Darrell Burkey, Computing Assistance Support and Education, Ted Monaghan, CIT Department of Community Development, Karin Gieselhart, RMIT
The ability of community groups to deliver services, engage members and fully participate in community development is often compromised by technological limitations. These include technical know-how and equipment, but also education about how technology can assist them to achieve their goals in a cost-effective way. This aspect of the 'digital divide' works against the formation of social capital, partly because government electronic commerce efforts have focussed on the business sector.
The Canberra-based group Computing Assistance Support and Education (CASE) exists to fill this technological gap, so that non-profit and community groups can get on with their core tasks. This paper describes the methodoligies and ethos used by CASE to create this unique community owned IT cooperative. Examples of projects developed within this context will be discussed, including the creation of comprehensive networking services to a local community group and the development of a National Online Volunteer Management System for an organisation providing volunteer educational tutors to outback familes. The right kind of computer assistance and training, offered in a win-win context, can foster electronic empowerment that flows beyond the borders of individual groups.
CASE's approach and principles include support for both the open source software movement, a commitment to community development and responsiveness to member groups. The final section of the paper relates these to a broader agenda of electronic empowerment and the importance of designing an information infrastructure that provides a democratic dividend. A mention of complexity theory as a conceptual framework concludes the paper.