culture.gov.au

Connecting you with Australian culture online

Guide 10. Where can I get help?

Getting help developing your website (screen 2 of 3)

You can get help from a number of places when you decide to establish a website:

1. Organisations which have already gone through the process

A very valuable resource is another cultural organisation (or any organisation for that matter) which has already undergone the process of establishing a website. Learn from them, even if only about the best people to use to help with your site.

2. Website developers or Internet professionals

• Computer companies, Internet Service Providers (ISPs)(1), multimedia companies, and some graphic design studios have people with expert knowledge about the Internet, and people who could help you with any problems you may have. Companies which provide Internet support advertise in Australian Internet magazines, computer magazines, and the computer pages of newspapers.
• There is a listing in the YellowPages(2) under Internet Services.
• Those people and businesses which sell you your computer hardware and software are important sources of help for you in developing your website.
• Computer user groups are a useful resource. The best way to tap into them is through computer shops and magazines.

3. Your ISP and/or your organisation's IT team

For more general help, an ISP is useful. They can provide technical information, supply a variety of access options and hosting services. If your organisation has its own IT team, talk to them about what assistance they can provide.

4. Books and magazines

The Internet is developing so rapidly, and books can take several months (at least) to be published, so it's difficult to suggest particular titles.

For books about the Internet, visit online bookstores and type in search terms such as 'Internet' or 'Web' or 'HTML' to find books that have been published on those topics. Many online bookstores also provide reviews of these books. You can often order and pay for the books online.

Some good online bookshops in Australia are the Co-op Bookshop(3), and DA books(4). One of the largest online bookshops is Amazon Books(5) in the USA.

Visit local bookshops and take the opportunity to look at the computer book section.

Read specialist Internet magazines - it's a growing area of the magazine market.

5. The Internet

This set of Internet Development Guides is just one example of the help available online. There are a number of similar websites, but this one has been written specifically with cultural organisations in mind.

If you have trouble understanding some terms used in relation to the Internet, FOLDOC, the Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing(6), Netdictionary(7) and the Whatis.com(8) sites could be useful to you.

6. Professional associations

• Members of the Australian Interactive Multimedia Industry Association (AIMIA)(9) are developers of websites and multimedia materials. AIMIA's website can provide you with a list of companies or individuals in your area who have the types of skills you require.
• The Endorsed Supplier Arrangement(10) includes Government-accredited companies - some of which develop websites.
• Universities(11) and Australia's six Cooperative Multimedia Centres(12) are sources of support and information.
• The Australian Film Commission(13) has information on organisations that support the acquisition of digital media skills and run training courses. They also have a useful free handout Interactive Digital Media: Where to Get Money, Information and Advice(14).
• The Yellow Pages, either the paper version or the online version(15), contains listings of others who can provide help. Look under Internet Services.

References

1. Guide 6 screen 5 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g6/s5.htm
2. Telstra Yellow Pages http://www.yellowpages.com.au/ 
3. Co-op Bookshop http://www.coop-bookshop.com.au/
4. DA Direct http://www.dadirect.com.au/
5. Amazon Books http://www.amazon.com/
6. FOLDOC: the free online dictionary of computing http://www.foldoc.org/
7. Netdictionary http://www.netdictionary.com/html/
8. Whatis?com http://whatis.techtarget.com/
9. AIMIA home page http://www.aimia.com.au/
10. Endorsed Supplier Arrangement http://www.esa.finance.gov.au/
11. Australian Education Network: List of Australian Universities http://www.australian-universities.com/list/
12. Cooperative Multimedia Centres
    http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/higher_education/programmes_funding/programme_categories/key_priorities/cooperative_multimedia_centres_programme.htm
13. Australian Film Commission
    http://www.afc.gov.au/faqs/careers/work_exp/dig_media/faq_8.aspxl
14. Australian Film Commission handout
    http://www.afc.gov.au/faqs/digmedadv/faq_28.aspx
15. Telstra Yellow Pages http://www.yellowpages.com.au/