The document discusses the tools and technology used by the Milang Old School House Community Centre to support their programs and activities. The Centre provides adult education courses, home care services, and meals. They use computers, wireless networks, Google apps, and open source software to share resources, communicate, and publish works by local writers. Digital storytelling is also used to empower the community and create employment portfolios. Overall, the Centre leverages various technologies to increase involvement, build skills, and support community partnerships and initiatives in the rural town of Milang.

1. Tools of Our Trade
A Smith and Jones Case Study
Milang Old School House Community Centre

2. Milang
• 80kms from Adelaide
• On the banks of Lake
Alexandrina
• Population approx. 450
• Our issues:
• transport, water,
bandwidth ...

3. Centre Programs
• Adult Community Education:
IT Courses
•
Keep Fit
•
Women’s and Men’s Groups
•
and much more ... (see our
•
brochure online!)
• Home and Community Care:
• In home support: gardening &
home maintenance, cleaning
services, social support
• Meals on wheels ... and much more!

4. What the Centre Does
• Develops potential - builds
on existing skills and
develops new ones.
• Increases confidence and self
esteem
• Increased confidence to
make plans and choices for
the future.
• New partnerships and
building of links

5. What the Centre Does
• Inspiration from social
interaction with others
• Increased involvement in
social and voluntary
activities
• Creates a sense of
accomplishment & learning
• New partnerships and
building of links

6. Example #1
Office Operation:
• In The Centre
• Windows XP/Vista, Mac OS X
• MS Office (2007 thanks to DonorTec!)
• Wireless Network (shared admin files for Co-
ordinator and Staff, shared dial-up for all!)
• Shared Google Calendar for Staff + shared
transport calendars over transport network.

7. Outcomes
• Partnerships
• Communication
• Sharing resources
• Make best use of limited space - i.e. wireless
enabled laptops.

8. Considerations ...
• Some volunteers/staff may be uncomfortable with
technology.
• Solution, the latest in web 0.0 technology:
The Whiteboard
• Also printed monthly calendars.
• Don’t ask us about the new phones!!
• Vistaphobia

9. byte-on.org.au
www.byte-on.org.au

10. Boldly Going ...

11. Example #2
The CD’s
• Asked by staff to copy a set of meditation CDs
• What do we do ... choose your own adventure ...
• Do we:
• a) Say yes, burn it and forget it ...
• b) Say no, can’t do anything sorry
• c) Say no, but what we could do is ...

12. Example #3
Publishing “Lakeliner’s”
The Milang Writer’s Group Anthology
• OpenOffice.org
• Google Docs and Spreadsheets (AKA Writely)
• Microsoft Word 2007
• Windows Meeting Space
• and a whole lot o’ love

13. Example #4
stoptheweir.com
• Website to support the
campaign
• Forums for discussion of
issues
• Communication of
information
• set up events/meetings
• Mobilise for the city march

14. Example #4
stoptheweir.com
www.stoptheweir.com

15. Digital Storytelling
• Using the computer as a tool
for empowerment
• Microsoft’s Photostory 3, a
free download for Windows
XP
• Also used for Employment
Portfolio’s

16. The End
shirley@byte-on.org.au
stuart@byte-on.org.au