With computers now a standard tool in the workplace, Leichhardt Municipal Council is encouraging all staff to become more computer literate.One way of achieving this was to make the purchase of a home computer affordable by providing an interest free loan to staff, re payable over 18 months.
Having access to a home computer enables staff to devote time to learning more about the computer applications they use at work.
Council’s IT manager, Hanna Willock, organised for several computer companies to offer competitive personal computer packages. Council then made an interest free loan of $2,500 available to interested staff to purchase a suitable computer.
Owning a computer helps staff develop computer literacy, which brings benefits both for Council and staff – Council has a skilled workforce and staff have better opportunities.
The project is innovative in that it provides another avenue for Council staff to gain computer skills. The scheme has been running for three years and approximately twenty people per year utilise the scheme.
For further information contact Hanna Willock, telephone (02) 9367 9395.
