该项目由西澳大利亚盲人协会管理，其目的就是使视力弱势群体能够在网络领域找到工作。这个项目由来自电子和计算机工程系的Iain Murray,和科廷科技大学信息系统学院的Helen Armstrong博士共同负责。同时参与此项目的还有福利部部长Sheila McHale MLA、西澳大利亚盲人协会首席执行官Margaret女士、Cisco系统公司的诸位代表以及就业与工作场所关系部的职员们。

　　Crowley博士说：“思科网络技术学院将为西澳大利亚盲人协会提供一流的设施作为澳大利亚残疾人技能训练中心的一部分。对与科庭科技大学，思科网络技术公司以及澳大利亚政府形成的这种创新、多产的合作关系，西澳大利亚盲人协会感到非常的自豪，同时，澳大利亚政府已经对该项目下的就业创新基金和雇主需求示范工程基金资助了一年。”

　　Crowley博士还说：“在这种合作关系下，我们希望通过一系列的行业以及信息技能的培训能够提高盲人或视力弱视群体的就业机会。”

　　Curtin celebrates world-first project for vision impaired

　　The Academy will be run by the Association for the Blind of WA and will enable its vision impaired participants to find employment in the networking field.

　　Iain Murray, from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in Science And Engineering, and Dr Helen Armstrong from the School of Information Systems at Curtin Business School, lead this project.

　　The Hon. Sheila McHale MLA, Minister for Disability Services, attended the event, along with Dr Margaret Crowley, CEO for the Association for the Blind of WA, senior Cisco Systems Inc representatives and staff from the Department of Employment & Workplace Relations (DEWR).

　　Dr Crowley said The Cisco Networking Academy will reside within the Association’s world-class facility as part of the first Industry Skills Centre in Australia for people with disabilities.

　　“The Association for the Blind of WA is extremely proud of the innovative and productive partnership formed between the Association, Curtin and Cisco as well as the Australian Government, who have funded the first year of the project under the Employment Innovation Fund and Employer Demand Demonstration Project Fund,” she said.

　　“With this partnership we aim to enhance the employment opportunities for people who are blind or vision impaired through leading industry training and information technology skills.

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