Senator the Hon Jan McLucas
Senator for Queensland

Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity

Townsville in the Digital Age

A new service to help the Townsville community take full advantage of the National Broadband Network (NBN) was launched today.

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy and Queensland Senator, Jan McLucas congratulated Townsville City Council, CityLibraries and the Business Success Group Pty Ltd who will deliver the new Digital Hub and Digital Enterprise services.

These are the first Digital Hub and Digital Enterprise services to be launched nationally.

The services will assist the community to gain the skills needed to maximise the benefits of the NBN and encourage greater participation in the digital economy.

Located in the Aitkenvale Library, Senator McLucas said the Townsville Digital Hub will provide training to local residents and the opportunity to experience NBN-enabled services and technology.

“Our local Digital Hub will allow the people of Townsville to experience the capabilities and practical benefits of high-speed broadband,” Senator McLucas said.

“The NBN will change the way we live and work here in the North.

“Townsville is at the forefront of this exciting technology, so it is important that locals fully realise the benefits and opportunities it can bring – whether this in our homes, our schools and universities, in our health services or our local businesses.”

Digital Hubs are being established in the 40 communities to first benefit from the NBN.

The Townsville Digital Enterprise provider, Business Success Group, will deliver free group training seminars and one-on-one advice to small and medium sized businesses and not-for-profit organisations on how to improve their online presence and maximise the opportunities of the NBN.

The training will assist local businesses to be more competitive and increase their means of communicating with customers and suppliers online. It will also assist not-for-profit organisations to engage more effectively online, to expand their reach into the community and better service their clients.

Senator Conroy said the rollout of the education program in March would offer a range of classes and information sessions for residents.

“A full time trainer has been employed to deliver the program which covers a range of topics from internet basics through to social networking and techniques with film and photographs.

“So far there have been more than 5000 logons to the network since it was established in December. I have no doubt the popularity of the digital hub will grow as the program develops and people begin to embrace this new technology.”

The Digital Hubs and Digital Enterprise programs support the National Digital Economy Strategy's goal that Australia will be among the world's leading digital economies by 2020.

“The Gillard Government is committed to ensuring Australian households and businesses, through the NBN, can receive the full benefits of the digital economy no matter where they live around Australia,” Senator Conroy said.

“Building the NBN is a key step towards that vision, which has as one of its goals Australia being among the top five OECD countries by 2020 when it comes to the percentage of households connected to broadband at home.”

To find out more about the Digital Hubs and Digital Enterprise programs visit: www.dbcde.gov.au/digitalhubs and www.dbcde.gov.au/digitalenterprise

Date: 25 February 2012

Senator McLucas’ Office: Belinda Featherstone 0408 743 457
Senator Conroy’s Office: Philip Dalidakis 0406 202 343
Townsville Digital Hub: Susan Coker 0437 634 842