New life for old computers

A program by non-profit organisation The info Xchange addresses the growing inequality of access to new information technologies among low-income and disadvantaged groups.

The Green PC program was launched by Premier Steve Bracks and Housing and Aged Care Minister Bronwyn Pike.

‘This Government wants all Victorians to have access to the technology they need to keep up with a changing world—and to be part of the global village,’ said Mr Bracks.

‘People who cannot afford to buy a computer should not be excluded from the information age.’

The program aims to gather outdated PCs, upgrade them and distribute them through areas of need.

In the past, unwanted PCs from government departments and the corporate world have been dumped.

The Green PC program has received a real kick-start from a donation by the Department of Human Services of 1,000 unwanted machines.

The Green PC program has been allocated $280,000 to establish the computer refurbishment program over the next six months with a team of 20 unemployed young people being trained to upgrade the computers under the Government’s Community Jobs program.

The info Xchange then expects the program to be self-sustaining—refurbishing other computers donated by government, businesses and the community and selling them at low cost to community organisations.

The initial batch of computers to be upgraded will be allocated to residents at the Atherton Gardens Housing Estate in Fitzroy.

Others will be distributed to Aboriginal cooperatives in the Loddon-Mallee Region.

A further $20,000 will be allocated by the Office of Housing to allow The info Xchange to continue the installation of an information technology network at Atherton Gardens.