The following statement underpins all the activities of QSITE Outback

QSITE is a professional association of educators, who use information technology for personal and professional purposes. This professional association aims to build and nurture a community of pre-school, primary, secondary, vocational and tertiary teachers and educators who support curriculum and/or professional development.

Outback Chapter covers the Longreach District which encompasses the central west, from Alpha to Birdsville, Hughenden and Prairie to Blackall and Windora. We have developed a great network of teachers, educators and community members who support our activities in a range of ways. As a chapter we have aimed to provide a variety of events which meet the needs of our networks. Through funding we have been able to invite a number of experts who have shared their knowledge and enthusiam with us.

2003-4 we were successful in receiving funding to launch a Mentoring Program for school aged and mature aged students who were interested in pursuing a career in ICTs in the future.

The aims of ICT Star in the Outback Project were as follows:

to signpost career pathways for rural and remote school aged, and mature aged students to careers in the ICTs industry by:-
· inviting people with successful ICTs careers to share their stories, with a particular focus on the rural and remote context
· building mentor connections between these guests and the students
· skilling teachers in recognising ICTs career pathways and encouraging and motivating students to consider these.
· creating links within the ICTs industry for e-working careers.

Stakeholders, Partners & Supporters:

• QSITE Outback;
• Longreach State High School;
• Education Queensland Longreach District Office and Longreach Staff College;
• ICT Stars in the Outback Steering Committee;
• Digital Diversity;
• The Netride;

Major Project Activities:

• Gala Dinner
• Forum for selected IT career guest speakers, both local and visiting
• Introduction of mentors to students and parents
• Mentoring sessions with IT career experts in class time
• Skilling workshops for teachers, teacher aides and school staff, and community members. Diverse range of topics and skills covered.
• Students and mature aged students attend skilling workshops run by experts
• Website detailing local IT Careers and contacts with the local IT Industry http://www.longreacshs.eq.edu.au/

Project Successes & Highlights:

• Over half of the IT students signed up for the mentoring program
• Mature aged female students showed great enthusiasm for the program, confidence and skill level increased markedly
• Over 225 participant places were filled in 13 workshops directly organised
• Further 80 places in 4 other related workshops
• Great range of participants involved from teachers and school staff to community members and parents wishing to assist their children.
• Skills and knowledge learnt has translated to better awareness of IT and improved student outcomes in IT related subjects and activities.
• Great uptake of multimedia as a form of student culminating activities, hopefully leading to some wishing to enter that field
• Time is needed to track students to see if the project has encouraged them to uptake an IT career