• Mountain Views Mail
• Upper Yarra Mail

By Kath Gannaway

27th July 2010 02:01:13 AM

Online and loving it …Jock Purves with McEwen candidate Rob Mitchell, community services minister Jenny Macklin and Living and Learning volunteer tutor Nigel Dobson.

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BROADBAND for Seniors was the focus of a campaign visit to Healesville last week by Federal Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin and Labor Candidate for McEwen Rob Mitchell.

Ms Macklin officially declared open a free internet kiosk for seniors at the Healesville Living & Learning Centre on Thursday.

For local ‘seniors’ Jock Purves and Barbara Flynn, Broadband For Seniors (BFS) has opened up a whole new world of technology they say they need to be part of.

L&LC Manager Education and Training Darren Grainger said the BFS kiosk, one of more than 900 already operating under a three-year $15 million initiative which plans to see up to 2000 kiosks in operation across the country, was the first step of a pathway of learning.

Ms Flynn said the program was unique in that it offered flexible, self-paced learning.

“I go two hours twice a week, but can go in anytime at any level,” she said.

“It meets individual needs.”

Mr Purves is also a fan of the more personal tutoring, which is a feature of the kiosk.

Being able to keep tabs on his superannuation on-line, and keep up to speed with what’s happening at Bicycle Victoria, are just two areas Mr Purves said are behind his interest in the program.

Ms Macklin said the free Broadband for Seniors was available to people over 50 enabling them to be better connected to family, friends and the technological age.

Only one in five Australians over the age of 65 presently uses the internet, Mr Mitchell said.

“The Healesville kiosk brings together older residents to learn about computers and share their experiences, giving them the confidence to get online,” he said.

Ms Macklin said the BFS was a collaboration of the federal government, NEC Australia, Adult Learning Australia, the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association and the University of the Third Age and that funding for the project had already been included in the budget.

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