A BUS converted into Australia’s most high-tech vehicle has hit the road to educate regional, remote and rural Australia about the digital world.
Tim Gentle’s Think Digital Coach was launched at last week’s Broadband for the Bush forum.
“It’s a mobile classroom and is going to be travelling regional, rural and remote Australia delivering digital education to those most in need,” Mr Gentle told the North Queensland Register.
The recycled coach is a story in itself. Tim entered a Facebook competition run by the coach’s former owners, Young Bus Service at Rockhampton, and his vision for the bus impressed so much he won it.
After launching the Think Digital Coach at the forum, Tim and his crew hit the road for the northwest Mallee region in Victoria. The coach will set up at the ICPA annual conference in Alpha in early September.
The bus has 12 work stations with laptops and internet connectivity. It can deliver one-on-one dedicated sessions or group training.
Mr Gentle said he hoped to leverage off large events.
“Our aim is to not visit the big towns,” Mr Gentle said. “This coach is kitted out to deliver workshops in any time and in any place in Australia. I can pull up in the middle of Oodnadatta and push a button and bang I have 10 computers on board and can run classes.”
Mr Gentle, a former dairyfarmer from Victoria, is calling the journey a “digital crusade”.
“I am out there fighting for those in the bush that are being left behind, whether it’s bringing awareness, education or hope,” Mr Gentle said. “I have been educating in this space for 10 years but I always thought there was a need for the more remote people so this is my next mission.”
While at the internet forum, the Think Digital Coach received an offer of free satellite connectivity from Optus.
“Prior to that we were relying on 3G and 4G which is fairly temperamental to even consider this ambitious plan,” Mr Gentle said. “It means everybody now that I visit will have access to that satellite technology.
“If I give people a taste then potentially they might consider installing it in their communities, on their properties and in their towns.”
“People and communities must be able to participate in the significant economic development opportunities that exist in the digital world. It’s a very big country; we can’t physically get everywhere we need to go with one coach.
“While we look for support to grow a national #ThinkDigitalCoach network, we will get where we can in person and make a suite of programs available online to provide remote digital education options.”
