Digital Mentoring

We provide digital mentoring to older adults

We connect you with a patient and skilled volunteer Tech Mate, who will tailor their support to assist you in your digital learning journey.

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Research demonstrates that those aged 65 and over are among the least digitally included groups in Australia, with nearly 43% of people over 75 years of age highly excluded from our increasingly digital world.[1]

elderly man and woman sitting outside, greenery in background. The man is holding an iPad and he is waving, they are both smiling.

The consequences of being digitally excluded are wide-ranging and profound, including:

  • Increased social isolation and loneliness.[2]
  • Diminished ability to fully participate in the world.[3]
  • Broad, negative impacts on physical and mental health.[4]

These consequences are compounded when combined with other variables including:

  • Being female.[5]
  • Coming from a lower socioeconomic background.[6]
  • Living in a regional, rural, or remote area.[7]

To address these issues, we provide digital mentoring to older adults (65+, or 50+ if they identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander) in the Nepean ACPR.

These sessions are one-on-one, face-to-face with a Tech Mate (digital mentor), who will tailor their support to whatever their Learner wants or needs, to become competent and confident online. This can include:

  • Getting to know a particular device (laptop, phone, tablet etc).
  • Learning activities such as email, text, or video calls.
  • Performing housekeeping duties such as banking or grocery shopping.
  • Tapping into entertainment such as streaming favourite shows, playing games, or participating in hobbies.

[1] La Trobe University. (2018). Digital divide: getting seniors online.
[2, 3, 4] UNECE. (2021). Ageing in the Digital Era
[5, 6, 7] La Trobe University. (2018). Digital divide: getting seniors online.

 

At the Digital Literacy Foundation, we strive to shift perceptions and attitudes towards technology, to increase basic digital skills, and to empower older adults to use technology in their daily lives.

All Digital Literacy Foundation clients can self-refer or be referred from other organisations, including aged care, health, or community services. Our services are client-driven, in that volunteers take their cues from the client. This ensures that our clients receive the digital and social outcomes they desire.

Current Digital Mentoring Programs​

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Click & Connect at Penrith Library

In partnership with Penrith City Council, the Digital Literacy Foundation provides tech lessons for Seniors at the Penrith and St Marys Library Service. We offer free one-on-one digital mentoring, to enable people to use phones, laptops, and tablets

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Two women sit at a table outside. On the table is and iPad which the two women are looking at. In the background are some plants.

Click & Connect at Village Cafe

The Digital Literacy Foundation provides digital mentoring at three Village Cafe locations (Kingswood, North St Marys and Llandilo). Village Cafe is a Penrith City Council initiative, and is a place to grow community connections and support wellbeing. 

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Hawkesbury Library Service

Partnering with Hawkesbury Council, the Digital Literacy Foundation provides free one-on-one tech lessons for Seniors at the Windsor and Richmond Library Services. 

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Hawkesbury Hubs

In partnership with Hawkesbury Council, the Digital Literacy Foundation provides free one-on-one tech lessons for Seniors at three Hub locations (Colo Heights, Wilberforce, and St Albans).

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an elderly woman sits facing another woman, they are deep in conversation while sitting at a table

Wonderful Wise Women

At Penrith Women’s Health Centre, we provide digital mentoring for a social group for older women from diverse cultures.

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a group of woman sitting outside and around a table, smiling and talking, with a tablet computer

Nanna's Touch Community Connections

Based in Lithgow, we provide digital mentoring for Nanna’s Touch Community Connections. They are a whole-of-community support network, providing friendship, guidance and connections.

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Free assistance

Your device, your pace, your schedule.

Is it really free?

Yes! We do welcome voluntary contributions. These funds are used to acknowledge the valuable contribution made by our volunteer Tech Mates. We also accept online donations. 

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