27/1/04
More than 5,000 Western Australians will learn to use the Internet and send emails, thanks to $1million in State Government funding for the 2004 First Click program.
Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter today announced the First Click grants of up to $20,000 for nearly 70 community organisations from Derby to Albany to Kalgoorlie.
Mr Carpenter said First Click was a Gallop Government commitment to providing Western Australians with the opportunity to gain basic computing skills to support their active participation in community life.
"The $2.2million already allocated to the First Click program since its launch in 2001 has seen more than 12,000 people access basic computer training through 148 not for profit organisations," the Minister said.
"Feedback from participants has shown how the opportunity to learn computer skills has improved their lives through better employment opportunities and access to knowledge and information on the Internet."
Mr Carpenter said the Gallop Government was determined to close the digital divide in the community which saw people with good computer skills benefit from increased employment opportunities, information sources, leisure activities and ways to keep in touch.
The Minister said this often meant that people without computer skills had difficulty getting a decent job, had reduced earnings and were unable to take part in activities that others took for granted.
"Many women aged 40 to 54 years and adults from low income families are unfamiliar with the Internet and email, while 36 per cent of all those over 55 years old have never tried to use a computer," he said.
"Because of First Click, the Internet is becoming less of a mystery for some of those people who have not previously used a computer."
First Click is free to people who are from low income households, women aged 40 to 54 who are working, seniors and those living in regional areas. Courses focus on basic computer literacy training, including learning how to use the Internet and email.
Some organisations provide additional support such as co-ordinating volunteers to work alongside participants during the classes and to help by providing transport.
Organisations to receive funding are:
Metropolitan area:
Armadale: Community Adult Literacy Foundation, Ruah Community Services and Extra Edge Services Inc.
Ballajura: Channel 7 Learning Centre and The School Volunteer Program.
Belmont: Jacaranda Community Centre Inc.
Bullsbrook: Bullsbrook Neighbourhood Centre Inc.
Cannington: Extra Edge Services Inc and Sevenoaks Senior College Parents' and Citizens' Association Inc.
Carlisle: Carlisle Seniors Centre.
Claremont: Westcoast Community Centre.
Clarkson: Jobs West.
Coolbellup: Cockburn Vocational Centre (Inc).
Duncraig: Duncraig Senior High School Parent and Citizens Association Inc.
East Fremantle: Glyde-In Community Learning Centre (Inc).
East Victoria Park: Extra Edge Services Inc.
Eden Hill: Technical Aid to the Disabled WA.
Fremantle: Ruah Community Services, South Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Inc and South Metropolitan Youth Link (SMYL) Community Services.
Girrawheen: The School Volunteer Program Incorporated.
Gosnells: Ruah Community Services and South Metropolitan Youth Link (SMYL).
Hainsworth: Jobs West.
Hillarys: WESTN Employment Services.
Kelmscott: Crossways Community Services (Inc) and The School Volunteer Program Incorporated.
Kwinana: Ruah Community Services.
Lesmurdie: The St Brigid's Convent of Mercy.
Maddington: Mission Australia.
Melville: Community Adult Literacy Foundation and Channel 7 Learning Centre.
Merriwa: Channel 7 Learning Centre.
Midland: Swan Employment and Training Services, Community Adult Literacy Foundation and The School Volunteer Program Incorporated.
Mirrabooka: Edmund Rice Centre (WA).
Morley: The School Volunteer Program Incorporated.
Mosman Park: Rocky Bay Inc.
Mt Lawley: Mt Lawley Senior High School Parents and Citizens Association Inc.
Nedlands: Development Disability Council WA and Westcoast Community Centre.
Ocean Reef: Joondalup Community Church of Christ.
Peppermint Grove: Westcoast Community Centre.
Perth: Channel 7 Learning Centre and Ruah Community Services.
Rockingham: Community Adult Literacy Foundation, Mission Australia, Ruah Community Services and South Metropolitan Youth Link (SMYL) Community Services.
Subiaco: Westcoast Community Centre.
Two Rocks: Suncity Access Centre.
West Leederville: Mental Illness Fellowship of Western Australia (Lorikeet Clubhouse).
West Perth: Development Disability Council WA.
Willagee: The Gowrie.
Regional Western Australia:
Kalgoorlie: Goldfields Women's Health Care Association Inc and Burnna Yurrul Aboriginal Corporation.
Great Southern: Albany Worklink Inc, Lower Great Southern Community Living Association Inc, Over 50's Recreation Association Albany Inc, Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre Inc, Bremer Bay Community Resource Centre Inc, Denmark Telecentre Inc, Kanwork Options Centre Inc, Upper Great Southern Family Support Association Inc and the Wellstead Telecentre.
Kimberley: Broome Telecentre, Nirrumbuk Aboriginal Corporation and the Derby Business Enterprise Centre.
Mid-West and the Gascoyne: Cue Telecentre, Dongara Telecentre, Geraldton Streetwork Aboriginal Corporation, Mission Australia (Geraldton), Mingenew Community Telecentre and Shark Bay Community Resource Centre.
Peel: Serpentine Jarrahdale Telecentre Inc and Waroona Community Centre Telecentre.
Pilbara: Roebourne Telecentre.
South-West: Boyup Brook Telecentre, The School Volunteer Program Incorporated (Boyup Brook), the Bridgetown Telecentre, Mission Australia (Bunbury), Collie and District Enterprise Agency, Collie Family Centre, Donnybrook Community Telecentre, The School Volunteer Program (Donnybrook), Greenbushes Telecentre, Nannup Telecentre, Northcliffe Telecentre and Walpole Community Resources Telecentre.
Wheatbelt: Ballidu Primary School Parents and Citizens Association, Beverley Community Resource and Telecentre, Goomalling Telecentre, Kellerberrin District Telecentre, Wandering Telecentre, the Upper Great Southern Family Support Association and the Wundowie Telecentre.
Minister's office: 9213 6800
