The WA Government will allocate $50,000 to help improve the digital literacy of older First Nations people and their awareness of scams and online crime.
Education sessions over coming months will be held for up to 600 people in regional WA communities.
The government hopes they will teach older Indigenous people better online practices, such as using smartphones and accessing government services online, information on Elder abuse and scams and better engage them online with community events and family and friends.
Management consultancy group Indigenous Professional Services and Halls Creek-based Jungarni-Jutiya Indigenous Corporation will split the $50,000 funding to deliver the sessions, which will be held in Halls Creek and surrounding Kimberley communities, and across the South West in Bunbury, Collie and Busselton.
The gap in digital literacy among older First Nations people was highlighted during public consultation ahead of the WA government's first Seniors Strategy released in April, which found an urgent need amongst seniors for greater community education on scams and digital crime.
Consultation with more than 2,600 older people and pre-seniors, community services providers, peak bodies, government agencies and other stakeholders found the increasing digital divide was a barrier to seniors ageing well, as many services had been migrated online.
Many felt excluded from accessing and participating in the online space, particularly those from a multicultural, low-socio economic, First Nations or disability background.
Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch said the online divide felt by seniors, particularly those of First Nations descent, was preventing them living a longer, healthier life.
"It provides a real risk by leaving them more vulnerable to scams and digital crime," he said.
"We know Aboriginal seniors and seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds can experience even higher levels of digital exclusion.
"This program will facilitate digital literacy and provide greater community education on scams and digital crime, with clear information on where to get help."
