E-Hub opens up e-learning opportunities at Hillcrest Aboriginal Community
Friday 28th October
A community e-learning centre, the e-Hub to be launched on the New South Wales (NSW) north coast on Friday 28 October is presenting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a myriad of e-learning opportunities.
The e-Hub, located at the Ulugundahi Island Elders building in Maclean’s Hillcrest Community will provide easy access to a range of e-learning courses from the nearby Maclean Campus of TAFE NSW-North Coast Institute (NCI) and other online courses available through a range of TAFEs and training providers around the country.
Through the e-Hub, learners will be able to complete Certificates I, II and III in Aboriginal media and communication and Statements of Attainment (SOA) in Aboriginal vocational education focusing on Aboriginal arts, culture and tourism as well as carpentry, painting and decorating. Core elements of Certificate I in Information and Technology will also be incorporated into a selected studies program.
The e-Hub will incorporate an e-learning support centre staffed by e-learning supervisors on a rotational basis. The supervisors will comprise members of the local community who have been training in e-learning practices and staff members of Maclean TAFE Campus.
With funding and support provided by the 2005 Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s (2005 Framework) Indigenous Engagement Project, the e-Hub is the first of two community e-learning centres planned for the region. A second e-Hub at Pippi Beach, Yamba is expected to be completed within the next 6 months.
The 2005 Framework’s Indigenous Engagement Project aims to build on the work already being carried out in Indigenous communities, and to further strengthen the role of local people and their communities to better access e-learning training opportunities that will increase employment outcomes.
To meet its objectives, Maclean TAFE Campus has partnered with the North Coast Computer Project (NCCP), a community program which supplies refurbished computers that are Internet ready to the residents of the NSW North Coast. NCCP supplied and installed eight computers at the Hillcrest e-Hub.
Simon Dickinson, Head Teacher for General Education at NCI’s Maclean Campus, and who is co-managing the project said:
“The e-Hub is the culmination of a lot of hard work by local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The community involvement in the planning of the e-Hub has been fantastic and the project received great support from local businesses.
Representing the Australian Government, the Member for Page, Ian Causley MP, said:
"The e-Hub will provide an opportunity for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to take full advantage of e-learning and assist them to complete their vocational training."
Rhonda Appo, Project Manager for the 2005 Framework’s Indigenous Engagement Project said:
“E-learning is making significant inroads in Indigenous communities around Australia. Today, the Hillcrest community e-Hub is a reflection of that and I believe it will be a wonderful example of the training options available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people nationwide.”
