Cyber-safety Committee focuses on seniors during NSW Seniors Week

Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety Chair: Senator Catryna Bilyk
Deputy Chair: Mr Alex Hawke MP

Cyber-safety Committee focuses on seniors during NSW Seniors Week

Older Australians are the fastest growing group of internet users but, according to the peak seniors’ body the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA), the demographic is still vastly underrepresented.

In Sydney last Friday, on 23 March 2011, the Federal Parliament’s Joint Cyber-Safety Committee held a public hearing for its inquiry into cybersafety for senior Australians. The hearing took place during NSW Seniors Week and the Committee’s focus was online equity and access for all older Australians.

The Chair of the Committee Senator Catryna Bilyk said: “Mrs Nan Bosler, President of the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association, spoke about the challenges and opportunities for seniors as Australia takes its place in the international digital economy.”

Mrs Bosler was particularly enthusiastic about the potential of the National Broadband Network to make the lives of older Australians in outer regional and rural areas easier. All that is required is to get familiar with the technology first.

The Committee heard that the ASCCA has 156 member computer clubs, mostly formed by older people keen to overcome their fears and build sound computers skills.

Senator Bilyk noted that the Association has so far helped more than 150 000 seniors to learn to use the internet through its peer assisted learning programs.

“While there is great potential to build on this model, with older people at ease learning from their peers, there is also the opportunity for the younger generation to transfer their skills to senior Australians,” the Senator said.

Tasmania’s Seniors Week will be held in October this year, by which time Senator Bilyk plans to bring the Cyber-Safety Committee south to Hobart to hear from local seniors about cybersafety issues.

Last Friday, the Committee also heard from the Hon. Susan Ryan AO (Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner), the National E-Health Transition Authority, Telstra, the Communications Law Centre and from the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

See the hearing transcript, and other information about the inquiry, on the Committee’s inquiry link at: www.aph.gov.au/cybersafety-seniors.

Also watch the inquiry site for the Australian Seniors Online Cybersafety Survey to be launched soon!
Senator Catryna Bilyk Labor Senator for Tasmania Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety