Kangan Institute Wireless LAN Upgrade Project

This project is funded by the Australian Government through the Teaching and Learning Capital Fund (TLCF) for Vocational Education and Training (VET).

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has approved funding of $2,708,627 under the Teaching and Learning Capital Fund (TLCF) - Better TAFE Facilities (BTF) program for Kangan Institute. The funding is to establish 'on campus network services (wireless)' to staff and students.

This means that Kangan Institute students and staff will have access to wireless coverage in all classrooms, staff rooms, student common rooms and external spaces. This project will turn all indoor and outdoor spaces at Kangan Institute into new wireless learning areas.

Kangan Institute's project team has concluded their evaluation and negotiations regarding the scope of works and the actual structure of the Wireless network with DIIRD and Optus. Physical works to implement the network are due for commencement in early January.

Technical Information

The Wireless LAN will be built in accordance with Cisco's Unified Wireless Network (UWN) framework - which is a lightweight access point architecture in which all processing and intelligence is done by centralised Wireless LAN Controllers (WLC). This solution will use 802.11n draft 2.0 standards which are backward compatible with 802.11a/g standards and therefore offers access flexibility.

The WLAN will also have a guest provisioning feature to allow guests to access the internet and home networks via the wireless network using a feature known as the Guest Lobby Administration.

The image shows the WLAN architecture for Broadmeadows.

Project Board

A project board has been established to provide overarching governance and leadership to the project. The project board will ensure the IT governance procedures will follow as per described in the governance document.

Role of the project board:

1. Undertake the governance of the project in accordance with the IT governance procedures adopted by Kangan Institute and accepted by the project board.
2. Conclude the design, delivery and implementation process including:
   1. Assurance of the appropriate communications protocols to all stakeholders
   2. Assurance of appropriate measures taken by Kangan Institute in their readiness to implement the wireless changes on their existing network infrastructure
   3. Ensure governance and probity measures are observed at all times
3. Facilitate resolution of issues with stakeholders
4. Approve project deliverables and stage closures
5. Ensure completion of all agreed project deliverables and
6. Provide progress reports to Skills Victoria