Provide an E-Learning Hub For Aboriginal Communities
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Give young Aboriginal people access to learning hubs and free public Wi-Fi for communications and conducting necessary everyday business. Many households don’t have a computer or even a reliable power supply, so learning hubs are crucial for young people to develop their IT and literacy skills. With English being a third or fourth language, access to online resources can reduce linguistic, geographic and cultural isolation. It enables community members to stay in touch with relatives and supports self-directed learning, opening up employment and other future opportunities.
MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT
DotCom Mob support all the major communities (28) in the region with computer equipment for learning hubs, plus 12 Alice Springs town camp and youth service hubs. Access to free wifi, ongoing computer equipment maintenance and repairs are also part of learning hub resources.
The cultural contact history in the region is brief, with the last group of nomads walking into Kiwirrkurra in the mid-1980’s. Before computer rooms, public phones were the only option for staying in touch. Most households don’t have a phone, internet service or reliable access to a power supply so they need the computer hubs to engage with the wider world. Online is the only way people living remote can access services such as banking, government sites and ongoing education. Aboriginal communities face geographical, digital and linguistic isolation and access to computers not only supports skills development and employment opportunities, but also reduces the risks of substance misuse, self-harm and suicide.