Last Thursday night in Sydney the Premier presented TAFE NSW - Western Institute with a Premier's Public Sector Award. The award recognises the way the Institute uses satellite technology to deliver training to remote communities and homesteads in Western NSW. 
The Premier's Public Sector Awards recognise achievements of excellence by the New South Wales public sector. They acknowledge initiatives which have produced measurable outcomes with proven results and benefits to New South Wales. The awards provide an opportunity to showcase public sector commitment to quality and the provision of service to the community, and focus attention on leading practice in state public sector.
The award was received by Jo Sedgers, Director Learning and Engagement on behalf of Western Institute's Interactive Distance Learning team. Jo explained that the Interactive Distance Learning project has now been running since 2003 and has enabled the Institute to deliver TAFE courses into remote homesteads and aboriginal communities.
"Students study on a computer with headphones and can talk to each other and their teacher. They also see their teacher via a video broadcast. All the communications are provided by two way satellite links.
"Teachers can broadcast to their students from studies which can be located anywhere from Dubbo to Broken Hill or Tamworth".
"Since 2003 over 600 students have studied TAFE courses using the Interactive Distance Learning system. They have ranged in aged from 16 to 70 and they all live in very remote parts of NSW.
"We have received wonderful feedback from participants over the last five years. We know it brings a new dimension to the lives of the people we reach and is really beneficial," Jo Sedgers concluded.
Background
More information about the NSW Premier's Public Sector Awards can be seen at http://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/public_employment/honours_and_awards/premiers_public_sector_awards
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