HOPE Vale’s media-savvy residents and other Cape York Aboriginal communities want access to the world through state-of-the-art digital technology. Yesterday, Hope Vale residents met a small group of Melbourne and Sydney businessmen to discuss the community’s technological needs and hopes. The interstate group is potential sponsors of the information technology centre that has been in operation in the community for about six years. Hope Vale is one of 17 Cape York communities now wired to the internet through the Cape York Digital Network developed by Cairns owner Philip Dutchak. The Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation hopes the next step will be a multi-media centre that would deliver the latest in remote-area digital technology. Hope Vale councillor Des Bowen sait it would also provide training, jobs, and be a focal point for young people and other users. Cr Bowen said the media centre was already too small and would likely need expanding to cater for the growing demand as more people became interested. Any upgrades could include a traditional knowledge recording and production project, the digital conversion and storage of archival material and high-speed internet access.

The Cairns Weekend Post May 12-13 2007

The Prime Minister John Howard visited the Cape York Digital Network (cydn) centre in Napranum on the west coast of Cape York on Tuesday the 5th of August and experienced first hand the benefits the centre is bringing to local people.

“We always have a lot of kids using the computers and this was no exception”, said Sue Connolly, Community Manager with cydn. “They were able to talk to the PM about what they do on the computers and how they’re changing things up here.”

Each cydn center offers managed IP services and is equipped with computers with internet access as well as a videoconference unit. A wireless antennae allows other locations in the community to access the cydn network.

Mary Geddardyu from Goolarri Media also joined us from Broome by videoconference, said Ms Connolly. Mary G’s really popular over here so everyone was excited to be able to speak to her. She had a chat to the Prime Minister, and made us all laugh.

The event was part of Mr. Howard’s trip to Cape York that included a visit to the annual Cape York Land and Health Summit held at an outstation near the community of Aurukun. The Prime Minister was addressed by a number of leaders and responded with an expression of support for the initiatives being undertaken in the region.

The future sustainability of Cape Yorks largest local digital network has been significantly boosted by an agreement with Optus that will deliver $2.1 million over five years. Today’s signing marks a fundamental change the manner in which the Queensland Government, corporate sector, and indigenous organisations deliver economic development and services in the region.

“This is a flexible package that will inject $420,000 worth of information technology training and services into the cape every year via Balkanu’s Cape York Digital Network (cydn) project”, said Executive Director of Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation, Gerhardt Pearson. “It’s been made possible by the State Government insisting on Balkanu being the preferred subcontractor to telecommunications carriers supplying broadband services to the Queensland Government in Cape York.”

Governments in countries such as Canada are able to foster the growth of remote indigenous business through preferential procurement for government services. The minimal indigenous private sector in Australia has meant little chance to do the same thing here. Balkanu’s long standing focus on creating business and promoting a corporate culture in Cape York has led to this opportunity, which Optus and the SmartNet process have taken full advantage of.

“Unfortunately some government grants fund programs that disappear without a trace once the money flow stops,” says Mr. Pearson. “Today’s agreement is a superior model because it brings in the resources and expertise of corporate players like Optus, builds specialised local business, and sees the government playing a constructive coordination role, rather than simply handing out grant dollars.”

Having largely completed the roll-out phase, cydn is increasing its product range and customer base, bringing the benefits of a managed IP network to a growing number of community councils and local people on the peninsula. The result is the creation of a growing number of real jobs and small business activity.

“We are particularly pleased that Optus has indicated they are looking seriously at establishing a call centre in Cape York,” says Gerhardt Pearson. “This is the economic potential of information technology in remote areas actually being put into practice.”

The existence of cydn also offers an ideal opportunity for various government agencies to modernise their service delivery, and same time and money in the process. The active involvement of Optus to facilitate this change will be an essential ingredient in bringing the benefits of the Smart State to the most remote Queenslanders.

“This agreement with Optus through the Queensland Government is a milestone, but we are operating in a difficult environment,” says Balkanu’s Executive Director. “The hard work of implementing it in a practical day-to-day manner lies ahead.”

Background:
The Cape York Digital Network (www.cydn.com.au) is part of the Outback Digital Network (www.odn.net.au) which is supported by the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts via the Networking the Nation fund.

Contacts:
Gerhardt Pearson. Executive Director, Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation:
0419 773 433. Balkanu Office: 07 4051 9089 (Kimiko Gabey)

Sue Connolly: Community Manager, Cape York Digital Network. 0428 832 887
Ray Heffernan: Business Manager, Cape York Digital Network. 0419 717 485

Concerns regarding access to undesirable internet content are being addressed by the Cape York Digital Network.

