OUTBACK CONNECT

In reply to Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (30 June 2008).

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): At the conclusion of the original Outback Connect program for very remote areas in November 2007 (June 2005–November 2007), $200,000 was provided by Adult Community Education to continue the program and to extend it to all non-Metropolitan areas of the state.

The major costs were salaries for project coordination and technical support, and the cost of training delivery. Other expenditure included developing and maintaining the software platform for delivery of the program, and promotional costs.

When the Adult Community Education funding agreement concluded in June 2008, Outback Connect had 1250 clients, had delivered 1094.5 training hours and was experiencing significant upward growth in demand for the program, with a corresponding reduction in per capita costs.

A further $200,000 has been allocated in the Information Economy Directorate budget to extend Outback Connect from July 2008 until June 2009, in response to current demand, and to make the program available to other target areas.