Improving Indigenous digital literacy

Lake Macquarie City Council in New South Wales is helping to improve Indigenous digital literacy via its local libraries.

Lake Mac Libraries and Indigenous Digital Excellence are excited to bring IDX Flint 2017 to the City.

Council’s Manager Cultural Services, Jacqui Hemsley, said IDX Flint is a digital literacy program created to spark the interests, ideas and talents of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Lake Mac Libraries was just one of five successful applicants in the 2017 Indigenous Digital Excellence grant program,” Ms Hemsley said.

“In May, Toronto Library will host workshops for facilitators and young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to enhance digital literacy and to provide the community with opportunities for training and skills development related to innovation industries and employment opportunities.

“The workshops will cover a wide range of topics including robotics, drones, Ozobots, 3D printing and coding, and at the end of the program participants will have input into what technologies they would like to see and use onsite into the future.

“With six per cent of our population identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, celebrating culture, developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with the community, supporting literacy and learning opportunities and access to employment are key focus areas for Lake Mac Libraries.

“Lake Mac Libraries are vibrant places where people connect, acquire knowledge, share inspiring experiences and grasp new opportunities, and as such we see a great synergy with the Indigenous Digital Excellence program.”