Skills.net is a State Government of Victoria Connecting Communities initiative working to ensure that everybody is able to access the resources of the Internet.

The State Government of Victoria's strategy for Information and Communication Technologies Connecting Victoria outlines other Connecting Communities initiatives.

Skills.net provides free or affordable Internet training and access to those Victorians who wouldn't otherwise have such access. By creating or expanding existing community-based Internet facilities, Skills.net is making available new technology, multimedia equipment and training to meet the information and communication needs of all Victorians.

Skills.net projects, coordinated by community organisations such as neighbourhood houses, community centres and public libraries, are giving Victorians the skills and online services they need to understand the Internet and make the Net work.

By 30 August 2003, the target of 80,000 citizens to receive Internet training and access through Skills.net projects across Victoria was reached, nine months ahead of schedule. Currently the Skills.net program has trained and provided access to more than 100,000 members of the Victorian community. In particular, Skills.net is assisting technologically disadvantaged communities, including those in rural and remote Victoria, people with disabilities, women, older Victorians, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, indigenous Australians and low income earners.

The Skills.net program, funded by Multimedia Victoria and coordinated by VICNET, is raising community awareness and understanding of the benefits of online technologies.