Become a tech savvy senior by learning new digital skills

Are you keen to improve your digital skills or know someone who is?

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said local residents could soon learn about smartphones, tablets, cyber safety, email, social media and more at free Tech Savvy Seniors workshops after Fraser Coast Libraries won a $10,000 grant.

“We don’t want older Australians to miss out on the benefits of being connected and participating in this digital age,” he said.

“The Tech Savvy Seniors programs will help our older residents develop the skills and confidence to use technology, and ensure we have better digital and social inclusion as a community.”

Cr David Lewis said Tech Savvy Seniors workshops would be planned in line with the anticipated easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

“Hervey Bay and Maryborough libraries will soon have interactive screens, which will help staff deliver workshops while maintaining social distancing requirements,” he said.

“These new workshops will build on the DigiLearn and DigiHelp sessions our libraries already offer remotely by phone.”

For help with free Be Connected courses at beconnected.esafety.gov.au, phone 4190 5781 on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month between 9.30am and 11am or 1pm and 2.30pm, or on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month between 9.30am and 11am.

For quick questions or troubleshooting, phone 4190 5781 for DigiHelp between 1pm and 3pm every Thursday.

Cr Lewis said library members also had access to free video learning through Lynda.com, which offered more than 13,000 online courses on topics such as cybersecurity awareness, Windows 10 essentials, and job search strategies.

“There are many more online resources available via the library’s website,” he said.

Cr Seymour said Fraser Coast residents were encouraged to join online or in person at their local library and use their library membership number and password to access the online training via the eLearning page of the libraries website: frasercoast.qld.gov.au/elearning.

For more information, go to frasercoast.qld.gov.au/libraries or phone 4197 4220.

Tech Savvy Seniors Queensland is a partnership between the Queensland Government, State Library of Queensland and Telstra.

Fraser Coast Libraries receives financial assistance from the Queensland Government through State Library of Queensland.