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| Minister Announces Second Wave Boost for Online Communities |
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 Marsha Thomson MP |
Media release
From the Minister for Information and Communication Technology
Thursday April 14, 2005
The Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, said 22 peak bodies and community groups would share the funding - the fourth round of grants under the program. Each group has been given between $10,000 and $30,000, over two years, for their projects.
More than 300 new online groups will be established under this funding round.
"My Connected Community is an important program, helping community groups come together to share ideas, interests and build Internet skills and experience online," Ms Thomson said.
"This new funding helps community groups all over Victoria establish websites, publish online, network with members, extend their online activities and most importantly, communicate with like-minded people elsewhere via the internet.
"People with a disability, senior Victorians, including seniors from a non-English speaking background, unemployed people and those outside the education system and workforce and recent migrants would all benefit from the program."
To date, 2800 online groups have been established under the My Connected Community program, with more than 38,000 registered users.
"The key objective of My Connected Community is to stimulate the development of online groups of interest within Victoria. To this end, all online facilities of the program are available to all organisations to use free of charge," Ms Thomson said.
"The Victorian Government is committed to ensuring all Victorians have the chance to reap the benefits of accessing the world wide web. We are committed to providing access points and training to help develop people's internet skills and want to support the development of relevant online content."
My Connected Community is one of several programs under the Government's Connecting Communities: the Second Wave policy.
The 22 successful applicants under the fourth round of My Connected Community funding are:
Carers Victoria (Footscray)
Carers Victoria will receive $30,000 to establish 15 online groups supporting carers of people with disabilities across Victoria. The aim of the project will be to reduce the barriers carers face and provide linkages and information sharing between members of the carers groups across the state.
Carringbush Adult Education (Richmond)
Carringbush Adult Education will receive $30,000 to establish 15 online groups focusing on residents of the Collingwood Housing Estate in particular, senior Victorians including those seniors from a non-English speaking background, unemployed and those outside the education system and workforce and recent migrants. The project will aim to increase online skills and provide a supporting environment where information can be shared.
Continuing Education Centre (Albury Wodonga) Ltd (Wodonga)
Continuing Education Centre (Albury Wodonga) Ltd will receive $30,000 to establish 20 online groups focusing on seniors Victorians, including those seniors from a non-English speaking background, people with a disability, unemployed and those outside the education system and workforce including disadvantaged youth. The aim the online groups is to communicate, share information and facilitate information management within groups.
Disabled Motorists Association (Coburg)
Disabled Motorists Association will receive $30,000 to establish 16 groups, including 10 in rural regions. The project will target people with disabilities including senior Victorians with a disability from a non-English speaking background. The project will aim to provide communication, representation, networking and resources to reduce isolation.
Diversitat (Geelong West)
Diversitat (formerly the Geelong Ethnic Communities Council) will receive $30,000 to establish 17 online groups targeting senior Victorians from a non-English speaking background. The project will be operating out of the local community radio station in Geelong (94.7 The Pulse) which caters to 12 ethnic communities and will aim to reduce social isolation.
Goldfields Employment and Learning Centre (Maryborough)
Goldfields Employment and Learning Centre will receive $30,000 to establish 20 online groups targeting Senior Victorians and unemployed and those outside the education system and workforce including disadvantaged youth. The project will offer access across the 5 Goldfield Online Centres aiming to assist groups to overcome communication problems created by lack of public transport or due to physical or financial hardship.
MADEC (Mildura and District Educational Council) (Mildura)
MADEC will receive $30,000 to establish 20 online groups targeting recent migrants, senior Victorians and unemployed and those outside the education system and workforce. The project will aim to promote and develop an online presence within Sunraysia to enable better access to tools and services to the online groups.
Melbourne City Mission (Melbourne)
Melbourne City Mission will receive $30,000 to establish 15 online groups targeting people with disabilities in particular people with Acquired Brain Injuries and people from a non-English speaking background. The project will aim to reduce isolation, allow for rapid information exchange, expose members new networks and allow for social connectedness.
Midland Support Services Inc (Castlemaine)
Midland Support Services Inc will receive $30,000 to establish 22 online groups targeting people with a disability facing social and employment barriers. The project is a partnership project across the community and will aim to provide improved interaction and communication.
