- Alexandra Whitwam - Senior Manager Campaigns and Digital Storytelling, Telstra Foundation
The Digital Futures program – a collaborative initiative between the Telstra Foundation and PROJECT ROCKIT – has officially launched in Cessnock NSW and Mallee VIC. The program is part of a three-year partnership aimed at addressing the digital divide for regional young people as identified in our Australian Youth Digital Index.
By empowering young people through digital citizenship, online safety, and cyberbullying prevention, and offering free access to digital education and support, the Digital Futures program will help to create a safer and more inclusive online environment for students in these communities.
The program’s kick-off has been met with great excitement from students and educators. This program not only increases students’ technological skills but also fosters a sense of confidence and resilience in navigating the digital world. It’s set to make a significant impact for regional teens, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of participating in the digital world.
The regional digital divide for young people
From the Telstra Foundation Australian Youth Digital Index we learned that young people from major cities in Australia (70) have a significantly higher Skills score compared to young people from regional/remote areas (66).
In addition young people from regional/remote areas in Australia (50%) are less likely than young people from major cities (67%) to agree that they receive good training at university to use technology, or to have been taught how to code at school (major cities: 52%, regional/remote: 44%).
Tales from the road
We checked in with PROJECT ROCKIT Program Presenters Ruby, Riley, Ella and Larise as they start rolling the program out in regional Australia.
Cessnock - Ruby and Riley
Cessnock felt like a close-knit and community-focussed town. Just by visiting local bakeries between workshops, we were greeted by locals who were proud to share some of the tourist and nature activities in the local area and welcome us to their town. The schools we delivered at held the same feeling. Students expressed their excitement in participating in the workshops and showed us what they already do to support their mates going through a rough time. Students were eager to participate and contribute meaningfully to conversations around calling out hate and showing up at school with kindness and respect. When wrapping up our SYNC workshop at Cessnock West Public School, students were enthusiastically naming strategies they will commit to using to have a better time online. Our favourite was 'always leave positive compliments in comment sections' and 'reach out to a trusted adult'.
Mallee - Ella and Larisey
Program Presenters Ella and Larise headed off to spend a week in Mallee (the most north-westerly part of Victoria, Australia). Ella and Larise spent a week visiting 3 different schools whose students needed extra support. These were a mix of Primary, Secondary, and Prep-12 schools, all with various student demographics, cohort sizes, and access to resources. Ella and Larise absolutely loved being invited into these different spaces and having the opportunity to learn from the students about their experiences as young people growing up in Australia. These students live amazing and different lives and showed up with such open mindedness and respect. Students often don't know what to expect when they have organisations joining them for workshops like this, but the Presenters were stoked to hear from students that "that was actually so much fun, thank you so much". In meeting with the students from Chaffey Secondary College and Nichols Point Primary School, PROJECT ROCKIT feels confident that when it comes to challenging bullying and hate, the young people of Mallee are more equipped than ever before. Ella and Larise also left Mallee with some new bling, as the students of Nichols Point Primary School had gifted them some impressive handmade bracelets to express their gratitude!
