Photo: Emily, one Substation 33’s workers, with one of the refurbished computers. Photo Supplied
AS Logan City students returned to ‘school’ for Term Two on Monday, for many, the idea of ‘remote learning’, rather than attending school for lessons, became a reality.
With computer and internet access vital for students to continue their education, one Logan City community group stepped up to support students without their own computer.
Substation 33, part of community support services organisation YFS, is providing rebuilt computers through its electronic waste recycling program to families around Logan.
Tony Sharp, Substation 33 manager, said the computers are sourced from government and private donors, including a number of former school units.
“The computers are refurbished, sanitised and loaded with Microsoft Office 10, within 30 minutes of getting home, students can be set up and working,” Mr Sharp said.
“These are all computers that were otherwise destined for landfill.”
Mr Sharp said school chaplains around Logan advised that only as few as 20 per cent of student populations had access to a computer at home.
“We put up a single post on our Facebook page about three weeks ago, saying we were launching this program, and we had 58,000 hits, showing us there is a great need for these computers.”
While the refurbished machines cost families $100, Mr Sharp said Substation 33 was also running a program called ‘Pay It Forward’, allowing community donors to purchase computers for families in need.
“As well as refugee and unemployed families, we recognise there are a lot of ‘working poor’ in Logan City, these are people who are employed, but they can’t afford a computer for their children, and we want to make sure they are supported as well.”
Mr Sharp said the Rotary Club of Beenleigh donated $2,000 to the program, to supply computers to 20 local families.
“We have pre-approved a number of families who cannot afford to buy a computer, if someone is able to donate $100, we can then supply a computer immediately to these families.”
Substation 33 started the computer refurbishment program eight years ago as part of its electronics recycling employment program, and is able to continue supplying machines as long as they can get computers to refresh.
“We prefer desktop units, with a proper keyboard and screen, we find that not only are they more durable, but they also encourage students to sit at a desk or table, to normalise the learning process, replicating the school environment.”
Logan City Council and Logan Together have also recently supplied funding to Substation 33 for the computer refurbishment program.
Cr Darren Power, Mayor of Logan, said the council’s top priority was the safety and wellbeing of the community, customers and staff.
“More people are working and studying from home and require support and technology to do so,” Cr Power said.
“Our community members are rising to these new challenges and Council is proud to support them on this fantastic initiative.”
Logan Together Director Matthew Cox said current social distancing requirements had reinforced the importance of every child having equal learning opportunities.
“Logan Together is focused on the wellbeing of every young child in our community and on what they need to thrive,” Mr Cox said.
Mr Sharp said Logan City families could register for the program by calling Substation 33 on 3826 1533, or by emailing info@substation33.com.au
“Anyone wanting to make a donation to ‘Pay It Forward’, to support a family in need, can contact us, and we can arrange to get a computer to a family in need.”
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