
Acting Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
MEDIA RELEASE
Major investment for Northern Territory and NSW education network
The Acting Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Rod Kemp, welcomed $8 million in Commonwealth Government funding announced today by the Prime Minister for improved education related communications networks in regional communities across the Northern Territory (NT) and New South Wales.
The funding is being provided through the National Communications Fund (NCF)-a key element of the Federal Government's response to the Telecommunications Service Inquiry. The Commonwealth's investment will be supplemented by in-kind and financial contributions of
$9 million from the project's partners.
Today's announcement means communities throughout the Northern Territory and in NSW are set to benefit from more affordable and accessible education services, through the establishment of satellite infrastructure.
The project-known as the 'NT and NSW Interactive eLearning Initiative'-will extend education services such as School-of-the-Air and TAFE Outreach programs, and provide opportunities for adults living in remote communities seeking access to further education.
From Alice Springs to Katherine and remote communities in Groote Eylandt and the Barkly Tableland, this project represents a new era in online education for more than 30,000 school students in the Territory.
The 'NT and NSW Interactive eLearning Initiative' is being delivered in the Northern Territory by Optus and the NT Department of Employment, Education and Training. More information on the project is provided in the attached fact sheet.
This project is one of eight to be granted funding as part of the $50 million in NCF funding announced in Perth today by the Prime Minister. The NCF has an important role in bridging service and infrastructure gaps in regional Australia, and demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving access to telecommunications services for all Australians-no matter where they live.
The Coalition Government has allocated more than $1 billion to improve communications and IT services around Australia through initiatives such as the highly successful Networking the Nation program that has funded over 775 projects across regional Australia worth close to $400 million.
Other measures include: mobile coverage for towns with population over 500; $50.5 million for the Regional Mobile Phones Program to provide coverage in towns under 500 and along Australia's secondary highways; funding to improve internet speeds under the Internet Assistance Program; reduced service connection times and earlier availability of interim services; $8.3 million to improve indigenous telecommunications services; and enhanced quality of service regulations through the Customer Service Guarantee and the new Network Reliability Framework.
Media contact: Sasha Grebe 02 6277 7480 or 0409 445 246
Website: www.richardalston.dcita.gov.au
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18 July 2002
New South Wales/Northern Territory Fact Sheet
New South Wales and Northern Territory Interactive eLearning Initiative-$8 million
A consortium comprising Optus, the New South Wales Department of Education and Training and the Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education and Training will deliver this project and contribute more than $9 million in direct funding and in-kind contributions to complement the Commonwealth Government funding of $8 million. The project will establish a shared broadband Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) communications infrastructure for small rural communities and isolated homesteads in the Clarence, Murray-Darling and Dubbo areas of New South Wales and the whole of the Northern Territory.
This infrastructure will deliver education services to School-of-the-Air and Distance Education students, isolated Indigenous communities, TAFE outreach students and adults seeking vocational education. Services will be delivered to about 3,700 users in
547 sites-including 239 small, isolated schools.
The project will use two-way and one-way satellite technologies to deliver broadband Internet provider services. The project will establish a new IDL satellite hub in Sydney, install backbone links to teaching studios in Port Macquarie, Dubbo, Broken Hill, Alice Springs and Darwin, and roll out new satellite equipment at
310 sites.
The technology will deliver real-time streaming video, high-resolution graphics, full duplex audio, two-way data interaction and application sharing capabilities. The courses offered will cover primary, secondary and vocational courses, including courses that are currently difficult or impossible to offer in remote and rural settings. TAFE courses to be delivered will be specific to the requirements of the target market-as identified in market research. Indigenous education courses focus on literacy, numeracy, communication skills, ICT skills and key competencies.
Contact:
Stephen Woodhill
General Manager Corporate Affairs
Optus Pty Ltd
Ph: 02 9342 7850
Click here for further information about the National Communications Fund
Note: all funding allocations detailed in the attachment are subject to negotiation of a satisfactory funding agreement with each applicant