Harvey Community Resource Centre helping get people online as part of national event

The Harvey community were invited into the digital world last week as part of a national program to get more Australians confident online.

The Harvey Community Resource Centre hosted their first ever Getting Online workshop to help people learn how best to navigate the digital world on Friday.

The workshop was part Get Online Week — a national campaign from Good Thing’s Australia to help people establish the skills required to feel safer and more confident online.

According to Good Things Australia, one in four Australians are excluded from digital spaces and require more support to keep up with changing technology.

CRC administration worker Riley Olde said the CRC’s workshop was playing it’s part by teaching and guiding people how to use online resources.

“Being able to assist people to work things out for themselves and give them the confidence to help others (is the aim),” he said.

Previously speaking with the Reporter, CRC manager Tracey-Ann Davies said there had been a rise in the number of people coming in looking for help accessing vital online services.

Ms Davies said the CRC was regularly helping people access Centrelink, applying for visas or helping them navigate the online process to report crime.

“Every day we’ve got something different coming in,” she said.

“The way technology is going, there are so many new things all the time. We have got more people coming in seeking assistance and support.”

Mr Olde said the workshop left community members with new knowledge and abilities to navigate the digital world.

“We’re always here and happy to help,” he said.

“Through this event, we’re trying to make sure people get the confidence to go online themselves instead of needing someone there to do it with them,” he said.

“We want to be able to help build up the community even more, even if it’s events like Getting Online Week, or through other services they want to learn.”