Introduction:

BY/ WALEED FADOO – Australia Today

Internet-enabled digital technologies continue to transform the way we interact socially and how data is delivered and accessed by Australians.
Specialist reports are showing that the internet is very important to most Australians. Three-quarters of adults believing the internet has improved their day-to-day lives, as going online is about getting most tasks to be done. It is a daily routine. The other side of the internet gives social interaction with family and friends.
Research shows that between September and December 2017, Australian downloaded 3.6 million terabytes of data in total compared to 2.6 million terabytes during the same months of 2016, a 39% increase. This increase in using internet guides us to focus on E-etiquette.
In contrast to this, there is a number of older Australians who do not directly engage with the internet and see the idea of a digital society as peripheral to their daily lives.
However, this research shows that a significant number of older Australians want to increase their digital skills and, with mentoring and training, are keen to explore the opportunities of digital participation.
The approach focuses on demonstrating the relevance and value of being connected safely, and to address the needs of two primary cohorts of older Australians:
1. Those who are not yet connected (to demonstrate personal relevance and value of being connected).
2. Those who are already connected—and want to learn more.
As part of this initiative, the State developed a learning website (beconnected.esafety.gov.au/) with information, tools and training materials. This site (referred to as a portal in research findings) will support a national network of up to 2,000 community partners to deliver free, one-on-one coaching to up to 100,000 older Australians a year who want to develop and to enhance their digital literacy skills. The website also provides a broad range of resources to support families, friends and peers, so they can play an active role in supporting older family members as they get online.
To support the development of the learning website and its content, the State has undertaken a range of research examining the level of interest in acquiring and improving digital skills and the drivers and barriers to digital participation.
This research report presents a summary of research commissioned by the State into digital participation by older Australians which comprised:
1. A national survey of more than 3,600 adults aged 50 years and over which examined their level of digital participation and attitudes to improving their digital literacy skills. This survey was undertaken during the period May–June 2017.
2. Face-to-face focus groups and in-depth telephone interviews conducted during August 2017 focusing on people who identified in the national survey as either ‘digitally disengaged’ or having ‘low digital literacy’.
Key findings
This summary report highlights that many older Australians are interested in developing and acquiring new digital skills. However, understanding and learning the ‘in and outs’ of digital devices and the internet can be intimidating, and asking for assistance or guidance can be daunting. Many older Australians have real concerns about the safety of the internet and want to understand how digital participation can improve their lives.
These factors, in combination, pose a real barrier to building digital confidence. Older Australians, particularly those aged 70 years and over, with limited or no experience in using digital devices, have identified that face-to-face learning is the preferred option for building digital skills and confidence.