Frequently Asked Questions

What is VicSmart?

VicSmart is an $89.3 million Victorian Government initiative under which a new fibre optic broadband network will be provided to Victorian government schools over four years.

The VicSmart initiative was announced in the 2004-2005 State Budget and was officially launched in October 2005.

What does VicSmart mean for my child?

VicSmart will open up a new world of learning for all Victorian government school students. VicSmart means a faster and more efficient internet connection and access to the latest online information. Students, teachers, administrative staff and schools as a whole will all benefit from a high speed broadband connection.

For further details, see the Benefits section of this website.

What is the broadband network?

The broadband network is a wide area network that provides Victorian government schools with a ten, twenty or fifty megabit per second (10/20/50Mbps) fibre optic bandwidth connection. The network is used to securely link schools to each other and the Departmental hosted systems as well as provide the conduit for access to the Internet and other rich content services.

Schools allocation of bandwidth is calculated based on enrolment sizes and location. Schools are able to upgrade their links if desired and should contact DEECD Service Desk for enquiries of this nature.

Who is the new network provider?

Telstra was appointed as the provider of the new network by the Victorian Government under its Telecommunications Purchasing and Management Strategy (TPAMS).

Who should I contact for more information?

Schools requiring more technical related information should visit the ICT in schools website or phone the DEECD Service Desk on 1800 641 943.

Parents seeking more information on the ICT facilities available in their school should contact their school Principal.