How to get digital savvy

A TWO-month program aimed at improving digital literacy for people aged over fifty is currently taking place at the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House.

Having previously run the Be Connected program workshop program locally last year, the free initiative has returned with 15 remaining sessions scheduled until the end of June.

Funded by the Federal Government, the local delivery will be partly led by lead digital mentor Greg Horgan who said it’s important for mature aged people to be up to speed on all things to do with cyberspace.

“We live in a digital age,” he said. “I know some people would like to ignore it but of all the population that really needs access to digital services, it’d be the over-50s.

“For example, if they want to deal with any health services, they have to deal with digital. They need a MyGov account because most medical places do their billing online through EFTPOS.

“Older people like to read newspapers and that’s changing as well. We had a couple from Smythes Creek who didn’t want to move into town and learned how to do everything online.”

Upcoming session topics range from social media safety to accessing MyGov services, hacker and scam protection tactics, and iPad use.

Mr Horgan said the workshop program is complemented with one-on-one sessions for those with individual questions or who need additional support.

“People can drop in with anything. I just had someone who wanted to change internet providers but wasn’t sure how to do it,” he said.

“If they attend one of the workshops, they can also have another hour one-on-one if they’ve got a particular issue to go through that needs more than a quick answer.”

Mr Horgan is available for one-on-one sessions at Barkly Square from 9.30am to 11.30am on Wednesdays until the end of June.

To register for any of the remaining Be Connected workshop sessions, visit bit.ly/49Xis3h.