Giving computers Giving computers is a great way of helping out the community. Whether it is your personal computer or from your workplace, computers can assist an individual or organisation and at the same time prevent PC's ending up in landfill. Below is a register of places and organisations in Victoria where you can donate your computer. ComputerBank Australia Inc Contact: 483 Victoria St, West Melbourne, VIC 3003 Tel (03) 9600 9161 Email computerbank@mbox.com.au Website www.computerbank.org.au Project Description: The Computerbank project was founded and auspiced by the former Computerbank Victoria Inc, now known as Computerbank Australia. It is all about people getting together to form or support organisations that share a common purpose. Organisations and associations resulting from the Computerbank Project aim to collect and then redistribute older donated computer hardware to people who can't otherwise afford the costs associated with computing. Computerbank branches across Australia are now providing help to low income individuals, families and under-resourced community groups and schools, especially with obtaining computer hardware and training in how to use it. Eligibility: Residents of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland     Community Information Technology Project (comIT) Contact: Tel (03) 9416 2604 Email comit@com-it.net.au Website www.com-it.net.au/ Project Description: The Community Information Technology Project (comIT) has been running since March 1999. ComIT collects, reconditions and donates an enormous number of computers, as well as providing assistance with basic network installation, website design, and desktop publishing services. Eligibility: Eligible recipients are other Victorian not-for-profit organisations.     Equipment Recycling Network Inc. (ERNInc) Contact: Tel (03) 9876 5211 Fax (03) 9879 6211 Email erni@erni.asn.au Website www.erni.asn.au Project Description: ERNInc is a project based in Maroondah and recycles equipment, including computers, and distributes them to people with disabilities, particularly children, at a nominal cost. Eligibility: To qualify for a computer the applicant must provide a letter from a doctor, physiotherapist etc. stating the nature of the disability and the benefits which would be attained from access to computing equipment.     Mission Australia - Computer Repair and Trouble Shooting Contact: 2nd Floor, 398 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000 Tel (03) 8615 2214 Fax: (03) 9600 2891 Email milick@mission.com.au Website: www.mission.com.au Project Description: Computers are donated by companies and members of the general public, refurbished by participants of this Work for the Dole project and then donated to economically disadvantaged groups or individuals in the community. Mission Australia will deliver the computers, assist in the installation and provide basic instruction in how to get started. Eligibility: The project is targeted at community groups, disadvantaged families and individuals.     RPDS - Rural and Peninsula Disability Service Contact: Post PO Box 1451, Pearcedale VIC 3912 Tel (03) 59785055 Email helpful@rpds.vicnet.net.au Website www.vicnet.net.au/~rpds Project Description: The RPDS is a Community self help program to get housebound and elderly mobility disabled people online in their own homes and with dignity. Eligibility: Residents of Mornington Peninsula and surrounds     Green PC Contact: Andrew Dowling (Manager) Infoxchange 375 Johnston Street, Abbottsford VIC 3067 Tel (03) 9486 9355 Fax (03) 9486 9344 Mobile 0401 009 091 Email andrew@greenpc.com.au ; info@greenpc.com.au Website www.greenpc.com.au Project Description: Green PC is about refurbishing and recycling some of the 200,000 PC's that are no longer useful to government and the private sector each year and providing them to individuals and communities that otherwise will be left behind in the information age. To do this Green PC work in partnership with organisations so the solution is inexpensive and simple. It is environmentally responsible, it has the potential to create hundreds of jobs and skill those who would otherwise be left unemployed, and it bridges the divide that exists between the information rich and information poor. Green PC is part of "Infoxchange", Australia's strategy to bridge the digital divide. This strategy has a number of community building elements including, empowerment through access to the new technologies, providing sustainable employment and educational opportunities for the longterm unemployed while also addressing environmental issues through recycling of discarded computer hardware. Eligibility: Green PC's computers are made available to low-income communities, community organisations and individuals with eligibility based on: holding a current Health Care Card or ability to verify low income status or being a registered not-for-profit community organisation.     Computer Technologies for Schools Project Contact: Tel 0428 250 392 Email ctfs@edna.edu.au Website ctfs.edna.edu.au Project Description: The Computer Technologies for Schools Project provides surplus Commonwealth Government and private sector computers and ICT equipment to schools across Australia to enable students and teachers to better understand new technologies. State and Territory government and non - government school authority committees decide the placement of equipment according to needs based formulas. The Project is managed by a National Project Manager. Contributors make computers and other ICT equipment available through the National Project Manager who arranges for the equipment to be collected and stored until a receiving authority is able to take them. Eligibility: Catholic, Independent and State/Territory schools across Australia.