Using online communities to build community spirit

A proud and safe community requires a strong sense of connection between residents.

Getting neighbours together to talk formally or informally can be a challenge, but by using new tools, like community intranets, it’s possible for people to develop social connectedness within the comfort of their own homes.

Residents of Wattle Hill housing estate will have access to such a community resource next month with a community intranet being launched at Rentoul Hall.

The public site is part of the Wired Community at Wattle Hill project, a digital inclusion initiative aiming to deliver affordable access to computers and internet to residents of one of Australia’s most disadvantaged communities.

The Wired project was initiated by residents who felt disadvantaged in not being able to use internet and email in their daily lives.

It is hoped the intranet will help build a stronger sense of community on the estate by giving residents the chance to contribute to, as well as explore their community at their own pace and distance via a range of digital mediums.

The online community will create many more opportunities for residents to engage in offline community based activities as their awareness and interests develop.

"Projects like these provide an opportunity for local residents to contribute to discussions, identify and understand local issues while helping develop solutions or responses, as well as providing them with a forum to engage with their neighbours, " says Dinna Tayao , General Manager for Digital Inclusion and Social Development for Infoxchange.

The Wired Community @ Wattle Hill project, which was launched last year, has already rolled out a wireless mesh network to the estate and delivered computers to 44 households, and provides training as well as affordable, contract-free internet to residents. The project was made possible through the support of the Victorian Government and the partnership between the Wattle Hill public housing families, Whitehorse Community Health Service and Infoxchange Australia.

Infoxchange’s Wired Community @ Collingwood project has been running for 3 years now and has connected a thousand households to have access to computers, the community intranet, training and free global email. A new Wired Community project is set to commence at Darebin that aims to achieve similar outcomes.