28th June 2010
Happy Semester break dear colleagues and friends! New people have been added to this Newsletter (from NCTAFE’s SIG6) so please let us know if you do not wish to receive it. Feedback is most welcome!
EHUBS ON THE MOVE
New Ehubs to be established next semester at Casino and Cabbage Tree Island. Outreach courses are still ongoing at Box Ridge (Coraki Kurrachee – meeting of waters) and Jubullum (by the river -Tabulam) communities. Many thanks to Jeremy Billett, Steve Jamieson and Sue Weingarth for their enormous effort that are making these projects successful. All Ehub initiatives are funded through North Coast TAFE’s Aboriginal Learning Partnerships (NCALP). Ehubs basically involve installing a classroom of computers connected to broadband in a community with students being able to keep their computer upon completion of the course. We are achieving incredible outcomes in these very isolated communities and we thank all our friends and partners for continuing this development. We have some exciting things planned in the Ehubs so stay tuned. Anything’s possible at North Coast TAFE!
PIPPI BEACH
A miracle is taking place at Pippi Beach Yamba with the regeneration of our very first Ehub there at Ngaru Village. Gurehlgam have sponsored a Breakfast Club for our group and an excellent monthly Community Newsletter is being produced by the students. A popular segment features very wise advice from Dr Love for reader’s romantic issues.
In the picture we have the team at Yamba, teacher Wendy Cromack, Franceen Vesper, NCCP trainee Shirlene Pearce, Krystle Swan, Mareka Laurie, Lynette Walker (with child) and Jasmine Pearce.
Big thanks to Eric Knox from Maclean TAFE for work on the Ehub (and everything else), Ricky Binge from Gurehlgam, and Jannay Daley from Centrelink for visiting our students.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
We are always looking for ways to do things better in our Ehubs. Some things work and others don’t and not all things work the same in all communities. What has been achieved at Pippi Beach however we believe is due to two factors – 1. Obtaining sponsorship for the Breakfast Club, and… most importantly… 2. Having a paid local person, (Shirlene) from that community look after the Ehub, including simple maintenance and providing access for community members and for children after school. Shirlene also has a car and assists community members this way as well. Shirlene has been employed by NCCP for 9 months and we are now looking at a traineeship for her. We would like to have a “Shirlene” in all our Ehub locations but we just do not have the resources to do this. If you know of a way wecould do this (we need funding) then please send them this Newsletter and put them in touch with us please? Thanks!
REGIONAL FUTURES INSTITUTE
Regional Futures Institute based out of Southern Cross University will be conducting research on the partnership between North Coast Computer Project and North Coast TAFE next semester to evaluate the experiences of our Ehubs to date. We are excited about this research and hope it will pave the way to attract more support so our program can be replicated in other communities.
TENDER OF PC’S FROM CHEC
North Coast Computer Project recently tendered for a number of high level PC’s from Coffs Harbour Education Campus and they are now available for sale to pensioners, charities, health care card holders and low income earners. PC’s are 2.8 and 3.4ghz dual-core machines with 2gb RAM and 256mb graphics available for $400 – $550. All software included. We also have other machines available from $250. Please contact us if you would like more information or apply online at www.nccpi.org Thanks to Warwick Harman and Steve Laidley for helping with this.
MACKSVILLE
The Cert IV Goorie IT course continues to go well at Macksville. The Seniors Kiosk and Valley Computer Group manned by our wonderful and hard-working volunteers are also both getting more popular. On a sad note, Maureen Dent passed away last week. Maureen is the wife of Dallas who records and airs our weekly Computer Tips Radio show on 2NVR.
RACISM IN AUSTRALIA
When you have time dear readers, please check out these talks from 4 speakers at Latrobe University. Ghassan Hage in part 2 in particular is very interesting…
http://www.themonthly.com.au/racism-australia-reynolds-hirst-brett-hage-2085
Many thanks as always to everyone at North Coast TAFE and in the community for supporting us.
Keep smiling
North Coast Computer Project
Naidoc Poster
This 2010 NAIDOC poster by Sheree Blackley “Unsung Heroes – Leading Through Example” conveys a wonderful message… The artwork depicts an Aboriginal mother who is an ‘unsung hero’ leading her children through example, showing that actions can speak louder than words. The dot work illustrates nurturing and teaching from birth, always guiding our children towards ‘closing the gap’, towards “success’ for those who choose to stay on the path.