WESTLINK info TV network likely to achieve yearly target in 6 months

5/7/94

The State Government's public information television network - WESTLINK - is proving so popular that it looks set to achieve its yearly target in just six months.

Services Minister Graham Kierath, who is visiting Port Hedland and Karratha this week, said that the planned target of 700 hours of television programs for 1994 was already well within grasp.

"The network has recently doubled in size and is now beamed into 70 rural and remote communities," Mr Kierath said.

"By the end of this year I would expect that WESTLINK will be available in at least 80 communities."

WESTLINK used satellite technology to deliver Government services to communities. Programs for the network were paid for by Government agencies and other service providers, with the current main users being the Departments of Training, Education and Health.

However, there was an increasing trend for non-Government agencies to use WESTLINK to reach their non-metropolitan members or clients.

As an example, the Western Australian Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine had recognised WESTLINK's ability to deliver professional development information to the country and it had applied for funding to install satellite reception equipment in at least 50 WA hospitals.

"WESTLINK is driven by people's needs in non-metropolitan communities and I would like to see much wider use being made of the facility," Mr Kierath said.

Community groups and other non-profit organisations could discuss their requirements by telephoning the WESTLINK office on (09) 222 8234.

Media Contact:   Brian Coulter  222 9595 / 481 2133