CCNR, together with a number of other key organisations in Australia, has prepared an imporant report about the representation of third or non-profit sector interests to government through a National Non Profit Information Technology Council (NNIC).

The Report has now been released by the Commonwealth.

15 May 2007

Prof Don Schauder and Dr Graeme Johanson have been invited by the Australian government to participate in the week-long Summit to represent the views of Australian civil society on such matters as Internet governance and digital inclusion globally.

Also see Monash Memo

May 2, 2005. The Centre for Community Networking Research at Monash University has finalised the consultation process and presented the Draft Information Economy Strategy for Australian Civil Society to the Information Economy Division of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. See the attachment.

The Challenge, the Outcome, and the Opportunity.

From http://www.itu.int/wsis/basic/about.html.

The Challenge

The global information society is evolving at breakneck speed. The
accelerating convergence between telecommunications, broadcasting
multimedia and information and communication technologies (ICTs) is
driving new products and services, as well as ways of conducting
business and commerce. At the same time, commercial, social and
professional opportunities are exploding as new markets open to
competition and foreign investment and participation. The modern world
is undergoing a fundamental transformation as the industrial society
that marked the 20th century rapidly gives way to the information
society of the 21st century. This dynamic process promises a
fundamental change in all aspects of our lives, including knowledge
dissemination, social interaction, economic and business practices,
political engagement, media, education, health, leisure and
entertainment. We are indeed in the midst of a revolution, perhaps the
greatest that humanity has ever experienced. To benefit the world
community, the successful and continued growth of this new dynamic
requires global discussion

What is Civil Society?

Civil society is an all-encompassing term often used to refer to social structures and interests beyond the household and outside state institutions, including voluntary associations and non-profit organisations where people combine for their collective interests. These voluntary associations draw from community, neighbourhood, work and other connections. Civil society includes social movements or community based organizations where people come together to advance their interests. The term is not commonly used in Australia, but in Europe and elsewhere it is strongly identified with the collective interests of citizens beyond the operation of government.

Second Round of Consultations: December 2004 - February 2005

The Centre for Community Networking Research at Monash University has
been funded by the Information Economy Division of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts to identify Australian Civil Society
priorities and strategies for the information economy, related to the
take up and effective use of ICT and to the priorities and strategies
contained in the Government's Australia's Strategic Framework for the
Information Economy 2004-2006 (http://www.dcita.gov.au/ie).

May 2, 2005. The Centre for Community Networking Research at Monash University
has finalised the consultation process and presented the Draft
Information Economy Strategy for Australian Civil Society, to the Information
Economy Division of the Department of Communications, Information Technology
and the Arts.

The Centre for Community Networking Research at Monash University has been funded by the Information Economy Division of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts to identify Australian Civil Society priorities and strategies for the information economy, related to the take up and effective use of ICT and to the priorities and strategies contained in the Government's Au