What is Broadband for Seniors?
Broadband for Seniors is part of the wider Australian Government initiative “Making Ends Meet - Plan for Older Australians, People with Disabilities and Carers”. The Australian Government through the department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigeneous Affairs (FaHCSIA) is committing $5 million each year over 3 years (2008-09 to 2010-11 - Phase 1) for NEC Australia Pty Ltd to develop and implement a Broadband for Seniors initiative. The Australian Government provided another $5 millon to extend the initiative until June 2013 - Phase 2.
Under this initiative the needs of older Australians wishing to be trained in the use of the Internet will be met by the creation of approximately 2,000 BFS Internet kiosks. BFS Kiosks will be provided to community organisations that support seniors, meet the conditions of the application process and hosting agreement, demonstrate a willingness to provide volunteer tutoring and will host the BFS Kiosk as a free service.
What are the aims of Broadband for Seniors?
Broadband for Seniors aims to:
- provide older Australians with access to computers and the Internet via free Internet kiosks,
- support seniors to gain confidence and build skills in using new technology,
- address the issue of older Australians feeling isolated and ‘left behind’ in a technological age, and
- build community participation and social inclusion amongst older Australians.
What is the planned outcome for Broadband for Seniors?
The planned outcome for Broadband for Seniors is to increase the confidence and skills of older Australians in using computers and the Internet, as well as helping to build their community participation and social inclusion. The program teaches seniors the basics of how to use a computer, Internet Explorer, Gmail and WordPad.
Benefits
The Phase 1 program will gift kiosk equipment to clubs and organisations at no cost and provide, where needed, broadband access until end of June 2011 (Phase 1).
This intiative benefits community clubs and organisations that provide senior services and activities and want to encourage greater participation by senior Australians. It will expand their service offerings to include new technology equipment and a broadband service to form a focus within a club or organisation's area.
This initiative is aimed at people aged 50 years and over who have never had the opportunity to learn how to operate a computer or explore the Internet and who feel threatened by this technology or believe it is too late to learn. People in this group who have a desire to learn can freely do so with help from their peers in a familiar environment. They will learn how to use a computer, how to explore information on the World Wide Web and how to stay in touch with friends and family online. The Broadband for Seniors concept is to provide a seniors-friendly environment where they can come and learn basic computer and Internet skills.
Partners
NEC is partnering with a number of specialist groups to help assess applicants who wish to host a kiosk and to help support delivery of the kiosks. The partners include
- Adult Learning Australia (ALA)
- Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA)
- University of the Third Age Online(U3A Online)
These organisations bring a complete and mature training model for seniors and have a proven, demonstrable record in service delivery including existing sites for Broadband for Seniors deployment.
BFS Kiosk Locations
Kiosk locations are prioritised into categories according to seniors population, income level, education and the Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) as provided by FaHCSIA. Also considered is the service demand and the postal areas of demonstrated need provided by FaHCSIA and the demonstrated ability of local community organisations to operate an Internet kiosk in the identified location and their willingness to provide the free broadband and training services to seniors.