Electronic Networks - Building Community, 2002

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Spackle in the digital divide - lessons from the Skills.net program

Colleen McCombe (presenter) & Paula Wright (writer), VICNET

The "Skills.net" program was established in 1997 as a program aimed at providing Internet access and training to communities in Victoria, Australia.

Established with State Government funding through Multimedia Victoria, it is now funded by a range of state and federal government departments.

VICNET's experience managing this program has provided valuable lessons in providing public access, resourcing community organisations with Information and Communications Technologies, providing training to groups in our communities that are traditionally difficult to reach.

This paper will identify and comment on what we believe to be key factors in the success of this ICT training and access program, and compare the foundations of the program with other programs of similar aims.

Issues we intend to address include:

What are the different needs of varying communities to enable them to use ICT?
What role do community organisations play in encouraging groups to use ICT?
How do programs cope with variations in skills level and technological need?
What resources are commonly needed by organisations, and which are specialised?

http://www.vicnet.net.au