HHERN provides communication services to connect educational institutions to the Australian Academic and Research Network (AARNet). HHERN aggregates the institutions under HHERN’s membership with AARNet. This sharing allows our regional schools and institutions to connect to AARNet at a lower cost.
For schools, the formula is simple: total dollar costs to HHERN divided by the number of students. The cost per head is reduced as we add schools and students.
For non-school institutions an estimate of network usage is determined and a fee is then put into the formula which again reduces the participation costs.
The simple aim of HHERN is to provide exceptional educational Internet access that would otherwise be cost prohibitive.
HHERN is made possible by the support and co-operation of Australian Bio Resources (an operating entity of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research www.garvan.org.au),UNSW, AARNet, Wingecarribee Shire Council and Ace Internet Services.
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Allen Cupitt's Biography
Allen Cupitt was born in Bowral NSW in 1962. His wife Kathy and three boys currently live in the township of Berrima in the Southern Highlands of NSW.
With a background in both manufacturing and information technology, Allen has combined these fields throughout his career to find solutions to a range of technical problems.
Allen has been a Company Director for over 20 years, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has been an IT Consultant for over 25 years, established Ace Software Pty Ltd in 1990, and then Ace Internet Services Pty Ltd in 1995. He continues to lead a dedicated and talented team that is keen to make a difference in the community.
Allen is a Charter Member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Berrima District. He has received two Paul Harris Fellowship awards for community service, and continues as a member of that club. He is one of the founders and a life member of the Southern Highlands Computer Users Group. He also is a Director and Deputy Chairman of the Berrima District Credit Union, and previously served as Chairman for three years. He is on the Management Committee of the Highlands Community Centre that provides support for disadvantaged people, the Vice President of the Alpine Aylmerton Rural Fire Brigade, and the President of the Southern Highlands Youth Arts Council (SHYAC).
In more recent times, he established the Highlands Health Education Research Network Pty Ltd (HHERN) with the help and support of a broad range of organisations to solve the problem of internet access for the Southern Highlands community. Allen continues to support HHERN as Managing Director, presenting lectures at industry events and to community organisations. The HHERN project underscores Allen and his team’s ethos of feeding into the community not off it. |
