More than $40,000 of state government funds has been poured into the Rodney Electorate, with Echuca’s Neighbourhood House and Stanhope’s District Development Committee (SDDC) both recipients of much needed information technology grants.
Member for Rodney, Paul Weller announced the funding this week as part of the Coalition Government’s Community Information and Communications (ICT) Technology Skills Grants program.
“Many people living in rural communities often experience ICT exclusion because of their economic status – not everyone can afford a computer or an internet connection - and these funds will help bridge the gap for members of the community with little or no access to computers or ICT training,” he said.
Echuca’s Neighbourhood House has received $25,000 through the Community ICT Skills Grants program to fund the replacement of out-dated computers, upgrade its community website and provide free ICT training to its student community.
“We are wrapped and very happy with the funds… now we can both improve and expand,” Echuca Neighbourhood House Coordinator, Liz O’Byrne said.
“We have plans to upgrade our website, revamp our logo and improve teaching facilities across the board,” she said.
Importantly, the not-for-profit organisation hopes to attract new students and now has the ability to offer support with the cost of transport and child care.
The Stanhope and District Development Committee (SDDC) is thrilled with its funding windfall, according to secretary, Bob Holschier.
The self-funded group has plans to replace and upgrade old computers to provide an improved level of internet access and ICT training to members of the Stanhope community.
The funds will be directly channelled to the Stanhope Business Centre (SBC) to offer an improved standard of ICT facilities.
“The SBC is very much the hub of the community and we are thrilled to be able to upgrade our computers as well as all software and modems,” Mr Holschier said.
The SBC provides services and information based facilities to all members of the Stanhope community, including senior citizens, tradespeople, tourists and backpackers, disadvantaged groups and local businesses.
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