Computers to help Indigenous youth

Indigenous youth at Toowoomba's Mary Street Hostel will now have access to five computers following the success of an innovative USQ program.

The computers, which were handed over last week, were completely re-built through an initiative of the USQ Division of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the USQ Kumbari/Ngurapai Lag Higher Education Centre.

'Last year ICT approached us about a program they wanted to run which would teach Indigenous people how to use and build computers,' Assistant to the Director at Kumbari, Ron Hampton said.

'The computers were built from equipment that ICT were not using anymore and would otherwise have been scrap.

'We had five enrolments in the course this time and it was decided that for each student that enrolled, the computer that they re-built would be donated to a worthy community organisation that would benefit from them.'

Liz Wilson from the Mary Street Hostel was on hand to accept the computers and said that they would be put too good use.

'The Mary Street Hostel houses Indigenous youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who wish to further their studies at TAFE, university or are undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships,' she said.

'We were very happy to receive the computers, as now the students staying at the hostel will be able to create résumés, access the internet and further their knowledge.'

Already plans are underway to continue the program next year, with the facilitators keen to increase enrolments.

'This is a very interactive and intensive training course that we have run here, which has been a win win situation for everyone involved,' Principal Manager of the USQ ICT Service Delivery Section Maggie Fryer said.

'In January next year we will be again running the program and we will be looking for more enrolments.'

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628, 0403 643 192