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Tuesday 28 August 2007

Clever Networks: helping the Bush Schools Network in rural, regional and remote WA

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan today announced funding of $4.1 million for broadband infrastructure in 88 Catholic and independent schools in rural, regional and remote Western Australia.

The Bush Schools Network project is being managed by the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, in partnership with the Association of Independent Schools of WA and the Western Australian Department of Industry and Resources.

Senator Coonan said the funding would improve the educational opportunities for 16 300 students.

“I welcome the close cooperation of the Catholic and independent school systems, as they include as many schools as possible in the project,” Senator Coonan said.

“As a priority, the project will target the 24 most isolated and disadvantaged schools, which currently have very limited access to communications technology.”

These schools, whose students are predominantly Indigenous, are located in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields-Esperance areas of Western Australia and are too remote to be served by terrestrial links. They will receive new or upgraded satellite services to allow students to participate in the online learning services offered by the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia at an affordable cost.

Learning portals will enhance the classroom experience and enable communication across vast distances.  Indigenous students value the independence and interactivity of Internet-based learning, which taps into the aural, oral and visual traditions of Aboriginal culture.

Management and support of the schools’ ICT infrastructure will be undertaken through a remote management system that has already proved successful in pilot testing.

Senator Coonan said providing these schools with broadband infrastructure also opens up ICT services for the communities in which they are located.

“The Catholic Education Office of Western Australia is currently trialling the extension of internet connections to other service providers, such as the bush store and the art centre, in two remote communities.

“A robust communications network in a remote community offers more opportunity to its young people and provides a strong base for achieving economic sustainability.

“The Bush Schools Network will improve and upgrade broadband infrastructure that will benefit not only educational communities, but rural and remote communities as well,” Senator Coonan said.

The remaining 64 schools in the Bush Schools Network will have their broadband connectivity upgraded to bring them as close as possible to the standards enjoyed by metropolitan schools.

Clever Networks is a $113 million Australian Government program that will see smart solutions to improve delivery of services in regional, rural and remote Australia through innovative broadband projects.

Successful projects to receive Clever Networks first round funding will include virtual healthcare, remotely accessible interactive education services, and delivery of integrated state-wide emergency services.

More information about specific projects will become available as each successful project is announced.

More information about Clever Networks is available at www.dcita.gov.au/clevernetworks

Media Contact: Katherine Meier 0417 441 141