What we do Projects Be Connected Be Connected Be Connected is a Federal Government initiative to help older Australians increase their digital skills so they are able to participate fully in society. In June 2019, neighbourhood house networks received six $50,000 Capacity Building Grants from the Be Connected grants program to strengthen and expand the excellent work neighbourhood houses are already doing in digital literacy training. Neighbourhood houses do heaps of great work in their communities to strengthen digital literacy. This work helps break down barriers experienced by some community members in accessing key services and activities. We also know that a lack of skilled volunteers sometimes prevents neighbourhood houses from being able to offer as many digital literacy activities as their community needs. This new funding will help address this issue in many communities across the state. The funding will be used to employ a Lead Digital Mentor in each Network to train and support 50 to 100 local volunteers or existing staff members to become Digital Mentors for their community. In collaboration with Tennille Hall at Pangerang Community House, we are facilitating a collaborative state wide approach to this project, providing a forum for Digital Lead trainers to share experiences, strategies and good practice during the project and assisting with reporting and acquittal requirements. Neighbourhood House Lead Digital Mentors There are now six Neighbourhood House Lead Digital Mentors across the state, available to train and support volunteers or staff to work as Digital Mentors in your neighbourhood house. Once trained these Digital Mentors gain access to support and resources to assist older people to feel more confident about using various devices and get what they want out of going online. This mentoring can happen one on one, in a group, formally or informally – whatever works for everyone involved. Contact a Lead Digital Mentor close to you - they can work both within and beyond their host network: NIECH and CHAOSRuth Kenrick [email protected] 0480 155 710 Upper Murray and GNEACCAmanda Scott [email protected] 0422 373 731 North WestPhoebe Willetts [email protected] 0449 713 677 RANCHSue Birch [email protected] 0417 581 740 North EastSally O'Meara [email protected] 0423 111 716 Network WestGilda Blacher [email protected] 0459 995 048 For more information, visit the Be Connected website.