A new program to help residents embrace digital technology has been financially secured for 12 months.
The Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House ‘digital shed’ drop-in program teams tech-savvy teenagers up with older members of the community for lessons in the use of email, social media, blogging and website-building, along with smartphones and tablets.
“I’m delighted with how young people have risen to the occasion,” project manager Joh Lyons said.
“The program is designed for people who want to learn quickly and don’t necessarily need to enrol in a full computer course.”
Lavalla Catholic College year nine student Jeremy Wall, who volunteers for the program, said the student mentors and community members tackled a broad range of media challenges.
“We help them in getting set up on email and social media and they’re really appreciating it and taking away something they didn’t have before,” he said.
Since June, more than 30 people have taken advantage of the digital shed and the Neighbourhood House is hoping to recruit more secondary students from schools across the Latrobe Valley.
A $50,000 State Government grant will secure the project for a year, but staff aim to develop the program to become self-sustaining.
“The technological world has changed dramatically over the past few years and it’s imperative people have those skills available to them,” State Member for Morwell Russell Northe said. For more information on the digital shed program, or to take part, phone the Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House on
5174 6199.
