Mr BALCH - 1998-06-16
While many Territorians use the Internet, some have never had the opportunity to log on to it. We all know that it is becoming a valuable educational tool. Is the Territory government encouraging the wider community to take advantage of the considerable infrastructure already available to Territory schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we pride ourselves as a government on the fact that our schools are community facilities. I attended 2 school functions last week at which new Territorians, who have moved to Darwin from elsewhere, commented on the fact that our schools and their facilities are far more accessible and are in better condition than those in the states from which they have come. It is the policy of this government to make those publicly-owned facilities available to all Territorians.
As the member for Jingili rightly pointed out, while Internet usage in Australia is increasing, and while the use of the Internet in the Northern Territory is among the highest in the nation, many people do not have access to a computer and the Internet or perhaps do not fully understand the best way to go about using the Internet. Those skills are being passed on to many Territorians of more mature age in night classes at Casuarina. We are working on a program, in conjunction with the federal government’s Educational Network Australia, which will see after-hours access to other school facilities. This access will allow people to come into the schools and access their computer technology to learn about the Internet. Those schools include the Alice Springs School of the Air, Jabiru Area School, Bees Creek, Berry Springs, Bradshaw, Clyde Fenton, Larapinta, Malak, Nightcliff, Papunya, Wagaman and Woodroofe primary schools, as well as the Shepherdson College and Alice Springs Community Education Centres.
This program will start next semester. In some cases, computers will be available for one night a week and, in other cases, more frequently. I commend the schools that are taking part in this program. We are more than happy to work with the federal government in this regard. It is another indication of a cooperative approach towards making this technology less mystifying to those of us who have not grown up with it. I encourage all Territorians, particularly those who have not been touched by the Internet at this stage, to take advantage of the availability of these facilities.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we pride ourselves as a government on the fact that our schools are community facilities. I attended 2 school functions last week at which new Territorians, who have moved to Darwin from elsewhere, commented on the fact that our schools and their facilities are far more accessible and are in better condition than those in the states from which they have come. It is the policy of this government to make those publicly-owned facilities available to all Territorians.
As the member for Jingili rightly pointed out, while Internet usage in Australia is increasing, and while the use of the Internet in the Northern Territory is among the highest in the nation, many people do not have access to a computer and the Internet or perhaps do not fully understand the best way to go about using the Internet. Those skills are being passed on to many Territorians of more mature age in night classes at Casuarina. We are working on a program, in conjunction with the federal government’s Educational Network Australia, which will see after-hours access to other school facilities. This access will allow people to come into the schools and access their computer technology to learn about the Internet. Those schools include the Alice Springs School of the Air, Jabiru Area School, Bees Creek, Berry Springs, Bradshaw, Clyde Fenton, Larapinta, Malak, Nightcliff, Papunya, Wagaman and Woodroofe primary schools, as well as the Shepherdson College and Alice Springs Community Education Centres.
This program will start next semester. In some cases, computers will be available for one night a week and, in other cases, more frequently. I commend the schools that are taking part in this program. We are more than happy to work with the federal government in this regard. It is another indication of a cooperative approach towards making this technology less mystifying to those of us who have not grown up with it. I encourage all Territorians, particularly those who have not been touched by the Internet at this stage, to take advantage of the availability of these facilities.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016