It’s easy to be tech savvy
18 May 2017
The great thing about technology is it can connect you to loved ones and make basic tasks just plain easier. Often all you need is to be pointed in the right direction to get the most from the internet and your devices.
Tech Savvy Seniors
Many of us would like to be tech savvy, but need a bit of help. You might know how to send an email, but how do you ‘friend’ someone on Facebook? Or you know how to make a call on your mobile, but how do you make a Skype video call so you can chat to your friends and family when they’re far away?
Whatever it is you need help with, you can now have all your technical questions answered at training sessions being run by Telstra across the country. In-person sessions are being held throughout NSW, Victoria and Queensland, and online information is available for people in other parts of Australia.
It’s all part of Telstra’s Tech Savvy Seniors initiative, which has been set up to help older people learn more about digital technology. It’s about making your life that little bit easier – and a lot more enjoyable.
Tech Savvy Seniors has been going for some time and has successfully helped many seniors along the way. Tricia Wilson, Telstra’s General Manager for the Central Region, says approximately 85,000 seniors have taken part in the training since its inception in 2014.
Breaking down the digital divide
Ms Wilson says Roy Morgan’s 2016 The Australian Digital Inclusion Index showed that Australians aged 65 and older are the “least digitally included demographic group”.
“It was in an endeavour to change this that we started the Tech Savvy Seniors training sessions,” Ms Wilson says. “It’s all about breaking down the digital divide.”
Telstra runs training sessions in local libraries and community colleges across NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Visit the website for training sessions in your local area. The website also includes plenty of information for people in other states or more remote areas.
Learn face-to-face or online
Telstra has produced a range of short ‘self-teach’ videos on a range of technical subjects. You can watch them online here. All of these videos have been designed to make it easy to learn at your own pace.
Subjects covered include:
- Mobile phones
- Home computers & networks
- The Internet
- Social networks, security & e-readers
- Tablets
Ms Wilson says another important part of the program is making sure seniors feel safe when they’re online. She says for this reason, Telstra has partnered with the Commonwealth Bank to provide training on safe online banking, and this will also be included in the training sessions.
“Telstra wants everybody to thrive in a digital world, regardless of their age or ability. The Tech Savvy Seniors initiative helps to address this,” she adds.
For more information on Telstra’s Tech Savvy Seniors, visit the website.
®