SYDNEY -- 6 September 2000 -- Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, has extended its Networking Academy Program into the remote North West Australian community of Broome, to provide training courses and skills for the Internet economy.
The Cisco Networking Academy Program will be implemented across all three sectors of education in Broome in early 2001, through the community's two Senior High Schools (Broome Senior High School and St Mary's College), Kimberley College of TAFE and Notre Dame University.
Under the scheme, students will be offered courses in Internet networking, and the opportunity to qualify as a Cisco Certified Network Associate, a highly sought after qualification within the rapidly expanding telecommunications and networking industry.
Cisco Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Terry Walsh, was in Broome today to announce the initiative.
"The Networking Academy program in Broome was designed to increase the technological expertise in the region with emphasis being placed on the indigenous population. This program utilises cutting-edge, Internet-based, hands-on learning initiatives with resulting practical, work-ready outcomes," Mr Walsh said.
"This is about Cisco and its education partners doing something real and positive to help bridge the digital divide and to help fill the skills gap Australia is currently experiencing. There is no reason Australians living in regional and remote areas should be denied the opportunity to participate in the new economy, " he said.
The shortfall in IT skills is forecast to rise to 60,000 jobs in Australia by 2001, and that shortage of skilled staff is expected to increase fourfold over the next four years as the global Internet economy expands.
To help stem the IT skills jobs shortfall, Cisco has established more than 87 Networking Academies in Australia & New Zealand, and more than 4,400 around the world. In Australia, Networking Academies currently teach more than 3,500 students and over 300 have graduated.
Broome based communications provider, Bush Telegraph Pty Ltd, would welcome the establishment of a Cisco Networking Academy Program in Broome, said Bushtel Managing Director, Greg Travelstead.
"Cisco's Networking Academy Program will provide important training and employment opportunities which are currently beyond the reach of North-West residents. It will also provide BushTel will the highly qualified personnel required to deploy and maintain Bushtel's WLL (Wireless Local Loop) network," Mr Travelstead said.
Kimberley College of TAFE, Broome Campus Manager, Mr John Weichert said as a result of Networking Academy's presence in Broome, "Our students will have access to the latest teaching and learning resources, so often only available to major cities. Graduates can enter the Information Technology Industry, having undertaken their training in the Kimberley, on an equal footing with their city cousins."
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Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at www.cisco.com.
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