City launches its digital year

Geelong will launch a National Year of Digital Inclusion on Friday 26 February in the hope of helping spread the benefits of the online age.
The initiative aims to address “the increasing effects of digital literacy on social and civic connectedness” among people with limited access to or experience with digital technologies.
City Hall will spearhead the year’s activities in Geelong to help people learn new digital skills.
“We’re encouraging organisations to run events to help people learn new digital skills and to include them in Geelong’s National Year of Digital Inclusion calendar of events,” said councillor Rod Macdonald.
“Our aim is to help the people of Geelong learn new skills which will increase their ability to interact with their community and improve their quality of life.
“Increasingly, more government and business services are online so these organisations need their citizens to be online to access their services.
“Therefore, it’s important for all sectors to participate in the year of digital inclusion and help their clients learn the skills needed or help them gain access to technology.”
The council rolled out a digital strategy last year, in part to help the community to “maximise the benefits of technology”.
Council initiatives during the year of inclusion will include extending free wi-fi across Geelong, supporting the establishment of Code Clubs for kids and improving digital access for Whittington residents.