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TAPRIC programs
Community Phones Program
The Community Phones Program (CPP) is a key element of TAPRIC. The program aims to improve access to and use of basic telephone services in remote Indigenous communities by providing a standard Telstra phone with 24-hour community access. $3 million has been allocated to the CPP for 2005–06.
A Community Phones Trial (CPT) is currently underway in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. DCITA is conducting an ongoing evaluation of the trial.
The five key initiatives of the CPT are to:
- provide community phones for remote Indigenous communities;
- provide a new robust, weather-resistant casing for the phones;
- introduce new Telstra prepaid cards for use with phones;
- engage Regional Agents to provide training to communities on use of phone and phonecards and liaise between communities, DCITA and Telstra; and
- deploy wireless CDMA wireless local loop technology as a more cost effective solution to upgrading telecommunications infrastructure (currently trialling in the Dampier Peninsula region of WA)
The provision of community phone services has commenced, with up to 240 services scheduled for installation in the Northern Territory and Western Australia during 2005–06.
Community phones—Fact sheet (File size: 196Kb) or
Community phones—Fact sheet (File format: RTF, File size: 14Kb)
TAPRIC Internet Access Program
Through the Internet Access Program (IAP), DCITA has funded the installation of computer equipment packages to establish public Internet access facilities for almost 170 remote communities in the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.
Online Content Development Program
This program aims to increase the relevance of online services for remote Indigenous communities by supporting the development of appropriate digital content through the following elements.
Multimedia Language Resources Project
DCITA funded the development of eight multimedia language resources for selected remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. The language packages were designed to contribute to Indigenous language activities by enabling Indigenous communities to record, maintain and teach their languages using videos, songs, games and resource books.
For a list of the eight languages and regions.
The Indigenous Communities Online Program (ICOP)
ICOP was a small grants program that provided funding to 13 remote Indigenous communities across Australia to develop or update cultural, business and/or educational online content. Websites developed through ICOP provided a range of information and services - including an easy website-maker, art and craft sales, health information, explanations of court proceedings and translations of legal terms.
Description of the projects under ICOP
For further information, please contact the Program Manager on free call 1800 883 488 or email tapric@dcita.gov.au.