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Free digital workshops help older Australians to strengthen digital skills and build resilience against online threats

By Melissa Reynolds | 1 February 2025

Building Digital Skills workshops

In today's digital world, people of all ages are expected to know how to use the internet, access services, and communicate online. Yet this also exposes them to risks like identity theft, financial scams, and other threats to personal safety. For many older Australians, managing these risks comes with unique challenges, such as unfamiliarity with new technologies and increasingly sophisticated digital fraud. 

Personal stories about scams and phishing attempts are frequently raised during lively discussions at digital skills workshops that State Library’s Digital and You program runs for older Australians in Far North Queensland. 

The ‘Building Digital Skills 50+’ workshops are free to attend and cover essential skills for everyday online activities, from learning more about digital devices to understanding cyber safety. 

State Library’s Regional Digital Development Officer Ricky Clark works with local councils to host the series in public libraries with guest presenter and Digital Strategist Nicky Jurd. 

Ricky explains that the workshops are designed to be both social and informative so participants can gain valuable digital skills and connect with others in a supportive environment. 

“Nicky brings the workshops to life by using real-life examples to highlight common and emerging scams and attacks, including those involving QR codes, social media, and email,” Ricky said. 

“The interactive nature of the sessions encourages attendees to share their own experiences and learn from one another. 

“We’ve already heard countless anecdotes from our participants about their personal encounters with phishing attempts, exposure of personal information after cyber breaches, and even a scam instigated through someone’s social media account. 

“After those experiences, it’s incredibly rewarding to see participants leave our workshops feeling more confident and secure in accessing digital services at home, while the sessions also foster a sense of community and mutual support”. 

The workshops are funded through Be Connected, an Australian Government digital inclusion initiative, and the Queensland Government’s Our Thriving Digital Futures, Digital Economy Strategy. 

Digital exclusion combined with fears about online threats are a significant concern in Australia. Statistics from the Australian Digital Inclusion Index indicate that over 30% of the most digitally excluded people reduce their internet use due to concerns about privacy and scams, compared with only 7.9% of highly included people. 

Find a free digital skills workshop

The Building Digital Skills 50+ workshops are free to attend; all you need to bring is your laptop, digital tablet or smartphone.

Find a workshop near you:

Make a booking using the links above or download and book a place through State Library’s Digital and You app www.digitalandyou.com.au/app 

You can also access a range of free online digital tools and courses to learn more about the things you can do to protect your privacy and stay safe online.

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