Are you over 60? Do you know your way around a web browser like Google Chrome, Explorer, Safari or Firefox? Consider yourself a dab hand with Facebook and Skype? Are you an enthusiastic convert to online banking or shopping?
If you can answer yes to even one of these questions, you are invited to sign up to be a mentor as part of 2016’s National Year of Digital Inclusion.
The National Year of Digital Inclusion is a key component of a wider four-year digital literacy program being driven by ‘Go Digi’, a partnership between not-for-profit social enterprise, Infoxchange and Australia Post.
Its mission is to raise awareness of the importance of digital literacy, improve digital literacy skills across the whole community and encourage more people to participate in the digital world.
The risk of the digital divide
The goal of ‘digital inclusion’ is rapidly becoming crucial as more and more aspects of modern society and daily life have become web-based and digitally focused.
According to Infoxchange CEO, David Spriggs, one in five Australians – around four million people – are not online.
“This means they’re not able to take advantage of the education, health and social benefits of being connected.”
Technology journalist, author and technology advocate, Brad Howarth, is one of the National Year of Digital Inclusion (NYDI) champions. He says it is absolutely vital to bring it to the attention of all Australians that a digital divide does exist today and if we don’t all act to bring it together, then that divide will grow wider over time.
“Digital literacy is basically a ticket to play in modern Australian society,” he says
“If you don’t have digital skills, if you don’t have access to digital channels, you very quickly find yourself on the outside of the way society is evolving.”
Breaking down the barriers
David Spriggs says research has found that the major barriers to ‘digital engagement’ – people participating in the digital world – are skills and confidence.
To help address that, throughout the NYDI year there will be Go Digi community Pop Up Festivals, conversation forums and face-to-face learning events in every state and territory. That’s where the call for tech-savvy mentors comes in.
The program aims to sign up 10 000 mentors to offer their support to their friends, family and work colleagues.
President of the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association, Nan Bosler, is close on the case. She believes the role of older mentors is critical in bridging the digital divide.
“At the moment there are many senior Australians who see no value or no importance in being connected to the internet and they are going to need some mentoring.
“Someone is going to have to sit down next to them and talk with them and say, well look, it’s not difficult to do. And look at the changes you can have, once you can connect to your family! And what a difference it’s going to make!” she says.
Be a mentor
“You’re very good at what you do and I am sure it will make such a difference to their lives. Be a mentor. What you can do for someone else is important,” she says.
The NYDI organisers are keen to emphasise that mentors do NOT need to be ‘highly skilled’ in using the internet and digital technology.
Mr Spriggs points to a Go Digi national poll that found that while almost 90 percent of Australians have been asked at some stage to help others with online activities, six in 10 have avoided doing it, mainly because they don’t feel confident enough themselves.
“Around 50 per cent of people think they are not experienced enough or not a good teacher,” said Mr Spriggs, “but you don’t need to be a technology guru to help someone.”
“If we all help one person, before we know it everyone will have the skills they need to engage with the online world.”
Click here to sign up to be a mentor for the National Year of Digital Inclusion
Click here to go to the calendar of events for National Year of Digital Inclusion.
To find out more, or to watch the short videos of the NYDI champions, visit www.godigi.org.au/NYDI
