 Enter keywords into the search field to begin a search of TCO and all Online Access Centres in Tasmania.  |
| ||||||||||||
|
|
March 1998 TCO Project Team Appointed The TCO Project Team was first appointed in March 1998 to implement the State Government's successful application to the Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund and build a network of up to 70 Online Access Centres across Tasmania. May 1998 First Centre Opens in Devonport The first Online Access Centre in Tasmania was opened in Devonport on 25 May 1998. The Devonport Online Access Centre was established in the foyer of the Devonport Library, adjacent to the Service Tasmania Shop. November 1998 22 More Centres to Join The Network On November 14th the TCO Project was able to place advertisements in Tasmanian regional newspapers calling for applications from communities for 22 more Online Access Centres. This was made possible by the acceptance of phase two project submission by the Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board. November 1998 Premier Goes Online Jim Bacon may be the first State Premier in Australia to go Online to his constituents. This event took place at 4 pm on Online Day. The Premier called in to Meander Online Access Centre where the computers had been set up with ICQ Chat facility. January 1999 New Northern Facilitator David Godfrey-Smith has been appointed to the position of Northern Facilitator, taking over from Kevin Stocks who so ably filled the position in the interim since Peter Richardson was appointed as the Senior Librarian in Launceston. David has recently returned from Canada where he has been living and working for the last 20 years and comes to the project with a rich background in IT and community development. March 1999 Inaugural State-Wide Conference Over 120 delegates attended the first Statewide Conference in Deloraine to discuss management and sustainability issues. This highly successful Conference was organised by the Deloraine Online Access Centre Management Committee. April 1999 Work For the Dole Launched in Southern Tasmania A total of twelve Work for the Dole participants commenced a 26 week period in six southern Online Access Centres. The initiative was a partnership with Hobart Senior Secondary College to deliver a nationally recognised accredited course in Information Technology. Centres received cash grants of approximately $2,500 per participant for the training. June 1999 TCO Launches “Best Practice” Program The TCO Project was successful in attracting a "Facilitating Best Practice" Grant from the Department of Family and Community Services. The grant was used to provide an opportunity for the Phase 1 Online Access Centre co-ordinators to work for one week in industry developing their web design, multi media and IT skills. Co-ordinators were then provide two days of web publishing workshops to local non-profit community organisations to encourage them to develop a web publishing presence. The project was also aimed at developing partnerships with members of the Tasmanian IT industry. November 1999 Second State-Wide Conference Conducted in Launceston, the second state-wide conference was attended by over 75 staff, volunteers and management committee representatives. The primary focus of the conference was e-Commerce, with a secondary focus on sustainability strategies. The conference also took significant steps towards formation of a state wide association for online access centres (OACAT). April 2000 Work For The Dole Award The TCO Project has received a commendation in the National Work for the Dole Awards. The Certificate was presented to Project Manager, Judith Timbs, by Senator Paul Calvert on Mach 31st 2000 at the opening of the Margate Online Access Centre. Through a unique arrangement between TCO and Hobart Senior Secondary College, participants were able to study for an accredited Certificate in Information Technology. TCO was shortlisted in the top ten Work for the Dole Projects around Australia, selected from over 100 entries. April 2000 Peak Body Formed for OACs The Online Access Centres Association of Tasmania (OACAT) was incorporated in April 2000 with the charter to support the OAC network through sourcing additional funding and providing training to support revenue generating activities. April 2000 Fourteen New Centres Open Fourteen new Online Access Centres opened between late January and 7 April 2000, bringing the number around Tasmania to 59. Five more sites are expected to be announced shortly, bringing the total to 64, before the implementation phase of the Project is completed. April 2000 Two New Community Facilitators The TCO Project Team has welcomed two new Community Facilitators in the last few weeks. John Tucker, a teacher and manager of Ulverstone Primary School's network of 100 computers has set up a new office in Devonport Library and taken over North West Facilitator duties. Graham Rae has been appointed at Community Facilitator for the south. Graham is no stranger to the TCO Project as he has been Chairperson at D'Entrecasteaux Online. November 2000 Commonwealth Bank Sponsors TCO Network At a ceremony at the Woodbridge Online Access Centre, the first $500,000 installment of a $1.5 million three-year sponsorship for the TCO network was handed to the Minister, the Hon. Paula Wriedt MHA by Ms Jill Lester, Manager, Corporate Operations, Commonwealth Bank of Australia. November 2000 60th Centre Opens Campbell Town became the sixtieth Online Access Centre to open on Friday 24th November The centre is located at the Campbell Town District High School and is a little different from other centres in that it is collocated with a Skills Centre. The Centre's coordinator is employed by the school to manage both facilities. The community provides input to the strategic direction and policy for the Centre through a community advisory committee. August 2001 64th Online Access Centre Opened in Kingston The 64th and final Online Access Centre in the TCO network was officially opened by Minister for Education, the Hon Paula Wriedt MHA and Senator the Hon Richard Alston, at Kingston on Friday 17th August 2001. The Kingston Centre is an innovative co-location of the public library, Enterprise Centre and Online Access Centre. |
|
