Gippsland Green PC Project

• The project
• Target Groups
• Donated PCs
• How the Project Operates

The purpose of the project is to increase access by low-income households in Gippsland to personal computers, and to develop opportunities for the owners to expand their skills to get maximum benefit from the resource.

One of the project's key target groups is secondary students from low income households. Access to a home PC is known to improve their educational performance, increase school retention rates, increase the skill levels and employment potential of other low income groups, reduce social isolation and benefit the wider community. 

Other known benefits include access to information and opportunities for social connection and personal and social development. 

The Project

The project is a cooperative initiative by Latrobe City, Baw Baw Latrobe Local Learning and Employment Network, GreenPC (a social enterprise of Infoxchange Australia), Anglicare Gippsland and other agencies to receive and refurbish donated used PCs for sale on a not for profit basis to low income households in Gippsland.

Target Groups

The priority target groups established to date are:

• Secondary school students in receipt of Education Maintenance Allowance;
• Younger students in receipt of EMA;
• Neighbourhood renewal and other disadvantaged geographic areas;
• People on disability pensions;
• Sole parents wishing to increase their education and skills to re-enter the workforce; The aged;
• Indigenous groups; and low income households generally. 

Donated PCs

Industry, business, government and community members in the region are encouraged to donate PCs to be refurbished. 

An extensive marketing and promotional program to source PCs for recycling will be underway shortly. There are considerable benefits to businesses and agencies in the disposition of used PCs in an environmentally and socially advantageous manner.

How the Project Operates

The Gippsland Green PC Project will make good quality refurbished PCs available at low cost to selected families of young people participating in Education, Employment and Learning opportunities in the Baw Baw and Latrobe Regions.   The cost to each household is $450, including a printer and three months free initial internet access. On payment of this amount the PC will become the property of the families involved. There is also an option for families to purchase just the PC, which comes equipped with the same software, for a total of $249. There is no access to loan facilities for this lower cost option.

Families holding current health care cards can qualify for the Gippsland Green PC program. The project also makes available a no interest loan over six months with fortnightly repayments being made through the CentrePay system as automatic deductions from Centrelink payments.

The PCs will be of refurbished Pentium 2 standard with sound card, speakers, modem, software and include free internet access for 3 months. The PCs are to be supplied by Green PC, and available for collection from Baw Baw Latrobe Local learning and Employment Network office in Trafalgar, or by arrangement through local adult education providers.   An optional new colour ink jet printer can also be included in the package and training for the family can be arranged through existing local training courses.

Each PC comes with a 3-month guarantee from Green PC (Melbourne) and some limited back up support provided through Green PC's helpdesk.

Organisations in the Baw Baw Latrobe region are invited to discuss this project with young people who may benefit by the provision of a low cost PC for home use.   Families that may wish to apply to the program should complete the attached forms and return them to Gippsland Green PCs, C/- Baw Baw Latrobe LLEN, Baw Baw Technology Centre, Princes Highway, PO Box 415 Trafalgar 3824, phone 5633 2868.