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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 4 Hansard (3 April) . . Page.. 1508 ..
(4) The information that informed the decision to continue funding the CIT roving trainer program is contained in the Community IT Access Plan, the Study into Connectivity Issues for Disadvantaged People, the Digital Divide Grants Program Evaluation and in reports supplied by CIT. This information is available publicly via the ACT Government Digital Divide Website, with the exception of some CIT reports in which individual participants may be able to be identified.
(5) The feedback from organisations participating in the CIT roving trainer program indicate that community groups and their clients consider this program is providing a quality service. The Digital Divide Grants Program Evaluation highlighted the importance of the roving trainers in encouraging participants to develop their IT skills and this feedback is reflected in the decision to expand the program to libraries, schools and a broad range of community organisations. The Evaluation showed that the CIT program achieved notable success with a diverse range of participants, including community centre staff, women's refuge clients, people living with a disability, homeless youth and, in particular, seniors. Information gathered during the evaluation process indicates that this is a value for money service.
Value for money is, however, only one factor used in determining the worth of this program. Numerous stories such as those of refuge residents who have been able to safely contact their families via email, people who are able to access and read stories in their own language, and the many seniors who say they now feel part of the 21st century - all as a result of the work done by the roving trainers - indicate the quality of life improvements that the provision of this basic IT training can bring.
(6) Reports and publications which refer to the roving trainer program are available at www.cmd.act.gov.au/digitaldivide.
Disabled persons-IT access
(Question No 581)
Mrs Burke asked the Chief Minister, upon notice, on 2 April 2003:
In relation to IT accessibility issues:
(1) What is the government doing to improve IT accessibility for people with a disability:
(a) In general terms;
(b) In catering for an ageing population;
(2) Is the government meeting guidelines in relation to accessibility under the Disability Discrimination Act, Section 24, and can you provide documentation to show this is the case, if so, please do, if not, why not;
(3) What are the current audit procedures for compliance with Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in relation to the government web site
and links;
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