Peninsula Adult Education & Literacy (Rosebud)
Peninsula Adult Education & Literacy will receive $30,000 to establish 15 online groups. A joint submission involving Mornington Peninsula Shire, Southern Central Migrant Resource Centre and various community centres across the Mornington Peninsula targeting people with a disability, Senior Victorians including NESB. The project will aim be to strengthen existing community networks and to build new online communication opportunities for groups who have not been able to access the skills to use the Internet.
Scope (Glenroy)
Scope will receive $30,000 to establish a statewide project. A total of 15 online groups to be created targeting people with a disability, their families and carers. The aim of the project will be to allow those with a disability the opportunity to communicate with alike people.
The Salvation Army (Bendigo)
The Salvation Army will receive $30,000 to establish 20 online groups targeting unemployed people and those outside the education system and workforce and senior Victorians. The aim of the project will be to enhance and extend the service's the organisation currently provides to the public.
The Smith Family (Collingwood)
The Smith Family will receive $30,000 to establish 25 online groups targeting senior Victorian women. This statewide project will continue working with existing and new members and will aim to carry on promoting voice, interest and education for women through the formation of online groups.
Victorian Co-operative on Children's Services for Ethnic Groups (VICSEG) (Coburg)
Victorian Co-operative on Children's Services for Ethnic Groups (VICSEG) will receive $30,000 to establish 25 online groups. The project will target recent migrants including refugee women and senior Victorians, unemployed and those outside the education system and workforce including disadvantaged youth. The aim of the project is to assist these minority groups to share ideas, experiences and friendships and provide them with the opportunity to gain new skills allowing them to make stronger connections with their ethnic and mainstream communities and break down the isolation.
Brunswick Neighbourhood House (Brunswick)
Brunswick Neighbourhood House will receive $10,000 to establish 5 online groups targeting senior Victorians including senior people from a non-English speaking background, recent migrants, unemployed people and those outside the education system and workforce including disadvantaged youth and people with a disability. The project will aim to provide skills, support, information and awareness raising in communicating online.
Katamatite Primary School (Katamatite)
Katamatite Primary School will receive $10,000 to establish 7 online groups. The project will operate out of the school providing training and access. The project will target senior Victorians. The aim of the project is to reduce isolation, promote cohesiveness and build friendships.
Mallacoota District Health and Support Service (Mallacoota)
Mallacoota District Health and Support Service will receive $10,000 to establish 5 online groups. The key target groups are unemployed and those outside the education system and workforce (including disadvantaged youth), people with a disability and senior Victorians. The project will aim to provide opportunities for groups in the community to change and improve their methods of communication to improve their skills and reduce the isolation of individuals within these groups.
Spina Bifida Association of Victoria (Altona Meadows)
Spina Bifida Association of Victoria will receive $10,000 to establish 5 online groups targeting people with a disability. The aim of the project will be to bring the groups online to improve communication and reduce isolation. The project will allow the organisation to provide a consistent, reliable and extendable method of reaching community members and open the opportunities to them.
Southvale Primary School (Noble Park)
Southvale Primary School will receive $10,000 to establish 6 online groups targeting senior Victorians from a non-English Speaking Background including people from Vietnamese, Thai, Cantonese and Mandarin speaking backgrounds. The project will aim to promote the groups within the community, increase learning opportunities and build the self esteem of members.
St Arnaud Community Resource Centre (St Arnaud)
St Arnaud Community Resource Centre will receive $10,000 to establish 5 online groups targeting people with a disability, unemployed people and those outside the education system and workforce and senior Victorians. The aim of the project will be to give people the skills to improve their social interaction between people with similar interests.
The Deafblind Association (Camberwell)
The Deafblind Association will receive $10,000 to establish 2 online groups targeting people who are deaf, blind, vision impaired, hearing impaired and combinations of the preceding groups. The project will aim to establish groups to allow members to meet and interact, alleviate isolation and disseminate information.
Trudewind Rd Neighbourhood House (Wodonga)
Trudewind Rd Neighbourhood House will receive $10,000 to establish 9 online groups. The project will target senior Victorians and people with a disability including those suffering from mental illness. The aim of the project will be to enhance the way the groups communicate, improve the ability to share information, increase their memberships, assist groups to promote themselves and to reduce the isolation of members.
For further information, see the Project Partner section of the mc² website.
For more information about Connecting Communities: the Second Wave or the Achievements of Connecting Communities go to www.mmv.vic.gov.au/communities
Media Releases regarding Connecting Communities: the second wave:
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