Computer Education in Aboriginal Communities

The Shack Group will begin a service program in 2009 working directly with the Australian Aboriginal community groups to develop vocational training programs in information technology for students and adults. The indigenous inhabitants of Australia remain marginalized in contemporary society, and suffer disproportionately the effects of poverty, lack of educational resources, unemployment, and racism. We hope to provide resources and encouragement to Aboriginal groups to document their historical culture online.

The Shack Group will provide computer donations to local Aboriginal community centers to build computer labs with internet access and training facilities for youth, as well as job training in IT for adult students. Our computer donation program collects used computers from local businesses for charitable contributions across Western Australia. In building media labs with internet access and training facilities, we hope to provide alternative facilities for learning with specialized educational programs in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

The Shack Group will provide teachers on a volunteer basis to train students in basic computer skills, web design, digital photography, and ecommerce. We will sponsor Aboriginal community programs by providing server storage space and domain registration for projects documenting traditional art, culture, and religion in Australia. We also would like to assist with the development of online handicraft collectives, trading contemporary Aboriginal art internationally, as an alternative source of income for families of local artisans.

The Prime Minister of Australia made history this year by publicly apologizing for years of racism and discrimination against Aboriginals in society. While we commend this gesture, the Shack Group would like to assist Aboriginal groups directly in building community media labs, vocational training programs, and online handicraft collectives so that resources are more directly shared and made accessible to the community. While comprising less than 3% of the population of Australia, the Aboriginal groups have inspired environmental consciousness, art movements, music, and philosophy around the world.

Employees or clients of the Shack Group who would like to participate in this program can join the organizing committee through the Alumni Association, or contact our public relations coordinator for more information.