NBN: Helping Australian Seniors

There are many ways the internet is helping Australians in their daily lives.

It is helping children learn, it is helping businesses grow and prosper and it is providing us all with entertainment and helping us stay connected with our family and friends wherever they are in the world.

As a governmentowned, wholesale provider of high-speed broadband access to Australian homes and businesses, nbn has an important role to play in helping the nation realise the social and economic benefits of the nbn™ network.

By helping Australians realise these benefits, nbn is delivering on its purpose to lift the digital capability of the nation. It is also helping Australians adopt new technologies which can help improve their daily lives. nbn Head of State Corporate Affairs Rachael McIntyre said “while new technology can sometimes appear confusing, it can be quite easy to adopt if you have the right information to explain how it works and how to use it safely.”

“It is important to remember these products and solutions were designed to make life easier for us all,” Ms McIntyre said.

“At nbn we run information sessions for seniors through groups like Probus, as well as retirement villages, to help people understand how the technology can make life easier and also how to use it safely.”

“We cover everything from the basics of how to get an internet connection to advanced concepts like in-home devices which can tell you the weather of the day, recommend local restaurants and even play your favourite music just by asking it aloud.”

While technology is always evolving, it became more important during the pandemic where simple tasks like visiting family or doing the weekly grocery shop were impacted by lockdowns.

Ms McIntyre said this saw more people begin using technology they may not have used before as a way to safely navigate the challenges of the pandemic.

“A good example is video calls; people were using video calls to communicate with relatives and friends overseas before the pandemic, but once it began, people started using video calls to stay connected with relatives in the same city,” she said.

“In many ways, the pandemic saw people adopting new technologies out of necessity, and through our sessions, we’ve found a lot of seniors who used these solutions for the first time now continue to do so.”

A good place to start and see where you are on your own digital journey is by accessing nbn’s Digital Capability tool.

The tool asks a series of questions to understand your digital capability before suggesting resources designed to help lift your digital skills. The tool can be found at www. nbnco.com.au/blog/the-nbn-project/the-toolto-test-your-digital-capability or simply scan the QR Code. You can also find out where nbn is hosting its information sessions by visiting the NBN website.