WorkVentures Conducts Computer Maintenance Course

WorkVentures in association with the AMP Foundation and Microsoft, sent the Divisional Manager of Sydney ITeC Repair Centre, Ralph Gatt, to Hope Vale to teach a group of young people how to repair and build computers. Ralph returned in April, 2008 to complete the course and the participants who could successfully build and repair the computer were rewarded with a computer to keep for their own use.

With the aim of the project is to assist the community along the road of self reliance, WorkVentures donated 15 refurbished computers to the Council for the new Indigenous Knowledge Centre and left a supply of spare parts for ongoing maintenance. Microsoft through the Unlimited Potential program supplied the Council with software licences for the machines.

Bob Magid hosts dinner for Hope Vale Council

Bob Magid, hosted a meeting with the Hope Vale Shire Council at the Cairns International Hotel to discuss the location of the new joint Indigenous Knowledge Centre and Community Technology Centre in Hope Vale.

The Council members agreed at that meeting to make available the Jack Bambie centre, which was purpose built as a training centre, but due to the shortage of buildings had become a temporary council chambers.

SJB Architects in Melbourne offered to assist with plans for the layout of the centre.

Dot.Com.Mob Website

We are the Dot.Com.Mob

The Internet, World Wide Web, information superhighway, and cyberspace are all words used to describe an exciting and fun learning tool.

At the touch of a keyboard or the click of a mouse it is possible to listen to music, find assistance with your science projects, watch a movie trailer, or send electronic messages by e-mail, instant messages, or chat, to a friend across the street, in another town, or another country.

Check out our links to deadly web sites. These sites are sites we like and we hope they will get you started on your journey through the Internet.

Support from The Honourable Rod Welford MP

March 2007 – The Local member for Cook, Jason O’Brien and the DOT.COM.MOB, sought support from the Minister for Art, Education and Training to open an Indigenous Knowledge Centre (IKC) in Hope Vale where the Community Technology Centre could be part of a more comprehensive Community Learning Centre.

The aims of the Hope Vale Indigenous Knowledge and Technology Centre will be to:

1. support recording, sharing and secure access for local Indigenous knowledge,
2. provide access to knowledge from the wider world via the Internet and other materials,
3. raise literacy, information literacy skills and Information and Communication Technology (ITC) skills across the community by providing exposure and access to training and materials,
4. offer training and support to community members engaged in gathering and recording cultural knowledge,
5. create opportunities for the kind of recreational activities that can be encompassed in a library setting, for groups across the community.

Top Architect donates his services

Charles Justin from SJB Architects in Melbourne has offered to assist Hope Vale Aboriginal Council with plans for new community learning centre.

Dot.Com.Mob Agreement with Hope Vale Shire Council

Hope Shire Council passes a Resolution of support at their Council meeting held 14 Dec 2006 to partner with the DOT.COM.MOB to develop a community learning centre.

The resolution states that the Council will make available, where possible, the necessary facilities for the purpose of developing a learning centre in Hope Vale. This facility will encourage the use of computers and other electronic devices for education and learning to assist community members in the development and enhancement of their computer skills.

The centre will promote the use of technologies such as computers and associated software with the aim of building self confidence and esteem as well as other benefits to community members.

Microsoft Unlimited Potential Training at Hope Vale

Following the visit of the DOT.COM.MOB to Hope Vale and thanks to funding
provided by Microsoft under the Unlimited Potential program, WorkVentures trained
local volunteers from Hope Vale so they in turn could train others in the community.'

Microsoft has also provided software and interactive computer learning material
through the community Technology Centre in Cape York so that the locally trained
volunteers can build the skills of others in the community.

Students pass on their IT skills to others in Hope Vale

In July 2006, five students from Djarragun College visited Hope Vale Aboriginal Community in Cape York as tutors to pass on their IT skills and show others the exciting potential of the Internet.

Young people from Hope Vale Aboriginal Community were chosen to pair-up with the students of Djarragun to learn how to send emails, surf the Internet, make posters, business cards and telephone calls through Skype.

Online Introduction to Computers course run by JobFind to demonstrate the learning tools available to students in remote locations. The teacher for this course was in Tasmania and the young people enjoyed a week of learning where the teacher could remotely control their computers.