Computer Pals Blacktown Inc

The aim of the "Club" is to teach computer skills to "Senior Citizens" residing in the Blacktown Shire.

Computer Pals Blacktown started in October 2000 with two old 486 computers, one teacher, six students, and located in the back room of the club founder, and first club president, Ellen Long. This was followed by seventeen months of rather slow but steady progress. The continued growth resulted in greater demands in all aspects of the club: these demands being for more classes, teachers, teacher assistants, computers, printers, scanners, copiers, and "SPACE".

The opportunity to move to new premises became available early in 2002 and the committee readily took up the offer. "We now had our new club house" (although rented), the committee and members were enthusiastic and excited about the future! This became effective Thursday January 31st 2002. The club could now run a dedicated classroom, a second room for special classes, Internet, and office use.

The teaching centre is at 9 Kent Street, Blacktown, where we have 13 computers (all networked to a dedicated server), with connection to Internet broadband, printers, scanners, and a photocopier.

A second room is set up at Kent Street which caters for a maximum of 6 students (Beginner/Transition level only).

During 2008, we held a total of 16 classes at Kent Street, at the following levels: four Beginners, three Transition, three Intermediate 1/2, two Intermediate 2/3, and four Intermediate 3/Advanced classes, under the watchful eyes of 5 teachers, and 10 teacher assistants.

Each class is for a two hour period and covers all Microsoft applications as well as many 'art' type programs, including card making, scrapbooking, digital photography work, slide shows, photo albums, etc.

Classes are held Monday to Saturday: firstly from 9.30 am to 11.30 am and then again from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm (although these class times are flexible to cater for teacher availability). Class sizes vary from four to 13 members.

Currently the club has one hundred and seventy (170) financial members. The committee, teachers, and teacher assistants are all voluntary positions.

Special courses cover basic digital cameras and computer hardware are also held twice a year and run for approximately eight weeks.