Banking on learning new skills
Free training in how to get the most out of banking online is being offered in Mangere and Onehunga.
Covid lockdowns accelerated Kiwi’s switch to online banking and those still wanting to make the change will get an extra helping hand says he Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa (DIAA).
The group was established in 2018 to foster ‘‘socially inclusive communities’’ where everyone has equitable opportunities to meaningfully engage with digital technologies, and benefit from the use of them.
It aims to enhance the confidence and capability of people to engage online to advance their own education, employment, health and wellbeing as well as that of their wha¯nau.
It has partnered with Kiwibank to develop some online Stepping UP training modules for digital banking and these are being piloted for South Auckland residents in collaboration with local community partners. With reduced services and bank closures, many people are needing help to make the transition to online banking. The training helps people understand digital banking as well as how to recognise and avoid online scams.
The training is delivered free and it is open to anyone, regardless of who they bank with. DIAA has joined up with Mangere and Onehunga libraries and the Cook
Islands Development Agency (CIDANZ) to deliver the one-hour online sessions from 9 to 11 February.
Sessions are to be held at 10.00 am and 1.00pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
People may join in from their own homes using Zoom or at any location with an internet connection. People who need help to connect to Zoom can contact their nearest library or join in a digital banking session at the Onehunga Community Centre or on DORA, the mobile learning centre.
DORA will be parked on the forecourt of the Mangere Town Centre Library for the morning sessions and at CIDANZ in the afternoons.
Leilani Glassie, DIAA’s South Auckland Ambassador, will be hosting the sessions at the Onehunga Community Centre.
‘‘Digital banking does present some challenges for many people in our community and we are delighted to participate in this new approach with online training. Anyone who cannot access the online sessions from their homes is welcome to join in at one of our presentation hubs, but as places are limited, please contactme on 022 641 9041 or by email leilani@diaa.nz, to book a place,’’ she says.
Laurence
Zwimpfer,
Operations Director for DIAA said: ‘‘No-one needs to miss out. Working with local Stepping UP partners and Kiwibank, we have already provided over 2500 New Zealanders throughout the country with new skills and confidence to use online banking,’’
Zwimpfer says. ‘‘Our goal is to ensure that there are opportunities in all communities to get ongoing support for online banking and other digital skills.’’