Thursday 6 September 2007
Clever Networks smart solutions for remote Northern Territory education and health
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, today announced funding of $4.5 million for a new satellite – based network to provide improved broadband services for education and health in remote communities in the Northern Territory.
The new SkyConnect network will support delivery of advanced tele-education and tele-health applications to remote communities and homesteads across the Territory which lack effective terrestrial connections. The rollout of the increased bandwidth will be provided, at lower cost, to 54 schools, 24 health clinics, 16 Charles Darwin University vocational education centres and 160 School of the Air sites.
Senator Coonan said the project includes the establishment of a new interactive distance learning laboratory at Charles Darwin University’s Alice Springs campus, which will be dedicated to the delivery of vocational education and training to remote communities.
“SkyConnect will allow teachers, students and parents to engage more effectively and extensively in collaborative virtual classrooms.
“SkyConnect will provide an improved interactive learning environment for School of the Air students situated at 160 remote localities, including homesteads, in the Northern Territory. The new generation satellite technology will allow teachers to see their students and their work online for the first time.
Senator Coonan said SkyConnect will also support Schools without Borders, where expert teachers will deliver specialist secondary subjects to students in small, remote schools. It will expand delivery of secondary and vocational education programs to meet the specific needs and desires of individual communities.
“Innovative use of broadband is essential for delivery of quality education and health services to the most remote areas of Australia.
“It is the most effective way to deliver specialist services and information and professional support services to isolated teachers and health workers.”
Through SkyConnect, Remote Health Services workers will have access to clinical information systems, knowledge based resources and online training and information support services. It will provide opportunities for provision of telemedicine, allowing specialist medical staff to assist in diagnosis and treatment of patients in remote communities via videoconference links.
The Northern Territory’s Department of Employment, Education and Training will head a consortium including the Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services and Charles Darwin University, who will together contribute $7.6 million to the SkyConnect project.
“This project builds on the Northern Territory and New South Wales Interactive eLearning initiative, funded through the Australian Government’s National Communications Fund,” said Senator Coonan.
Clever Networks is a $113 million Australian Government program that will see improved delivery of services in regional, rural and remote Australia through innovative broadband projects.
More information about Clever Networks is available at www.dcita.gov.au/clevernetworks
Media Contact: Katherine Meier 0417 441 141