Thao Nguyen’s life is like a mirror of those of thousands of women who fled the Vietnam War for the safety of Australia in the 1970s and ’80s. With no education, speaking barely a word of English, most wound up sewing clothes in crowded living rooms and kitchens, where they also fed their extended families.
For Thao, arriving as an 11-year-old in 1988, these are the earliest memories of her Australian life: cooking, cleaning, sewing – and wagging school to sew some more.
“My brother enrolled me in Year 7, but I didn’t speak any English, so I was completely lost,” she recalls. “I always hoped the day would end quickly, so I could go home and help my mum.”
Fast forward 37 years, and Thao – now speaking fluent English and a mum herself – is facing up to a new educational challenge: her lack of digital literacy.
Thao didn’t finish high school and is determined that her own children have a better foundation in life. Her focus is on six-year-old Theo, who didn’t speak until he was four, but now shows a precocious talent for maths and reading. So when Thao enrolled in the Digital Sisters program at Yarraville Community Centre (YCC) in February, this was her principal motivation: “to give Theo the best start in life”.
Over the past three months, Thao – who juggles a hairdressing job with looking after Theo and her elderly parents – has managed to attend six Digital Sisters sessions. Her mentor, Anisha Shrestha, says she’s been making “amazing” progress.
“She’d never used a computer before, so we had to start right at the beginning – with logging on, keyboard controls, and typing. But now she’s learning to touch-type, researching primary schools for Theo, even filling in a Working with Children check so she can help him in class… She confidently uses ChatGPT to search for household items and compare prices, and has even purchased a computer to help boost her skills.”
Thao says Anisha’s patient one-on-one support has been critical to her progress.
“I’m learning things I’d never learn anywhere else,” she says. “Other people might tell you something quickly, but it won’t stay in your head. Anisha takes time to explain everything very slowly and carefully. With technology, I really need to be taught like a kid!”
A nationwide reach
The Digital Sisters program is funded by the Australian Government through Good Things Australia. Since late 2023 it has reached more than 2,700 women through 75 community organisations – each receiving a $10,000 grant to train mentors and facilitate its training.
Since YCC held its first session in late 2023, it’s hosted 110 women through Digital Sisters and its AI-focused offshoot, AI for Good. Operations manager Patricia Saca says she sees dozens of women – mostly new migrants – who are driven to improve their digital skills for the sake of their children.
“Australia is a great country for giving people new opportunities, but there aren’t always the same opportunities for everyone,” says Patricia.
“Lately, there are more women coming to us who have very low or no literacy in their own language and only have very basic spoken English, and we expect them to learn digital skills in English – it’s a huge mountain to climb!
“Having a mentor who you can trust and who speaks your language can be a Godsend. There are so many digital services you have to register for, particularly for government support… and there’s a lot of fear and trepidation among these women that their money or information could be stolen online.”
YCC currently has four digital mentors – from India, Nepal, Colombia and Vietnam – who’ve all received training from the Good Things Foundation. The centre also has a social worker on hand, who can help refer participants to Centrelink, NDIS, Medicare, or domestic violence support.
“A program like Digital Sisters can help to make Australian society more equitable, by giving new migrants the skills to access the same opportunities as everyone else.” – Patricia Saca, Operations Manager, Yarraville Community Centre
“We view this very much as a ‘wraparound’ program, part of a bigger package of support if you need it,” says Patricia.
Support where it’s needed
“Our participants often ask for help filling in forms to show Centrelink their financial situation, or their efforts to find work,” adds Patricia.
“These forms are simple – they could be filled in by most Grade 8 students – but many of these women just don’t have the level of literacy or English to understand them. So we’re fulfilling several roles, as interpreters and administrators and writers – not just digital mentors.”
That extra support also extends, quite naturally, to helping participants’ families when they need it. Both Patricia and Anisha have developed a strong affection for Theo, who attends classes with his mother. “He’s always watching something on ABC Kids or YouTube Kids – he has a big thirst for knowledge,” says Anisha.
“In our last class, he followed his mum’s example and started learning to touch-type on Typing Club!”
Thao certainly appreciates all the practical advice – and heartfelt support – she’s receiving through Digital Sisters. “These classes have given me more hope about my future in Australia,” she says.
“When I was a kid, not speaking any English, I couldn’t see any chances to get ahead here. But recently, I’ve come to see how technology can change this. If people can learn to use computers early on, their lives will become easier. There’s so much knowledge out there if you know where to look.”
“My son loves to ask ChatGPT questions… he’s been studying the science of how rockets reach the moon – he’s so interested in that! He asks the computer a thousand questions, and I love to see him so happy and engaged, learning new things every day.”
Digital Sisters: outcomes reported by participants, 2023-24
- 65% reported increased access to devices
- 80% were satisfied with the training or support they received
- 62% reported increased everyday independence
- 68% reported improved social connections
- 66% reported increased ability to be safe online
- 54% reported increased confidence to use online technology
- 85% reported increased digital skills.
Source: Good Things Australia, January 2025
[Article Written by Ralph Johnstone]