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Latest news
Backing Indigenous Ability
In August 2005, the Australian Government announced a comprehensive communications package - Connect Australia - to give Australians access to first-class telecommunications services. Included in this $1.1 billion package to improve broadband, mobile services and Indigenous communications is the $90 million program Backing Indigenous Ability. Initiatives under this program include installation of shared community phones, establishing and supporting Internet and videoconferencing access centres, providing training, skills development and other support to assist with use and sustainability of telecommunications in remote Indigenous communities and improving Indigenous radio and television services.
Funding for Backing Indigenous Ability will commence 1 July 2006. Please click here to view the Minister's media release on Connect Australia.
For more information, please see the Department’s Connect Australia page.
Indigenous Telecommunications Forum
DCITA hosted an Indigenous Telecommunications Forum in Alice Springs from 17 to 18 May 2005 to raise awareness in remote Australia of telecommunications issues, including consumer safeguards and rights and outline future directions. The Forum provided the opportunity for government agencies and service providers to discuss with Indigenous community representatives the current state of remote communications and to profile Government policy objectives, programs and activities aimed at assisting remote Indigenous communities to access communications technologies.
For details on the Forum, including the Forum report, please go to the 
Telinfo website. The Keynote address from the Minister, Senator Helen Coonan, is available.
Awareness-raising/production of information resources
DCITA has produced a booklet entitled Phone Services: What Are Our Rights? to provide information to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on telecommunication issues and consumer rights. These include fault reporting and the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, how to manage a phone bill using prepaid phonecards and call barring, nuisance call reporting and priority assistance phone services. The Department has also printed posters on a range of telecommunications rights issues.