“With the establishment of our 14 cydn information communications technology (ICT) centers throughout the cape, we’ve seen a big increase in the number of local people using the internet,” said Sue Connolly, Community Manager with cydn. “A lot of them are kids, so we want to make sure that they are not accidentally stumbling into the sometimes darker side of the worldwide web”.

CYDN has implemented a network topography that allows cydn to block websites that fall into the categories of drugs (except prescription medication), adult material, gambling, weapons, racism and hate, militancy and extremist, illegal, tasteless, and violent. Protection software is updated constantly to ensure new web sites are filtered.

“Our elders can see the benefits of the information you get from the internet, but they are also very aware that it is being used to access things like pornography, and this is a big worry”, says Ms. Connolly. “It’s very important that we are able to reassure them that they won’t be seeing those sites if they’re on the cydn network”.

The filtering of content has also been an important feature for the growing number of Cape York councils who are connecting to cydn.

“Council offices in the Cape have several computers, but usually only one will have dial-up access to the internet?E says cydn’s Community Manager. “The CEOs have expressed concern that if they gave everyone access it would bring a lot of unwanted material into the community, and reduce productivity. Monitoring of usage, assistance to people and proper filtering of content ensure that this won’t happen via our network”.

For more information visit www.cydn.com.au

Contacts:
Sue Connolly: Community Manager,
Cape York Digital Network: 0427 755 738

Background:

CYDN is a project under Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation funded by the Federal Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts through the Networking the Nation fund. It is part of the Outback Digital Network, a federation of indigenous communications organisations. www.odn.net.au

National radio star Mary Geddardyu, also known as Mary G, had her first videoconference with the Napranum Cape York Digital Network centre last week from Broome in Western Australia.

“We had a good old yarn with Mary G”, said Lency Adidi, Napranum cydn Centre Coordinator. “She’s full of funny stories so we were all having a good laugh. She spoke to the kids too, but they’re a bit shy”.

Mary G’s radio show is broadcast on the National Indigenous Radio Service. She has also had a series on SBS television. It has received many awards and is recognised as being both entertaining and informative.

“Mary’s really popular over here,” said Ms Adidi. “Every Wednesday night people will make sure they’re near the radio so they can listen to Mary. I think it’s the same for indigenous people all over Australia. We’re hoping she’ll come and visit us in Cape York soon.”

Indigenous people in the remote Cape York region of Northern Australia are set to enter the digital age with the construction of the Cape York Digital Network (cydn). An IP network powered by Cisco Systems, cydn is installing videoconferencing and computers with Internet and intranet access in 16 remote communities.

The Cape York Digital Network is part of a larger group of five indigenous communications organisations that cover over 1.5 million square kilometers in Northern Australia known as the Outback Digital Network Ltd (ODN).

Having the best available digital infrastructure and a future-proof network based on IP is the key to building our local economy and educating our kids for the future, says Kevin Fong, Chairman of the ODN. All of these communities are very isolated and the only way to solve this is with a reliable communications network.

The facilities will allow local people to have access to computer technology, and to access education by videoconference. A Cisco Aironet wireless local area network is also being installed in each location, which will allow everyone in the community to access the benefits of cydn.

“This is an extreme environment and we need robust equipment that will perform, and be capable of catering to increasing demand in the future”, says Philip Dutchak, ODN National Project Manager.

Although Australia is a developed nation, indigenous Australians standards of health, education and life expectancy is far below the national average. Access to the services and opportunities the latest communications technology offers is vital to breaking this vicious cycle.

What’s missing in remote indigenous communities is small business and enterprise, says Mr. Fong. The network will give people the tools they need to build their economy and escape the welfare trap.

Cisco is providing more than high-tech boxes. There are plans to provide computer networking training and establish a test lab in Cairns – the first one outside a state capital in Australia.

Cisco Queensland regional manager, John Winters said; Cisco is pleased that we were selected by cydn to be their networking technology partner. We believe this project will enrich lives and provide a catalyst for change in remote communities.

The rollout is part of a broader framework of economic and social development for the region that seeks to take a holistic approach to social change in Aboriginal communities.

In Cape York we’re laying the foundations for our people to create an independent economic base, says Gerhardt Pearson, CEO of cydn. We’re supporting the creation of several new indigenous businesses and they need to have access to the latest IT applications to ensure they can be profitable.

Final planning is currently underway to extend the network to other regions of the ODN.

The Cape York network was designed and built by ODN partner, Network Design and Construction (NDC).

The project is funded by the Australian Federal Government’s Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts through the Networking the Nation fund.