Cairns Digital Hive a buzz of entrepreneurial activity

Published Friday, 14 July, 2017 at 09:00 AM

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

Australia’s first Indigenous-led digital innovation and inclusion hub is running a special program to help bridge the generational gap between older people and new technology.

Visiting DHIVE today (Friday) in Cairns, Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch said some participants in the Elders in Technology program are aged in their 70s.

“People taking part in the program may not have had a lot of experience on the internet or with smartphones, but these lessons are helping them better connect with family through texting and email,” Ms Enoch said.

“They are also learning about cyber security, and it is opening up learning opportunities through the internet.”

Ms Enoch said DHIVE supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, migrants, refugees and people with disabilities who were eager to develop digital literacy skills and to tap into the ‘innovation movement’.

“Social entrepreneurs Julie-ann Lambourne and Leigh Harris had a vision to build an environment that connected people to educate, inspire and create in a digital hive,” she said.

“Julie-ann and Leigh are drawing on their entrepreneurial experience, digital skills and business know-how to help others in disadvantaged and disconnected communities with the opportunity to be part of the digital economy.”

Julie-ann is the CEO of enVizion Group, a training provider specialising in pre‑employment, life skills and mentoring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and Leigh is the driving force behind Ingeous Studios, a multi-disciplinary design studio.

Both enVizion and Ingeous are also key partners in the recently announced Ignite Far North Queensland project under the Advancing Regional Innovation Program (ARIP). The $1 million joint initiative will see local partners work together to drive innovation-led economic growth and job opportunities across Far North Queensland and Torres Strait.

Ms Lambourne, an Advance Queensland Community Digital Champion, said DHIVE is playing an important role in delivering programs to disadvantaged communities to improve their literacy, education, employment and economic development.

“This is an environment where we tailor the programs to suit the individual’s need,” she said.

“The Elders in Technology program is just one example where we are helping people take advantage of technology, and there is growing interest from people eager to learn everything from basic computer and mobile phone skills to social media and online privacy and security.”

Yarrabah elder “Auntie” Gwen Schreiber, aged 72, is one of the participants in the DHIVE program.

“I started seven weeks ago, because I wanted to improve my digital literacy skills – I couldn’t even access my emails,” she said.

‘I’m finding the program to be very beneficial – it’s an extremely good program which is helping me transition successfully to the digital age’.

For more information visit www.dhive.net.au

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