More than one thousand tenants on the Collingwood public housing estate will soon have affordable access to wireless broadband, thanks to the Wired Community @ Collingwood initiative, back by the Brumby Government.

Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the $3.6 million scheme brought the Government together with philanthropic groups to help bridge the digital divide for tenants on the estate.

“The Brumby Government is taking action for local communities and our contribution of $1.9 million will help tenants on the Collingwood estate get access to internet resources and the skills to use them,” Mr Wynne said.

“The Wired Community @ Collingwood initiative is the largest project of its kind in Australia. It delivers a free, donated and network-ready computer into every apartment on the estate - more than 900 homes.

“The project also provides training for tenants so they can learn the skills they need to take full advantage of this new email and internet access. It also helps them if they need new skills to find a job.”

The $3.6 million Wired Community @ Collingwood project has been made possible thanks to a range of Brumby Government grants totalling $1.9 million and $1.7 million coming from in-kind and philanthropic contributions.

Wired Community @ Collingwood is based on the highly-successful e-ACE project, which received $850,000 from the Brumby Government and that has already delivered similar benefits on the Atherton Gardens estate in Fitzroy.

The e-ACE initiative has seen;
• 1,500 Fitzroy residents trained in the use of the internet and computers;
• More than 800 ‘green’ PCs – computers which have been recycled, refurbished and repackaged – distributed to Fitzroy residents;
• Tenants using over 50 languages helped to go online to find relevant content; and
• More than 20 Fitzroy residents obtaining IT related employment directly as a result of e-ACE training.

“More than 60 Collingwood residents have already completed the free training offered by project partner, Infoxchange, which will help them make the best use of the new services,” Mr Wynne said.

“Initiatives such as Wired Community @ Collingwood and e-ACE are practical, concrete ways of helping people become familiar with the digital world.

“Projects like these can break down social barriers and isolation by giving people the skills to work and connect in Melbourne’s modern community.”