Dear Colleagues & Friends,
It’s been a while since our last newsletter in April so we have some catching up to do.
BACK FROM THE GRAVE
North Coast Computer Project has had our most difficult period over the past few months but due to our indomitable spirit we have now bounced back, much the wiser and ready to move into new frontiers. In particular we are now building upon our successes with the Indigenous Engagement Project and together with North Coast Institute, continue focussing upon establishing more options for computer ownership and training for indigenous communities in the North Coast.
NCCP have scaled back on salaried staffing levels and are using more student volunteers so that we can continue to distribute cost-effective refurbished computers to the disadvantaged groups and individuals in our region. We are now also sourcing the majority of our hardware through North Coast Institute on a donation basis rather than purchasing from the other bigger refurbisher’s in the capital cities. We are very grateful for this support and need it if we are to continue to function in our rural area and in a world of rising transport costs and decreasing computer hardware prices. Both workshops in Maclean and Macksville are still functioning and we aim to keep it that way.
We owe much to our dedicated Board of Directors – Chris Gulaptis, Lyn McGuire, Sue Hughes and Malcolm Wells, our suppliers and partners, and North Coast Institute management for helping to put a survival plan in place and overcome our recent hiatus.
NCCP now have a range of Pentium 3 and 4 computers for sale from $150 upwards. Please forward our contact details to anyone looking for a powerful affordable computer.
CURRENT COURSES
NCCP are currently resourcing a number of courses through the North Coast Institute.
- Beginners PC & Maintenance at Maclean – performing maintenance on their own computers.
- Goorie IT at Grafton – building their own computers and preparing new aboriginal meeting place on Grafton Campus.
- Ulgundahi Island Elders at Hillcrest Ehub Maclean – putting together material for new www.yaegl.org website and working with Clarence Valley Council to change street signs to show aboriginal translations.
- 2 x Hardware & Clients courses (Intro & Advanced) at NCCP workshop Macksville – building their own computers and working with clients.
- Aboriginal IT (AbIT) at NCCP workshop in Macksville – building their own computers
All these courses are functioning well. In particular we are very happy with the progress being made with the new AbIT course at Macksville where we have Indigenous people coming from as far away as Coffs Harbour to attend this special new course.
CAIRNS WORKSHOP
At the end of August, NCCP’s role was once again highlighted as a partner with North Coast Institute in last year’s Indigenous Engagement Project at a workshop in Cairns hosted by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework. New project participants came from all over Australia and Torres Strait islands. As a result of this conference NCCP have been carrying out research together with Charles Darwin University in Darwin to look at options for bringing isolated indigenous communities in Northern Territory ‘s Homelands online. We are researching satellite broadband coming in and then distributed by wireless network all powered by solar. Exciting stuff and a beautiful project! Would like to point out that contrary to the recent media frenzy that is villifying aboriginal communities there are no alcohol problems or abuse happening in these isolated homeland communities for whom we are doing our research – just very nice people trying their best to get education and services for their children.
Check out http://www.cdu.edu.au/centres/aflf/collab_NSW_TAFE.html for more info.
VISIT FROM MINISTER JOHN COBB
Luke Hartsuyker at the Hillcrest E-Hub
On 20 th September Federal Minister for Community Services John Cobb together with Fed Member Luke Hartsuyker visited NCCP at Maclean Campus and the E-Hub at Hillcrest Mission in Maclean. Australian Flexible Learning Frameworks Indigenous Engagement National Project Manager Rhonda Appo also came down from Brisbane for the day to meet with the Minister.
Many thanks to everyone again for your ongoing support and assistance.
Keep Smiling