Funding to boost digital literacy for Pyrenees seniors

Published on 15 February 2023

Pyrenees Shire Council has welcomed funding from the Victorian Government to assist in providing hands-on digital training programs to seniors through its public libraries.

A total of $12,635 has been allocated to Council as part of the Victorian Government’s $2 million Digital Literacy for Seniors Program.

The program is designed to assist in providing hands-on digital training programs through public libraries for older members of the community during 2023, either individually or in small groups.

Pyrenees Shire Council Mayor Ron Eason said staff at Council’s library resource centres in Avoca and Beaufort play an important role in providing assistance with a wide range of digital services, both through formal group training and individually.

“These funds will help Council strengthen and expand the programs and services we already have in place to help older members of our community navigate the digital landscape,” said Cr Eason. “Accessing information and services can be daunting these days, and our library staff are very good at providing friendly, one-on-one help with everything from showing customers how to find things on Google to filling out forms.”

The importance of digital literacy was highlighted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent floods in the Pyrenees Shire, where online access to information and advice was critical.

“Many members of the community sought help in finding information and submitting flood assistance applications though our libraries following the floods last year,” said Cr Eason. “This is a great example of why Council’s ability to provide these services is so important, and why this funding is going to be of great benefit for our resource centres.”