IT savvy seniors

Modern communications technology is growing in its reach to everyday social and business needs of the more senior people in the community.

West Gippsland Regional Library Service has seen a need to help seniors learn how to deal with new technologies and conduct training sessions at six of its libraries, including Warragul and Drouin.

Chief executive officer Leanne Williams said the Victorian Tech Savvy Seniors training program that will run until the end of June would cover topics such as cyber safety, email, shopping online and social media.

“Our experience has shown that more and more seniors are interested in learning how to use tablets, smart phones and the web for a number of activities”.

Banking, socialising, accessing government services and conducting business is considered mainstream and with the combination of public PCs, Wi-Fi and knowledgeable library staff we can offer a comfortable environment to use the internet safely,” Ms Williams said.

Bookings for the free sessions are essential and can be made by dropping into a library or by booking online at www.wgrlc.evenbrite.com.au

The training will enable more people to communicate with their families, save time and energy by banking and doing business online and, importantly, decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim of cyber theft and scamming, Ms Williams said.