Beanbag

Inspire’s Beanbag program, launched in 2001, is a nationally recognised, award-winning program which is bridging the digital divide for many thousands of young people aged 14-25 in Australia’s most underserved urban communities.

Through the Beanbag Program we have established 20 Beanbag Centres in capital cities across Australia. Throughout 2004- 2005 16,000 of Australia’s most underserved young people had access to Beanbag facilities, providing them with with educational, social and employment opportunities through Internet and computer access, tailored training, and ongoing support.

The Beanbag Centres have also provided an important link that connects young people to vital health and social services within their local communities, thereby adding a critical second dimension to the initiative.

By providing digital infrastructure to youth agencies around the country and building their capacity around engaging young people in technology, Beanbag is extending the opportunities to young people who otherwise miss out.

The agencies in the Beanbag network support some of the most marginalised young people in our communities including indigenous youth, recently arrived refugees and homeless youth. Without Beanbag many of these young people would have little opportunity to access computers in an environment that is safe, supported and fun. Through the support of our donors we have been able to work with youth agencies to develop homework and employment programs. Through the national film competition we are able to give a voice to the stories of disadvantaged young people, taking them from anonymity to the broader community.

Each Beanbag Centre is provided with:

• Computer and Multimedia equipment

• Free Internet access for young people in youth-friendly locations i.e. youth centres;

• Tailored computer and Internet training for young people and youth centre staff, that will also provide them with skills to train others;

• Network-wide multimedia projects, including digital video production, and a digital photography training, offering a fun way to learn broader computer literacy and break down barriers to using technology;

• The development of local a community website (www.beanbag.net.au) that provide young people with an opportunity to continue building their technical skills, showcase their talents and thereby build a positive profile of young people and the communities in which they live.

Film Training

KickArse is a network-wide short film initiative which provides an opportunity for young people to develop a broad computer literacy base, learn multimedia and project management skills, build a showcase of their community and have their creative work shown at a national level. Each of the Beanbag Centres produces a short film around a specific theme that changes each year.

2004 ‘Life in’
2005 ‘Dreams’
2006 ‘Journey’

KickArse also breaks down barriers that prevent young people from using technology and provides an opportunity to learn vital computer and enterprise skills in an innovative and exciting way.
The project takes place in conjunction with revisits to each centre, which incorporate computer upgrades, basic computer training / refresher training, training in digital video editing and further computer maintenance.

In 2004 the KickArse training package was delivered to 3-4 youth workers at each Beanbag Centre, usually over a two day period, enabling them to train young people at the centre.
In 2005 we extended this training package directly to young people in two-day workshops during school holidays.



Digital Photography Training

Digital Eye is a photography training initiative and competition; it engages disadvantaged young people in a structured training program to develop their creative means of expression, technical skills and self-confidence. Learning photographic and computer-based image editing skills will help to break down barriers to using technology in other areas of their lives, including school and employment.
Digital Eye encourages young people to create personal photographic documents that bring to light a meaningful part of their lives. Taking part in a national competition allows them to gain a sense of accomplishment and reward, as well as feeling connected to a network of young people from different backgrounds, across Australia, sharing their story.
Winning entries will be selected based on creative expression and how the work relates to the given theme and exhibited as part of a national touring exhibition. Venues will include youth & community centres, museums, and corporate offices. The exhibitions will provide an insight into the multi-cultural and diverse realities shaping the lives of Australia’s young people today, their backgrounds, passions, challenges and joys. In addition it provides a platform for centres to establish a larger community presence and raise awareness of the services they provide.
The photography competition theme for 2006 is My Story.