Papers & Presentations
Tasmanian Communities Online Project - Empowering and Training Rural Communities in Information Technology
Judith Timbs, Project Manager, Tasmanian Communities Online, State Library of Tasmania
The paper will outline the rationale and vision to establish 60 Online Access Centres (OAC's) throughout rural and regional Tasmania. Achievement to date (1 year after the establishment of the initial 20 Centres) will be highlighted and some analysis of the future directions of the Project will be shared.
The specific goal of the project is to provide equity of access, especially for people in rural areas to information technology. Tasmania has a very decentralised population. It has more persons living in rural communities than any other State. This results in difficult and expensive access to services for many Tasmanians. Also, the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics, released in May 1999, shows that Tasmanians have the lowest home ownership of computers and use of the Internet among all the States.
The Project commenced in March 1998 and to date, 45 Centres are now operational with the final 15 to come online before the end of this year. Centres have experienced high use with up to 59% of their communities registered as users.
A major feature of the Project has been its development of partnerships with schools, public libraries, local government, business enterprise centres and community groups. Communities have viewed access to Information Technology and the Internet to be a revitalising influence in their town. They believe the Centres have reduced their isolation and economic disadvantages by providing opportunities for all.
Biography
Judith Timbs is Project Manager for the Tasmanian Communities Online Program. She holds a Masters Degree in Education, is a qualified teacher and librarian. Her past experience has included Acting Assistant Principal of a Senior Secondary College, a Senior Manager introducing vocational education courses in Grades 11/12, and a Senior Library consultant in developing and implementing computer based library systems in schools and colleges. She has also served as an elected member of Local Government.