Using e-learning, CultureLink provided access to vocational education and training for isolated mature aged women in rural and remote Queensland who support arts and culture. The program connected women from diverse backgrounds including artists, authors, community developers, and farmers. Participants engaged in accredited training courses and cultural resources online, and established regional support groups. They developed an ongoing online community through a Yahoo chat group dubbed "Chat Womb" to share knowledge, stories, and build friendships despite distances. This increased participation in arts and led to networking opportunities across Australia through the CultureLink website.

1. CultureLink
Queensland
Using e-learning to increase
access and participation
in vocational education
and training for isolated mature
QuickTimeﾪ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
aged women
who support arts, culture

2. Linking regional women online
Using e-learning to increase the access
and participation in vocational education and training
for isolated mature aged women who support arts, culture
and community development within their
rural and remote Queensland locations.

3. The chosen CultureLink participants
come from diverse backgrounds:
• authors, publishers
• Artists in all art forms
• radio presenters,
• Community developers and artsworkers
• Community Cultural Development (CCD)
practitioners and Flickr
• farmers/station owners
who work voluntarily for the well-being of their communities.

5. Lasting quotes from participant survey:
“Very rich exchange”
“Changed my whole attitude to all online activity”
“Really exciting”
100% reported being encouraged to study further online in future
Denise Wild: Juniors (acrylic)

6. E-learning has provided access to:
• Two accredited training courses
• Cultural planning resources
• Information and research
Artwork by Richard Moffatt: Eagle
• Larger and diverse networks state-wide Photo: Julianne Doonar

7. Connecting Communities: ‘Maintain effective networks’

8. Intercultural Exchange:‘Work effectively in a cross
cultural context with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people and organisations’
Uncle Sam Chambers and grandson at Cherbourg

9. Regional Cluster groups were established to support the
participants with the accredited training assessment tasks.
At Arts Nexus: Carol Coates, Christine Eyres and Debra Eldemire

10. Outcome: CultureLink’s Chat Womb
• Chat group through Yahoo!
• Gentle and informal process of sharing
knowledge and learning from each
other
• Coined this space the Chat Womb
• Ability to share photos, stories of day-
to-day life, of work and fun
The Bather- sculpture of
Janice Kent-MacKenzie
by Alison McDonald

11. Outcome: Examples
1. An artist is displaying
her artwork and
describing her
motivations.
2. An author is sharing
her insight into the
writing business of
publishers and
illustrators.
Alice in the Interface, 1998, by artist Sasi Victoire
Title: Exotic Alice

12. Challenges
• Time
• Technology
• Software
• Education
• Friendships
• Distances
Whiteboard screen shot: artwork by CL 07 participants

13. Outcome: www.culturelink.net.au
• user friendly website
• ongoing capacity
• across borders, nationally
and internationally
• using Joomla (a free source
content management system)
together with Moodle (a free
source student management system)
• information, resources, professional
development, and online
discussions