A Telecentre is a friendly local community centre equipped with high tech facilities.
A typical Telecentre has computers the Internet and email facilities, two-way 128kb videoconferencing, photocopiers, fax machines, printers TV and video machines, decoders, scanners and much more depending on the needs of the community.
Some Telecentres also house local businesses and services. Every Telecentre is different - some are hubs for tourism and heritage programs, others house complementary small businesses such as secretarial, agribusiness consultancies or publishing services. Still other centres are part of local libraries, craft shops or venue hire.
You can do almost anything. Telecentres bring new opportunities to rural and remote people. You can:
- Do a degree or TAFE course - Many Telecentres are linked to universities, TAFE colleges and adult education programs. Students use their Telecentre as a study base receiving lectures by video and completing assignments using Telecentre facilities
- Do a professional development course - You can participate in professional development through video conferencing or the Internet. Many rural professionals such as doctors and nurses have found this very valuable
- Enhance your job skills - In today's workplace familiarity with current technology is essential. You can bring your job skills up to date by practising at your local Telecentre
- Participate in a conference - All Telecentres have satellite receiver dishes that enable them to participate in conferences on a state, national or international basis (one way video two-way voice) through the State's Westlink satellite service.
- Publish a newsletter or local paper - Use your Telecentre's desktop publishing facilities to produce a newspaper for your local community, club or special interest group
- Start your own business - You can start a business using a Telecentre as your office. There's no need to invest in expensive office equipment - just use your Telecentre's
- Do business with the government - Some Telecentres act as agent for programs such as Centrelink. Forms and brochures are stocked and referrals can be arranged
- Do your banking - Some Telecentres act as agents for banks and can conduct a limited range of everyday banking functions
- Email around the world - Tourists and visitors to WA as well as local residents can use their local Telecentre to keep in touch with the rest of the world.
All Telecentres are independent incorporated bodies owned by the communities in which they operate. A part time coordinator operates the Telecentre under the direction of the local Management Committee.
