TOPICS ON THIS PAGE
1. ALA Online Blackboard Collaborate Sessions
The Online Blackboard Collaborate sessions are hosted by Adult Learning Australia for BFS volunteer tutors. Click
here to read information about the next session and how to register and participate.
2. Police Check Information
The Australian Government requires all BFS volunteer tutors to have a current valid police check. Note: A BFS volunteer tutor is defined as anyone who tutors a senior at a BFS Kiosk. Click
here for information on BFS police check requirements and how to apply for a police check through NEC or provide evidence of a current valid police check to NEC.
3. BFS User Guides
NEC has written a number of BFS User Guides as a result of common questions raised by seniors and tutors on how to use various functions and applications on a Kiosk computer. The User Guides are located at the bottom of the Home page for anyone to download.
4. Kiosk Host Reports – May 2011
Kiosk Host reports submitted to NEC in May 2011 have been compiled into an Adobe file. This file is located half way down the Home page for anyone to download and read the case studies.
FaHCSIA Police Checks Policy Statement
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) requires that any person working as a volunteer tutor in a Broadband for Seniors kiosk must be appropriately screened to have contact with vulnerable people.
This requirement is to protect the physical, financial, psychological and emotional wellbeing of all participants in the Broadband for Seniors initiative.
In doing business with FaHCSIA Broadband for Seniors kiosk hosts must comply with FaHCSIA policy.
NEC Australia is responsible for coordinating Police Checks for all Broadband for Seniors volunteer tutors, and is accredited as a CrimTrac agent for this purpose. The CrimTrac Police Check process involves
- Searching a central index containing names of persons of interest,
- Referring possible matches to the relevant police services for evaluation against their records, and
- Undertaking a risk assessment, before a decision is made to allow a person who has a serious, criminal or court record to be a volunteer tutor for Broadband for Seniors.
DO YOU HAVE A CURRENT VALID POLICE CHECK?
If you have a current valid police check (e.g. Working with Children, Blue Card, National Police Certificate, etc) please contact the BFS team via the helpline to advise us of the check details (e.g. check name, check number, check type, check expiry date, your kiosk name and number, and your email address. NEC will also require for its records a copy of the check or card as evidence of a successful police check.
TO APPLY FOR A POLICE CHECK THROUGH NEC
NEC Australia will meet all costs associated with Police Checks for Broadband for Seniors processed through CrimTrac.
You can download the BFS police check application form from the BFS home page under Project Documents. The form is called ‘BFS NCHC Application’ and contains all information necessary to complete it. However, if you have any questions, please ring the BFS helpline on ph. 1300 795 897 and select option 2.
TO APPLY FOR A POLICE CHECK BY ANOTHER METHOD
You can apply through your local State or Territory police service/station for a police check. However, this will be at your own expense and the cost will not be reimbursed by NEC. NEC will require for its records a copy of the check as evidence of a successful police check.
Broadband for Seniors Volunteer Tutors email list to keep in touch
BFS Volunteer Tutors are invited to join a google group set up specifically for BFS Volunteer Tutors. You can sign yourself up (request an invitation) with a google account at http://groups.google.com.au/group/bfsvolunteer/.
Come and help build the community – join the discussion!
UPCOMING Online Blackboard Collaborate Session for Volunteer Tutors and BFS Host Administrators
Title: 'Cyber smart: Getting clued in on cyber safety'
Date: Friday, 1 June 2012
When: 1.00pm - 2.30pm AEST (12.30pm ACST, 11.00am AWST)
Presenter: Keith Harvey
Uncertainty about security and privacy can stop some senior Australians from accessing the Internet. This clearly affects their ability to participate fully in the digital economy.
Some seniors are more likely to encounter cyber crime because they lack information about security. As a result, online scams may target and exploit older Internet users.
This session is all about cyber safety and the importance of adopting safe and secure Internet practices.
Our presenter, Keith Harvey, will:
- outline the different types of online security issues and scams
- provide some simple strategies to help maintain online security.
Armed with the knowledge, senior Australians can reap the benefits and opportunities available online.
Register your interest in attending this session with Adult Learning Australia (ALA) here: https://ala.asn.au/broadband-for-seniors/
*************************
I'm new at all this. I've registered, now what do I do?
Firstly, make sure your computer is ready to run your Blackboard Collaborate (BC) session. The procedure is quite simple - just s
tart by going to this website: http://tinyurl.com/ellconfig . it will check your computer and step you through some easy 'techy' type steps as shown below.
(Note: if clicking the link doesn't work then copy and paste it into your browsers address bar. Alternatively go to http://www.elluminate.com/support and click the link for 'Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing'. Also be aware that 'Blackboard Collaborate' was formerly known as Elluminate Live! so don't worry about seeing name changes).
Step 1 will automatically check your computer operating system out and that Java is installed and up to date. If Java is not installed, or not current, then it will provide links to download and install the necessary Java files. (Java is a widely used programming language provided free by Sun Oracle. It's perfectly safe to install and is probably already on your PC.)
Step 2 on the website asks you to click a link to check the configuration. Although it is optional, we highly recommend you do check your sound system and also see what a BC session looks like.
The link actually downloads a small file called meeting.jnlp. Depending on your browser and security settings it may automatically run, or you may have to double click it or authorise it to run.
The session may take a couple of minutes to be up and running, so twiddle your thumbs and watch the progress bar.
Configuring your system:
- Configure your audio: Select menu Tools > Audio > Audio Setup Wizard and follow the directions in the wizard.
If you have trouble getting acceptable audio settings then check you are plugged in correctly, any inline controls on the cable are OK an that you are not 'muted' in Windows. Also try altering tick boxes in BC menu Edit > Preferences > Audio Microphone and Speaker Settings.
Note: although they are not mandatory, we strongly recommend using PC headsets or echo cancellation microphone/speakers within BC for the highest quality experience.
- Set your internet connection speed: Select menu Edit > Preferences > Session > Connection. Select the type of internet connection you have.
- Set your profile: Select menu Edit > Profile > My Profile. This is not essential, but your name, where you are and even a photo is nice for other participants to see. The profile gets saved to the computer (I think!)
- Feel free to explore although there is not much else you can do in the configuration room
OK, I've done all that configuration stuff, now what happens?
A couple of days before the session, you will be sent an email with a link to join the session. Just read the instructions in it - don't lose the email.
On the day you will click that link in the email and it will download a small file. Depending on the browser you are using you many need to click Run or click to authorise it. Then wait about 1-2 minutes and the Blackboard Collaborate session will start up with you shown as a participant.