NEC completes $15m, 2000 Internet Kiosk Broadband for Seniors program

Stuart Corner
Friday, 18 February 2011 16:32

IT Industry - Development

NEC Australia has installed an Internet Kiosk at the Yarraville Senior Citizens Centre, its 2000th and the last in the Australian Government's $15 million Broadband for Seniors initiative.

NEC was the lead partner in a consortium comprising Adult Leaning Australia, the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association and The University of the Third Age (U3A) that was awarded the contract to roll out the kiosks in November 2008. NEC provided the contract management, project management, staff, PCs and broadband technology.

The Broadband for Seniors initiative aimed to increase the confidence and skills of older Australians in using computers and the Internet, helping to build their community participation and social inclusion and address the issue of them feeling isolated and 'left behind' in a technological age,

According to NEC, "Since the initiative launched in July 2009, an estimated 94,000 seniors across Australia have had access to the kiosks and training in sites from Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia to Swansea, Tasmania, dramatically increasing the availability of Internet services and building their confidence in using technology."

David Cooke, group manager, NEC Australia, said: "We have seen a fantastic response from both volunteers and community organisations wanting to get involved. The benefits that the initiative offers older Australians - such as providing a supportive environment to gain knowledge and skills in using computers and the Internet - have certainly been realised. One major outcome is the sheer number of older Australians connecting with distant family members both in Australia and overseas."

According to NEC: "Since the initiative kicked off, over 43,000 online lessons have been completed, with the most popular courses being Introduction to Computers, Introduction to Word Processing, Introduction to the Internet and Introduction to Email."