Technology, Communities and Impact.

Welcome to our quarterly news. It’s great to be able to keep you up to date with our latest developments in technology, communities and impact. Thanks for taking the time to read and share.

The Hitnet Team.

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Solomon Islands Project

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Last news we hinted at an upcoming project in the Pacific. We are delighted to formally announce that Hitnet were one of the winners of the DFAT Solomon Islands Technology for Development Challenge. The 12 month project will provide an on-ramp to the digital economy for young Solomon Islanders with a focus on girls and women, and is a new partnership with global NGO Field Ready, Solomon’s-based consultancy Earth Water People and Vanuatu’s Further Arts.

Hitnet’s CEO Julie Gibson attended the awards ceremony in Honiara last month, and began meeting with one of the potential new sites. To find out more, you can read Julie’s article.


Read our Annual Highlights Report

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Every year it is with great pride that we release our annual highlights report. It’s important to reflect and take stock of what has happened over the past 12 months. We’ve been doing this since our inaugural report in 2013, and it is incredible to see what we have achieved and what’s changed since then! This year Jimmy Olsen our in-house graphic designer produced the report, and we think he’s done a fantastic job.


Please download and share and let us know if you’d like a paper copy posted to you.


An on-ramp to the digital world

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As an on-ramp to the digital world, we have developed mobile landing pages for the Hitnet Wi-Fi, installed in our Hubs. These pages filter and curate the internet for inexperienced users by allowing them easy access to useful websites and apps. Each of these pages is co-designed with the communities where the Hubs are installed.

First off the rank, was Coomealla and Orange in NSW who have recently had their Hitnet Hubs with Wi-Fi installed. Their Aboriginal Medical Services collaborated with us to suggest the lists of useful websites and apps for their pages. We will be launching these with the local community members when we return for digital skills training as part of the Be Connected program.


Further Hubs Rollout

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After installing 5 new Hubs in NSW and conducting follow up visits and community engagement in Tamworth, Armidale and Bourke, it was off to Eastern Victoria with the first of three Hub installations at The Zone Youth Space in the Latrobe Valley.

We are very pleased to be working with a consortium of 13 local community service providers, led by YMCA Victoria. The focus is on connecting young people aged 12 to 25 years to education, training, employment and broader community life in Latrobe. A really important project to be part of.


Show Me The Way Content Partnership 

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Show Me The Way’ work with school students of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and refugee backgrounds, to make short documentary films unearthing the unsung heroes of their local communities. Twelve of these stories have been made into a Hitnet channel and distributed nationally across the Hitnet platform.

We were fortunate to be visiting Walgett in Western NSW recently, for their ‘Show Me the Way Day’ with a special screening at the Community College of the student’s stories. In the assembly hall we watched these powerful stories of achievement and discrimination that have shaped the lives of the local video heroes. Essential viewing for all Australians as we work to reconcile our past and move toward a brighter inclusive society.


This is a snapshot of the Hitnet Hub usage across the network in 2018. To learn more please download our Annual Highlights Report.


Downloads

Click on the links below to download some recent reports and articles:
ALIA Incite Magazine - check out Mobile Max Pilot Project article on page 26.
Mobile Max Pilot Project Report
Hitnet Annual Highlights Report 2018
Hitnet Strategic Plan 2017 - 2021


Staying up to date

We distribute these newsletters every few months but if you want to stay more up-to-date with what we are doing, why don't you like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

If you would like any further information about our products and services or the information in this email, please contact our CEO, Julie Gibson on julie@hitnet.com.au or 0400 501 186.

James Olsen