On Wednesday 15 February inDigiMOB will celebrate the wrap up of its pilot year and embark on the rollout of the next phase to new communities in the Northern Territory.
inDigiMOB, a partnership between the Indigenous Remote Communications Association (IRCA) and Telstra, aims to bridge the digital divide in remote communities through informal peer-to-peer digital skills training that values the experience and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“As more of our daily actions and activities move online, being able to use digital technologies brings a growing range of important benefits, especially for Indigenous people in remote locations who often experience significant barriers to digital inclusion,” says IRCA General Manager Daniel Featherstone.
During its pilot year in Arlparra and the Alice Springs town camps, inDigiMOB’s multi-pronged and flexible approach responded to specific community needs and built upon existing projects to support residents on their digital journey.
“We want to see all Australians connect, participate and interact safely in the digital world, irrespective of where they live – which is what this program is all about. To help expand the reach of inDigiMOB, Telstra will donate a brand new lease vehicle to IRCA for the duration of the partnership,” says Telstra Fleet Operations Manager, Steve Ellis.
Program data was collected throughout the pilot year to help instantly identify the most effective delivery models and will shape the rollout and implementation of inDigiMOB into new remote communities in the Territory in 2017.
Community partners, Batchelor Institute and Tangentyere Council, have also committed to continue inDigiMOB in both Arlparra and the Alice Springs town camps based on the evaluation of the pilot year. For more information about inDigiMOB and to access the pilot year evaluation report visit http://irca.net.au/indigimob
Join the celebration at the Telegraph Station in Alice Springs on Wednesday 15 February at 12.30pm. A light lunch will be provided. To attend the event contact Maor Bar-Ziv on 0430 228 555 or [email protected].
Media contact: Jalyay Jaja Thompson | [email protected] | 0431 629 953 IRCA General Manager Daniel Featherstone is available for interviews. Photo credit (photo attached): TO Harold Nelson at the inDigiMOB Launch in Arlparra © 2016 IRCA. Photography Kyle Dowling, CAAMA.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY
What: Media are invited to attend, photograph and film the handover of the Telstra vehicle to IRCA. A light lunch will be provided.
Who: IRCA General Manager, Daniel Featherstone Telstra Fleet Operations Manager, Steve Ellis inDigiMOB Facilitators and Participants (IRCA to coordinate permissions)
Where: Alice Springs Telegraph Station, Herbert Heritage Drive, Stuart NT 0870
When: 12.30pm to 1pm - Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Event contact: To attend the event contact Maor Bar-Ziv on 0430 228 555 or [email protected]