In an increasingly digitally connected world, living without technology has become significantly polarising and almost impossible.

For vulnerable people in the Canberra community, having technology available to be able to access critical services and connect with family and friends can be a struggle.

To help combat this barrier, the ACT Government created the inaugural technology upgrade fund, granting local community organisations the funding to give Canberrans in need access to digital connections.

Out of a pool of $478,000, a range of projects can be delivered including digital literacy training programs, improved outreach for people at-risk, improved volunteering services, and students experiencing a digital disadvantage.

Volunteering ACT upgrades Community Info Hub

Volunteering ACT has been a recipient of the grant since its launch, and CEO Jean Giese said the organisation has been able to upgrade out-of-date computer systems in its Community Info Hub at the Griffin Centre.

Canberrans are able to use the technology at the Hub for any reason they require – building a resume, finding support services, finding community events, and social media to keep in touch with family and friends, Ms Giese said.

“A lot of people who visit the Community Info Hub, society has placed barriers in the way for safe access to technology. People who are using the free computers either have issues with having internet access or don’t have access to a computer,” she said.

“We’re powered by volunteers, and we’ve also been able to upgrade the laptops our volunteers use for the referral part of our program.

“We’re delighted to have received the funding and it’s allowed us to undertake the much-needed upgrade and to modernise our technology. It’s such a win and has already had a significant impact for Canberrans.” 

More telehealth services for the immunocompromised at Spinal Cord Injuries Australia

Recent recipient of the grant is the ACT branch of Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA), which supports people with spinal cord injuries and a range of other neurological conditions.

Peer and Family Support Coordinator, Patrick Will, says the funding is a lifeline, enabling SCIA to use technology to help more people while remaining safe from COVID-19.

“The tech grant will allow SCIA to purchase equipment and have the opportunity to deliver and enhance a number of important programs, as well as continuing to support people in the ACT. It will safeguard us in the new Covid world we all currently live in,” Mr Will said.

“The technology we are purchasing with this grant are iPads, microphones, headsets, and other equipment which allows us to continue to deliver our services remotely.

“Our health staff are very excited to use the technology in telehealth programs so people are able to use rehab in their own homes in a Covid-safe way.”

Mr Will said this adaptation to their services is significant for people with spinal cord injuries who are immunocompromised.

“Like many businesses and organisations, we were really caught out by the pandemic and were unprepared for it. The impact it’s had on us was significant and more drastic than other businesses, as most of our clients fall into that immunocompromised category,” Mr Will said.

“Our services in Canberra were essentially closed during the pandemic and we had to move quickly to delivering telehealth. and with the technology we have at the moment, we were able to deliver it but not to the quality and standard we would have preferred.”

An additional bonus for the SCIA is being able to expand their services to support more people with a spinal cord injury who live in rural areas.

“On top of the enhancing and delivering services in a Covid-world, we’re hoping this technology will allow us to deliver services to people who are more outside of our traditional geographical reach,” Mr Will said.

“There are people living with spinal cord injuries in some of the rural areas around the ACT – we know they exist – but our current set-up has meant we are unable to deliver our services to those people.

“We’re very much hoping this technology will allow us to expand our services into those areas.”

The fund helps combat digital exclusion in Canberra

ACT Assistant Minister for Families and Community Services, Emma Davidson, said the fund has made a “huge difference” within the community sector working on digital exclusion.

In particular, Ms Davidson said she was pleased the Community Info Hub was able to upgrade their essential services to help Canberrans navigate online systems including Medicare and Centrelink, and finding housing and homelessness support.

“The kinds of people we’ve been focusing on are people from the Canberra multicultural community who often have difficulties getting the right technology, as well as people with disabilities,” she said.

“There are a lot of people with disabilities or chronic health conditions who do a lot more things online to avoid being exposed to COVID-19, and we really want to support them to stay safe.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the LGBTQIA+ community as well; making sure people can stay connected to people in their community helps them through some of the things they’ve been dealing with.”

Ms Davidson said the technology upgrade fund will run again in 2023 and 2024, presenting opportunities for organisations that are struggling with software or would like to organise a new program and need resources to apply.

Get local, national and world news, plus sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.