IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing 28th May – 1st June 2012

Prague

Presented by Christine Morka, General Manager Retirement & Ageing

Presentation Format

• Who is Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL)?

• Background to ICT in Australia and involvement of older people

• Cybersafety

• What is BSL doing in this space?

• Learnings from our involvement.

Brotherhood of St Laurence

• Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) is a not for profit organisation

• Impacts of social isolation

• BSL’s Retirement and Ageing strategic plan

• BSL response to the National Broadband Network

Background to ICT in Australia and involvement of

older people

• ICT provides expanding opportunities

• ABS 2011, a survey of household use on IT

• Use of IT by organisations, business and government

 

Cybersafety

“While changes to law may increase cybersafety, the best safeguards lie in changes to

policy and practice” Dr Helen Kimberley and Ms Bonnie Simons (2012).

Recommendations to ensure cybersafety:

• The rollout of NBN will increase the amount of information on line and on line only. Resources are needed to ensure all senior Australians have affordable access to the internet at home.

• Universal, affordable access to internet training and support needs to be provided in accordance with adult literacy principles.

• Australia needs a national policy on later life learning with increased resources

• Older Australians need to be integrally connected into the fabric of society through affordable social engagement opportunities with appropriate transport options

• Obligations should be placed on entities such as banks and utilities providers to protect customers from phishing practices.

Cybersafety

What is BSL doing in this space?

• Forum – Making IT and Internet training a success for seniors: exploring best practice

• IT Training for Seniors – desktop computer and iPad

• Social Circle Website

• Virtual Seniors Village

IT Training for Seniors

Social Circle Website

Social Circle Website

Virtual Seniors Village

BACKGROUND• Healthy Ageing

• Social Isolation

• Virtual Seniors ‘Hub’

Virtual Seniors Village

Proposed outcomes:• Improved quality of life

• Reduced social isolation & loneliness

• Productivity gains

• Enhanced understanding

Learnings from our involvement

• Best practice in IT training

• Strategies for community organisations to ensure older people don’t get left behind

• What are the key messages for governments?