Principal welcomes IT skills centre

The new IT Skills Centre planned for Woy Woy has been described as "truly an exciting facility being developed in our community" by Brisbane Waters Secondary College principal Mr Pat Lewis.

"While not being for the exclusive use of College students, it will be of enormous benefit to them and the entire Peninsula community."

In a recent newsletter, Mr Lewis said: "This is the Skills Centre which was to be established in the Donnison St Campus at Gosford, funded by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA), a federally funded body.

"Planning for this centre was well under way when there was a change in the circumstances in other parts of the centre which made it an unsuitable place for school students.

"The Gosford office of the Department made this decision before the announcement of the College.

"Faced with the prospect of sending the money back to ANTA or finding an alternative location for the Skills Centre, the office took the latter path and the pending announcement of the College to relocate it to the Woy Woy Campus.

"This had the added benefit of returning to the Peninsula local access to TAFE, which will be taught out of the Centre.

"Many residents will recall that this access was lost several years ago when the Woy Woy TAFE site was sold.

"Apart from the location of the Skills Centre, nothing else has changed.

"The establishment of the centre is still federally-funded and it will still be accessible to users apart from Brisbane Water Secondary College students.

"Other potential users will include all other high schools on the Central Coast, both Government and independent, TAFE, private ICT training providers, and community groups.

"It is, in fact, essential that there be a multitude of users as the Centre will need to be self-funding.

"This funding will come from a fee for use and from sponsorship.

"The funding will be used mainly for the employment of a full-time manager, but also for normal operational costs such as utilities.

"All maintenance of the technology will be covered by warranty and maintenance contracts as part of the purchase of these items.

"The Skills Centre is to be located in an existing building on the Woy Woy Campus which is easily accessible to College students, outside users, and to ample parking."

The centre will consist of an information technology room, a business services room, a "hands-on" room where students will be able to assemble and disassemble computers and networks as part of their studies, a meeting room, and several storerooms.

It will also be adjacent to two other computer rooms.

Plans include refurbishing the current rooms, purchasing equipment and the cabling of the rooms.

Fibre optic cabling will extend throughout the Woy Woy campus, offering internet access from every teaching space.

Newsletter, September 19