Whether you're at work or looking for a job, studying or just wanting to get in touch with friends, a keyboard, mouse and a PC are essential tools for surviving modern life. The establishment of the Broadmeadows Community IT Hub has given residents on the Broadmeadows Estate access to these valuable resources and the knowledge of how to use them. We speak to Turna Dalgali, who facilitates training at the Hub and is a content manager for the Hub's website. Other residents who use the Hub provide their perspectives.

With six computers, the Broadmeadows Hub is a small but vibrant space. It's based at the Campmeadows Primary School, and has had a constant stream of visitors since it opened in October 2004. Turna Dalgali runs the Hub. Her friendly and welcoming approach has succeeded in helping residents become computer literate.

Turna said the Hub is primarily intended for “disadvantaged, low-income residents", providing computer usage, internet access and training free of charge. With computers becoming essential for education, employment and accessing information, the Hub is increasingly important for residents. “Because,” as Turned noted, “not everyone can afford a computer.”

Sema is a Turkish speaking resident who has gone from having no computer skills to being confident using computers to create documents and use email. From classes Turna runs in Turkish, Sema even learned how to make birthday cards using MS Publisher. Speaking via Turna, Sema said “it was a challenge because everyday I learnt something new.” Learning computers is an important part of any form of education. In addition to her own learning, Semma states she is now more able to help her son with his homework.

Providing better employment opportunities is one of the aims of Neighbourhood Renewal. But while some people use the Hub for job browsing or creating resumes, Turna stresses the importance of learning the basics of computers as a first step. “A lot of the community that come here have no computer skills at all so they’re first learning the basics,” she said, “But once they’re got the basics of computers, they’ll feel more confident in taking up maybe further education or say looking for a job on the internet at the hub.”

Semma eventually hopes to be able to use these skills in making a return to the workforce. Other Hub visitors, Fatma and Inci shares Semma’s view. Fatma hopes computer skills will help her get a job as a secretary in a doctor’s surgery. Inci felt it would help with finding employment and with her child's education. She also talked about the importance of being able to access information. She said because the internet is worldwide, it’s easy to look up information. She feels everything is “at her fingertips.”

Hub users acknowledge Turna’s friendly and helpful approach. A single mother of three, Turna comes from the community herself and has a close connection to many residents. She was employed as part of the Community Jobs Program, a Neighbourhood Renewal initiative. She was trained at a community sector IT agency Infoxchange, the company that now employs her.

It’s changed my life,” Turna said. “It’s something I love. I’ve got a lot of experience, a lot of skills and now I’m using everything I’ve learnt and passing it on to the community and that’s what I love most.”

The Broadmeadows Community IT Hub is now known as the Olsen Place ICT Access Point. It is located at 9C Olsen Place Shops, Broadmeadows.

Opening Hours:

Mondays 10:00am to 3:00pm
Tuesdays 10:00am to 3:00pm
Thursdays 10:00am to 3:00pm

LINKS:

Broadmeadows IT HUB

Grassroots Networking - An Infoxchange site addressing the digital divide.

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