Assistant Minister for Seniors, Veterans, Families and Community Services Emma Davidson announced the 37 recipients of the inaugural Technology Upgrade Fund to improve digital access and literacy across Canberra.
To foster digital connection and provide more accessible technology for Canberrans in need, recipients received funding from a pool of $478,000 to deliver projects such as:
- Students experiencing digital disadvantage to engage with course material via their mobile devices
- software for a new rehabilitation practice for those with vision disability
- digital literacy training program and a digital carer support program to seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- better outreach to at-risk people experiencing disability, homelessness, risk of homelessness, domestic violence, financial strain, and mental health issues
- improved access to computers for volunteers who live with a print disability.
Minister Davidson said that the grants will strengthen Canberra’s community sector while improving digital literacy and inclusion for those most in need.
“The Technology Upgrade Fund addresses the digital equity gap, widened by the global pandemic, for at risk groups in our community such as older Canberrans, people with disability and people with health conditions. It’s important we identify ways to support our community sector, and the Canberrans they assist, to create a more engaged, inclusive and empowered city,” Minister Davidson said.
“The high calibre of innovative ideas and interest throughout this funding process demonstrates the need to better support and strengthen digital capacity across our community sector. Congratulations to all recipients and applicants. I look forward to seeing how these projects will create a more inclusive, progressive, connected, and accessible Canberra.”
The Technology Upgrade Fund was developed in line with the ACT Government’s Digital Strategy which aims to support inclusion and connection through advances in technology and data.
For a full list of grant recipients visit: https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au
