Digital Skills Organisation offers vital technology program for Indigenous people from Santa Theresa

From using computers to surfing the web, not every Territorian has the technology skills needed to live in a modern world. Now, an Alice Springs pilot aims to bridge the digital divide.

Northern Territory residents are taking part in an education program designed to improve their job prospects and enhance their digital skills.

Described as “cutting edge”, 20 Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education students will complete a special training program piloted in Alice Springs by the Digital Skills Organisation.

Santa Teresa residents Device Ronson and Veronica Wallace are among the students learning how to use digital workplace tools, connect and collaborate with others, search for, and access, digital information and achieve cyber security literacy.

The pilot was launched after Batchelor Institute staff spent months talking with stakeholders including the Central Land Council and Santa Teresa community groups to ensure the program met the needs of Indigenous people.

“I am excited about the training and am always willing to learn more about computers,” Device said.

Veronica said she had gained a better understanding of using things such as mobiles, tablets and computers.

“I knew some of it but my knowledge was limited,” she said.

“Now I am learning proper technical terms and gaining more clarity on the use of digital devices.”

Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education students take part in a special training program piloted in Alice Springs by the Digital Skills Organisation (DSO).

Research shows one in four Australians do not have enough digital skills.

Batchelor Institute chief executive officer Leon Yeatman and DSO CEO Patrick Kidd said Indigenous people were 7.9 points below the national average Australia Digital Inclusion Index score.

Mr Kidd said the course would help his organisation discover ways to ensure digital skills training was available for more remote communities and offer students more job opportunities.

“Our vision is that all people should have access to digital skills,” he said.

“This will help unlock incredible career opportunities and also lessen the divide between regional Australia and our capital cities.

“The novice digital skills the participants are learning is based on our skill standards which align to employer needs.”

Mr Yeatman said the pilot would give the organisers an opportunity to refine the program and to adapt it to specific needs.

“We will learn from this pilot project model and plan to expand the offer to many remote Territory communities,” he said.