Gillard Government provides $1.25 million to Adelaide City and Prospect for local NBN training servi

Deputy Prime Minister, Wayne Swan MP, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, and Ms Kate Ellis, Member for Adelaide, today announced that $1.25 million will be provided to the communities of Adelaide City and Prospect to help local people and businesses take advantage of the opportunities offered by the National Broadband Network (NBN). 

The Gillard Government is providing $630 209 to the City of Adelaide to establish a Digital Hub at the Grote Street Library and start Digital Enterprise training services in Adelaide. $620 271 has also been provided to the City of Prospect to establish a Digital Hub at the Thomas Street Centre and start Digital Enterprise training services in Prospect. 

The $23.6 million NBN Digital Hubs and Digital Enterprise programs:
• helps individuals in local communities improve their online and digital literacy skills;
• assists local residents to understand the opportunities created by the fast, affordable and reliable broadband delivered by the NBN; and
• works with small businesses and not-for-profit organisations to develop their online presence and take full advantage of the NBN.

“With the rollout of the NBN a reality here in South Australia, it is essential that people and businesses have the right skills in order to maximise the significant benefits that fast and affordable broadband can bring,” Deputy Prime Minister Swan said. 

“Every Australian will have access to the NBN’s fast, affordable and reliable broadband. Therefore, it is essential programs like this are available so that everyone can learn about and embrace the online opportunities that are possible through the NBN,” Senator Conroy said.

Member for Adelaide, Ms Kate Ellis MP said the establishment of these programs highlighted the importance of the NBN.

“I’ve worked hard to ensure that Adelaide is at the forefront of the NBN roll-out and this investment will ensure that local residents and businesses will be amongst the first to reap the rewards of super fast broadband.” 

“The Digital Hub will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date Digital Literacy Training Program to help narrow the gap between those who engage online and those who don’t,” said Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood.

“To have a local place where residents young and old, schools and business owners, can see, touch and play with the new technologies. Prospect’s Digital Hub will help demystify broadband in a very practical sense. It sends a very clear message that this is the future of libraries and civic centres,” said City of Prospect Mayor, David O’Loughlin.

Under the three-year rollout plan, construction on NBN fibre services will have started or have been completed for 36 400 homes and businesses across Adelaide City-Prospect by mid-2015. This includes Flinders and Prospect.*

The Digital Enterprise and Digital Hubs programs target 40 of the first communities to benefit from the NBN, where work on the rollout has already commenced.

For a list of service providers announced under previous funding rounds or additional information please visit www.dbcde.gov.au/digitalhubs and www.dbcde.gov.au/digitalenterprise 

For further information regarding the National Digital Economy Strategy visit www.nbn.gov.au/the-vision/digitaleconomystrategy/ 

*Note: premises numbers for the three-year fibre rollout include all localities for the fibre service area, including those crossing the boundary of the local government area.