Livewire goes live to help sick young Aussies

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 19 February 2009 16:22

Your IT - Entertainment

Australian youth between the ages of 10 and 21 with a serious illness, chronic health condition or a disability now have access to a special new “social networking” site designed to improve their “emotional and social wellbeing”.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation has worked in concert with the Australian Federal Government’s “Clever Networks” program to launch a brand new online community called “Livewire”.

Launched today by Federal Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, the site is billed as a “first of its kind” to help young Australians living with a serious illness or disability, whose number is estimated to be at least 450,000.

It is “designed to provide a free, safe and supportive online community for children and young people to hang out, connect, share experiences, creatively express themselves and know that they are not alone in their situation.”

Although a range of social networking sites already exist, this is the first targeting Australians between 10 and 21 years of age with “a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability”, which can “profoundly impact their everyday lives, leading to frequent absences from school, sport and other social activities.”

Jill Weekes, CEO of the Starlight Children’s Foundation said that: “Connecting and supporting young people with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability through a safe online community has been a vision of the Starlight team for many years. Livewire helps to distract that young person from their pain, helps them better understand their illness and connects young people facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone.”

Unlike Facebook, MySpace or other social networks, Starlight says that Livewire is a “secure, moderated community tailored to the needs of its private members.”

Omar Khalifa, Livewire’s Managing Director, says that: “By combining the latest in online and mobile technologies with a safe and secure approach, we are developing a great online community for young people who are also dealing with a disability, chronic condition or serious illness.

“With video, music and games, Livewire is a fun place to check out.  However, it’s the young people who create blogs, chat and interact that will shape Livewire, keep it relevant and a make it a really great place to hang out.”

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