20130603-2nlqt.html |date=2016-07-03 }}
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Open data Category:Hackathons Category:Open government Category:Hacker culture Category:Computer-related events Category:2009 establishments in Australia