Video-conferencing facilities to be installed through Telecentres over next four years

28/1/00
New technology will soon remove distance as a barrier to face-to-face meetings between residents of small communities and Government and private sector decision-makers.
Regional Development Minister Hendy Cowan said video-conferencing facilities would be installed throughout Western Australia's Telecentre Network over the next four years.
Mr Cowan said that joint State and Commonwealth funding would bring state-of-the-art video-conference equipment and communications infrastructure to more than 70 Telecentres servicing regional and remote communities.
The Minister said the potential for the new service was enormous.
"Better access to education and training is an immediate benefit from this technology, not only for individuals seeking formal qualifications, but also for remote area staff to access in-house development," he said.
"It could also be used for delivering some health, legal and justice services or for personal interviews.
"Private firms could use the technology to provide detailed information and instruction about new products or techniques to customers, or even for staff recruitment interviews.
"The technology will also provide new opportunities for residents of regional areas to take part in parliamentary or public inquiries.
"Undoubtedly, it will also be used to enable face-to-face meetings between regional residents with common interests."
Mr Cowan said the equipment and transmission costs for live video-conferencing had fallen dramatically in recent years, and could continue to do so as the result of competition introduced by the Government's State-wide Telecommunications Enhancement Program.
He said the new service would enhance the already important role of community-managed Telecentres in providing information and communications technologies in addition to a growing number of Government and private sector services to small and remote communities.

The Department of Commerce and Trade would manage the introduction of the new technology with support from the Health Department's Telehealth Program, the Rural Legal Service Telelaw Scheme and a further $500,000 provided through the Commonwealth's Networking the Nation program.
Media contact: Owen Cole 9481 7810