Vast distances across Western Australia are shrinking fast through the
use of the Telecentre Network. Small communities, some less
than 200 people, in regional areas of WA are now 'wired'
into the global community.
Friendly, shop-front Telecentres encourage
people to make use of state-of-the-art equipment: typically
computers, the Internet, two-way 128kb videoconferencing, photocopiers, facsimile
machines, printers, TV-Video machines, decoders, scanners and more.
Travel around this site to see the diverse ways that a network of
more than 100 Telecentres are opening up new
opportunities for local residents as well as visitors
and people who do business with rural and remote communities.
A business person in a country town uses the Telecentre for all of their business communications needs; an overseas visitor in rural WA uses the local Telecentre to send messages back home; students in remote areas access teachers through the Telecentre video link-up; local residents carry out banking and access Centrelink information...
Offering the largest coordinated network of Telecentres in the world,
Western Australia's network of over 100 regionally located Telecentres
open up a wealth of opportunities in a geographically vast State.
Telecentres link country Western Australia with local, regional, state, national and international trade, employment and training opportunities.
Most Telecentres have satellite receiver dishes which enable them to participate in conferences or deliver education courses such as Technical and Further Education (TAFE) material on a state, national or international basis (one way video two-way voice) through the State's Westlink satellite service.
The Telecentre network is also designed to strengthen local regional communities as each centre is initiated and managed by a local committee.
The Telecentre Network consists of:
The Telecentre Network originated from moves to improve access to adult education for people living in remote and rural Western Australia. Four trial centres equipped only with computers, a photocopier, a fax and modems were set up in 1991 and it soon became clear that such centres had the potential to act as a technology hub for a wider range of government and community services.
The stage was set for more sophisticated Telecentres which would offer not only education but many other services to assist businesses, residents and visitors to these regions. The centres were soon delivering job training programs as well as satellite linked education services. Services were widened to include a focus on business and enterprise and the rate of growth of Telecentres increased dramatically. Now under the umbrella of the Department of Local Government and Regional Development, the Telecentre Nework continues to grow in the range of services it can deliver.
