Cisco, Telstra partner on indigenous education project

Peter Dinham
Monday, 30 March 2009 18:11

Business IT - Technology

Jean Illingworth, Djarragun College principal, Jean Illingworth, said the major upgrade in technology and infrastructure would help students become “employable, enterprising citizens who will be ready to step up and embrace all of the knowledge and skills needed to lead the way in the 21st century.”

“It will expand their vision and thinking so they become people who can live and work anywhere and who are able to interact with any culture in any location.”

Wireless access to laptops in all classrooms and wireless handsets for staff will reduce physical barriers and provide students, teachers and administrators with better access to resources.
 
Telstra’s enterprise and government group managing director, David Thodey, says Telstra has enhanced the existing network capacity through the installation of optic fibre near Djarragun College and a frame relay circuit at Wangetti, and high-speed broadband will provide the students access with a wealth of information, multimedia and rich video content.
 
“This network upgrade by Telstra will lay the foundation for the deployment of the Cisco networking technologies. Telecommunications plays an important role in breaking down geographic and social barriers by connecting Indigenous communities to each other and the rest of Australia. Together we will give these students connectivity and help equip them with many of the skills and tools to help them succeed now and into the future.”

The Djarragun College project is managed by the Cisco Australia and New Zealand Civic Council, Cisco’s corporate social responsibility arm in Australia and New Zealand.
 
Les Williamson said Cisco had a long and proud history of using the network to improve education.
 
“Through the Civic Council we have focused on an education initiative where we believe we can help improve education by working with Telstra and Djarragun College.”