Appendix III: Australian Information Economy Social Inclusion Programmes
1. In 1999 the Australian Commonwealth Government ran a series on initiatives to increase Australian's understanding of the online economy.56 The aim was to:
- Help Australians succeed online
- Build Australia's online communities
- Involve Australians in the nation's online future.
2. Each month of Online Australia 1999 had a theme based on the key areas identified in the Government's Strategic Framework for the Information Economy. As can be seen from the list below most of the months focused on social and economic inclusion including:
- April: Regional and Rural Development
- May: Small and Medium Business
- June: Government Online
- July: Health and Education Online
- August: Employment Skills
- September: Culture and Communities.
3. Longer term elements of the strategic framework are contained in the bullet points below.
Online Communities Strategy
4. Elements below, from the online communities strategy, are taken mainly from the Victorian State government's programme and include:
- Skills.net - an Internet access and training programme operated by the Victorian State government that provides free or affordable access and training to the Internet to those Victorians who would not otherwise have such access. Skills.net centres (in a variety of locations) have been designed to meet peoples' information and communication needs, provide workshops, develop web sites and raise community awareness of multi media technologies and benefits they can bring.57 BHP sponsors a free travelling Internet classroom to reach people in regional and isolated areas of Victoria.58 The State's Internet Service Provider hosts the web pages of 2500 community organisation.
- Vicnet. Community network site; Community managers develop electronic community networks;
- Vicnet (phase 2): provides Vicnet with additional bandwidth, server access, web and electronic tools to support these communities of interest;
- National Gallery multi media project: digitisation of collections, online databases
- Libraries online: public Internet access at all public libraries;
- Digital media library: online Cinemedia's collection;
- Catch the Net: Booklets and associated information explaining steps to gain access to Internet; and its relevance to people;
- Screen Culture and Cultural Assets: Building a showcase of the digital age and moving image, and improving access to cultural institutions through new electronic interfaces;
- Production of content: Accord for production of local online content with ABC and SBS.
Online Government
5. The strategies at federal and state level to increase the provision of government services online include:
- Project to get all Government services online by 2001 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
- Business licensing/registration information service;
- Cinemedia online services: online access to Australian film, video and multi media;
- Business Channel: access to information about business;
- Better Health Channel: health information and services guide;
- Land Channel: access to all government information about land use;
- Tourism Channel: marketing Victoria;
- Education Channel: online resource for teachers, parents and students;
- Transport Channel: convenient source of information on transport;
- www.vic.gov.au: easy way into government;
- VicOne: broad band network linking all Victorian government sites; and
- Rural and regional lT strategy: support for regional and rural communities to develop participation in online world.
Various State Initiatives
6. The items below illustrate the variety of approaches that have been taken to encourage optimal use of ICT both in relation to the delivery of public services and the use of the Internet by individuals to improve their well being.
7. Online Libraries Victoria: 43library services representing 265 permanent libraries, 32 mobile libraries, 650 library service points. Electronic services include Internet and email access, multi media personal computers and printing facilities, CD-ROM, office software, internet classes. A small service charge applies to some services.
8. Telehealth Tasmania Network: The Department of Health and Human Services provides video conferencing technology to improve access to health care services for rural and isolated communities. Enables interaction between clients, primary health care workers, care providers and specialists to take place without significant travel. e.g. Clarence Community Health Centre.
9. Tasmanian Communities Online Project: The State Library established 60 Online Access centres throughout rural and regional Tasmania in order to provide equitable access to IT for people in remote areas.
10. Women's Justice Network: A network of state funded legal advice services is connected to 18 community organisations through video conferencing to provide legal information, advice and referral to women in South-West Queensland.
11. Online WA Communities: The WA Department of Commerce and Trade has constructed a major web service including a range of geographic portals such as Avon on Line, and virtual portals such as the TripleR Network made up of 4000 non metropolitan women.
12. Unicode Multilingual Web Page Development: The Maribyrnong Library has created multilingual web pages in community languages. Presently in four languages with others planned.
13. Sustainable Communities: The University of Ballarat in the Western Victoria region has set up an Integrated community based project to establish IT infrastructure, public access, training and support, education and health services, business and government services aimed at developing an enterprising culture in communities.
14. North East Telecentre: The NETC is a community based regional Network Portal providing a community technology interface, training and technical support, public and private access, and content development. Focus on regional economic and community development.
15. Farmlink: The Department of Primary Industries has set up a segmented database/email information service for 5000 primary producer subscribers. Provides marketing and industry information to assist in management decisions.
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