Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, is calling on people in Tamworth to join in and learn new skills during Get Online Week.

Mr Joyce said local organisations across the country, including in the New England, will hold events this week to help people get online.

Joblink Plus in Tamworth will host a free session on Thursday, October 18, to provide older Australians, job seekers and anyone interested, with the skills they need to navigate the online space.

“It is easy to become complacent and stick to what we already know but there is no doubt the online world is fast becoming a bigger presence in our everyday lives including here in the New England where technology like the NBN is rolling out fast and more than 90 per cent complete,” Mr Joyce said.

“We know that those aged 65 years and older are among the most digitally excluded in Australia but sessions like this will give them and local job-seekers the tools to get started on the basics.”

The Australian Government’s Be Connected program provides this group with free, personalised and face-to-face support and coaching to get online.

There are more than 1,800 Be Connected Network Partners located across Australia. Go to the Be Connected website to find a local Network Partner.

“Get Online Week will help thousands of people across Australia to improve their digital skills, whether they’ve never been online before, or have done a little but want to do more,” National Director for Good Things Foundation Jess Wilson said.

To find more local events, go to getonlineweek.com/aus/map

The free Tamworth session will be held 10am-2.30pm at Joblink Plus, Level 1, 490 Peel St. For more information, contact Liz 02 6764 6858. 

(ENDS)