Infoxchange Australia has evolved from one man's determination to improve how housing workers could find emergency accommodation for their at-risk clients, to a national organisation providing the full range of information and communication technology services, assisting in the delivery of quality community services, and connecting those previously left behind to the 'information age'. Infoxchange began as an online emergency housing database, years before the internet became readily available as a method of online communication. More services and records were then added to the database, and more agencies became connected via additional modem lines, and what started as the Housing Bulletin Board Network became Infoxchange, offering computer training, interactive information sewvices, website design and the rest of the services we offer today.

For more information, please see the timeline of events. The Age also covered the history of Infoxchange in a 2007 article, 'High tech, high hopes'.
 

Timeline

1988

A working party is established to examine how computer technology can improve the delivery of housing services to low income earners.

1989

Grants are received to carry out a feasibility study into a computer based housing information network, and to develop software for an emergency housing database. The Housing Bulletin Board Network, Infoxchange's predecessor is established.

1990

The emergency housing database is completed, and updating is done remotely. The Housing Bulletin Board Network gains six users.

1991

The first full-time worker is employed, and an online emergency housing network is set up across Melbourne's inner urban region.

1992

The user base reaches 120 agencies, and the accommodation database contains 900 records.

1993

A youth services database is designed and more than 1400 services are entered. Four full-time staff are employed.

1994

The youth services database is funded by the Office for Youth and is merged into the accommodation database. More than 8400 services are contained in the database.

1995

The database moves to the internet, as a result of demand from rural Victorian services. An interactive policy development and feedback service is set up, along with a training centre for people to learn computer applications.

1996

The Housing Bulletin Board Network becomes the Victorian Housing and Youth Information Exchange, or the info Xchange. The info Xchange begins to provide internet access and creates world wide web pages for the community sector.

1997

The database grows to 20,000 records and a mobile training unit is established.

1998

A content management system model is established for managing news, documents and calendars.

1999

The info Xchange moves to new premises at 375 Johnston Street, Abbotsford.

2000

The info Xchange wins a Stockholm Challenge award, which recognises the use of information and communication technology for development. The info Xchange also sends its first electronic newsletter, the Community Infocast.

2001

An electronic referral system is created and computer refurbishment business, Green PC, is established. Green PC is nominated as a Stockholm Challenge finalist.

2002

The info Xchange receives its third consecutive Stockholm Challenge nomination, for the 'Reach for the Clouds' project at Atherton Gardens in Fitzroy.

2003

Green PC expands to Perth and Brisbane. The info Xchange becomes Infoxchange Australia and establishes and online employment website.

2004

Infoxchange receives a Hitwise award for the most popular community website, and community services directory Service Seeker is a Stockholm Challenge finalist.

2005

Green PC sets up an office in Canberra.

2006

Tulun Dili (later Info Timor), an organisation based on the Infoxchange model, is created to serve the technology needs of individuals and organisations in East Timor.

2007

Community interpreting and translating service Language Factory is created, and Infoxchange conducts audits of Aboriginal child care and health organisations in rural Australia.

2008

Wired Community@Collingwood connects more than 1000 residents to the internet and supplies them with a computer. Info Timor is nominated as a Stockholm Challenge finalist.

2009

Infoxchange begins to undertake an information and communication technology audit of more than 120 community organisations in Victoria.