Ros Foskey, Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England Armidale.
Successful diffusion of information, as well as linking people to each other for mutual support, is crucial to the functioning of community networks. This presentation seeks to illustrate the way in which successful email networks draw on the potential of communications and information technology to bring people into contact at a level, and with a frequency, which could not occur with the use of more traditional forms of communication. It will include contributions from Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom and explore the way in which four separate email networks connect and intersect via individual members.
The networks to be highlighted are Neat - network for education, ageing and technology in Australia (no web site); Veat Forum for network for education, ageing and technology, Catalist the Canadian network for third age learning; and Older and Bolder a program of NIACE the United Kingdom National Organisation for Adult Learning. Each of these networks are based around the area of older people and learning, and include a focus on information technology. Each email network has been successful in reaching across not only geographic, but also organisational and sectoral boundaries.