IT Help for NFPs - South Australian Style
13 October 2003 at 1:10 pm
South Australia’s community groups like those in other states are feeling the pinch from having to meet the ever-increasing demands of the information society. However a new project will help make the challenge a bit easier.
It’s called the CommunIT project ; that’s ‘commune-eye-tee’ and it’s the brainchild of an information, publishing and software company called Community Information Strategies Australia (CISA).
CISA’s technology manager, Phil Palmer says the project grew out of extensive discussions with the state’s Not for Profit groups over the past two years.
Using initial seed funding from the State Government’s gambling fund, Community Benefit SA, CommunIT sets out to help community sector agencies and their clients address information technology issues at the www.communit.info website.
While the website was only launched last week, Palmer says the site contains comprehensive information on buying computers, having them serviced, getting IT help, how to get free and low-cost software and tips on the safe use of the Internet.
He agrees that much of the information will be useful to organisations nationally.
CISA CEO Doug Jacquier says that from day one they’ve had a vision of this project being a joint effort between the community, the government and the business sector.
Jacquier says SA hosted the World IT Congress last year promoting Adelaide as Solution City, so it needs to ensure that there’s no ‘digital divide’ there to spoil that image.
Phil Palmer emphasises that the project is not just a website but there are also plans to set up group purchase/lease schemes for IT-related equipment for community sector organisations and to hold a national conference to help address community IT issues early next year.
Jacquier called on people from all sectors to get behind the project by visiting the site, pooling their knowledge, donating their time and doing what South Australians do best: working together for the common good.
To check out the website go to: www.communit.info
