RMIT ARC Centre for Automated Decision-Making and Society director Professor Julian Thomas will deliver a keynote speech at a digital skills event in Shepparton between August 5 and 9.
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Professor Julian Thomas will deliver a keynote speech on the challenges and opportunities of the digital era at a free five-day Rural Women Online digital skills event in Shepparton next week.
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In the past 10 years, digital technology has become a critical part of our everyday lives, changing the way we live, learn and work.
Access to, affordability of and effective use of digital technologies are now essential to participating fully in society.
While digital transformation generates social, cultural and economic benefits for many Australians, the benefits are not shared equally.
RMIT ARC Centre for Automated Decision-Making and Society director Prof Thomas will speak on the importance of digital inclusion as a human right in the information age, the myriad of opportunities digital affords society, and the risks posed by barriers to digital, particularly for women in regional and rural areas.
The centre’s research found that the digital divide most impacted people on lower incomes, the unemployed, older Australians, residents of public housing, and regional and rural communities.
Further findings revealed that while the gender gap for digital inclusion was closing in Australia, women remained at a higher disadvantage than men.
Reasons included using the internet less, greater affordability barriers, and lower digital skills and confidence.
Women on lower incomes, with lower levels of education, living alone, and in regional and remote areas were further impacted, while older women tended to have more limited access to the internet than younger women, along with lower digital confidence and skill levels.
Supporting women in improving their digital skills allows them to participate in and take advantage of opportunities in today’s society.
Programs such as the Victorian Women’s Trust Rural Women Online digital skills event can play a key role in supporting rural women’s resilience, social connectedness, general wellbeing, economic security and employment opportunities.
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Programs such as the Victorian Women’s Trust Rural Women Online digital skills event can play a key role in supporting rural women’s resilience, social connectedness, general wellbeing, economic security and employment opportunities.
The event is to be held at the McIntosh Centre, Shepparton Showgrounds, from August 5 to 9.
The five-day program will include practical workshops, one-on-one sessions with digital experts and information stands with hands-on learning, to help make technology accessible, engaging and empowering for women in Greater Shepparton.
The Prof Thomas keynote event will be held in the Main Room at the McIntosh Centre on Thursday, August 8, from 5.30pm to 7pm.
It is free to attend, but bookings are required.
Light refreshments will be provided and the venue will have disability access.
