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Bridging the digital divide

The Great South Coast Group has welcomed the Victorian Government’s investment into digital hubs across the region.

The Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes recently announced that, through the Great South Coast Regional Partnership, the Victorian Government would invest $100,000 to investigate the development of a network of community digital hubs across the region.

Improving digital connectivity to help deliver improvements in education attainment is among the goals of the Great South Coast Group, an alliance of local councils including the municipalities of Moyne, Glenelg, Corangamite, Southern Grampians and Warrnambool.

Chair of the Great South Coast Group, Councillor Tony Herbert, said,

“This is tremendous news for our region.

“One of the priorities of the Great South Coast Group is to establish digital education and regional learning hubs in Hamilton and Portland.

“We have made a submission to the Victorian Government seeking $8.5 million over four years to create digital hubs to enable better education outcomes and reduce the digital divide.

“The Great South Coast Group has also made personal representations to other levels of government which included a recent delegation to Canberra.

“The investment by the State gets the ball rolling on this important project.

“Improved connectivity will help us get more students through Year 12 and beyond.

“And a key element to developing and retaining a skilled workforce in our region is improving connectivity.

“It can help make skills development more accessible and affordable by reducing the need for travel or relocation to other centres to undertaken training.

“We look forward to working with the Victorian Government to help deliver this project.”

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