Inquiry into Support for Older Victorians from Migrant And Refugee Backgrounds submission

Research collected in our Increasing Digital Participation of Refugees and New Migrants report and Digital Nation Australia 2021 report show that older Australians and new migrants and refugees are at higher risk of being digitally excluded. Without the skills, confidence and technology to participate online, the settlement experience of new migrants and refugees can be impacted as they face additional barriers to accessing essential services and news online.

Our submission to the Inquiry into Support for Older Victorians from Migrant And Refugee Backgrounds highlights the need for affordable access, co-designing digital-first government services, in-language digital skills support, and the expansion of community-delivered digital skills programs to close the digital divide for older Victorians from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Our key recommendations include:

• Ensure everyone in Victoria has affordable access to the internet and appropriate devices.
• Co-design digital-first government support services with seniors from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
• Expand on successful digital skills programs and community infrastructure of the Be Connected Network to provide digital mentoring and social support services targeted at older Victorians of migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Download our full submission below.