By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
DANDENONG charity Avocare has branched out into neighbouring Casey to offer computers to students who are unable to afford the vital link to the world wide web.
The Work for the Dole scheme transforms old dying computers and provides them free to anyone who needs one.
Avocare training manager Deb Hutton said it was the first time the organisation had run the computer rescue program.
“We’re targeting school students and low income families who are going back to school,” Ms Hutton said.
“This gives them an opportunity to get a computer for nothing which includes a monitor and hard drive – the only things they have to buy are a keyboard and mouse.”
Dandenong and Casey residents are encouraged to donate computers they no longer use to the program to be restored, cleaned and rebooted for someone in need.
“To pick one up we just need to see a healthcare card because we want to make sure we are donating them to the right people, those who are genuinely struggling,” she said.
Computers started piling in at Avocare’s Cranbourne workshop in November and about 30 computers are ready to be donated.
Ms Hutton said 18 the Work for the Dole participants decided whether the computer are useable, before installing new software and testing and tagging all cords.
“The great thing about this program is that people can pick up everything they need to make an office or study nook,” Ms Hutton said.
“We sell office furniture as well so someone can get an office desk and chair, a filing cabinet as well as a computer.”
Ms Hutton suggests people speak with the Work for the Dole team about which computer will best suit them.
“Each computer will have different programs on it so one might suit someone better than another,” she said.
The program finishes in early April.
