An information technology training program developed in partnership by Victoria’s La Trobe Shire and Monash University’s Centre for Electronic Commerce ensures the benefits of new technology are shared by a much greater number of people, recreating the Gippsland region as an IT aware community.
La Trobe Shire’s Group Manager Corporate Services Paul Buckley said the program, titled ‘The NetWorking Dog’, has been designed to capture those people who could not see the relevance of the internet, email and other technologies in their daily lives.
“It is also designed with the specific needs of regional communities in mind,” he said. “The working dog theme was used because of regional Australia’s tradition of working hard and working smart.”
The Shire engaged the services of the Gippsland campus of Monash University to design and deliver the program which comprises a generic package that can be tailored to meet the needs of other regional communities. It incorporates an appealing character and graphic theme to make online services approachable.
“We treat IT as an accepted part of life in the here and now, rather than as part of a continuum of communication tools or of a future which will be vastly different from the present,” Paul Buckley said.
Local demand for the program during the two month trial period outstripped the materials available, which included 14,000 workbooks and over 30 workshops. More than 100 organisations cooperated to deliver the program and distribute materials.
Paul Buckley said the program has brought many benefits to the La Trobe community. These include an improved relationship between the Shire and the Gippsland campus of Monash University and a raised profile for both institutions in the community.
More importantly, it has created a vast group of ‘electronically aware’ citizens among farmers, businesses, community groups and families in La Trobe. The program design utilises the basic principle of simplicity in delivery, packaging and marketing to keep the cost to a minimum. It includes high quality animated TV advertisements and self help display posters.
A NetWorking Dog website, www.networkingdog.net.au, provides central support to individuals and regions using the program. Ongoing developments are being made including an improved web product range and production of a short video, which includes tips to enhance country based businesses using electronic commerce.
The Commonwealth Government’s Networking the Nation provided the bulk of the half million dollar funding for the project with La Trobe Shire contributing $100,000. In addition, the Shire and the Monash University Centre for Electronic Commerce contributed significant in kind support.
The program is available for purchase, for further information contact Wayne Dears on (03) 5122 6941
