Creating Digital Change For Good in Rural Victoria!


“The #digital future is looking good for our local community” Maree Timms DTAC

25 people from a range of industries, community groups and abilities came together for the Digital Inclusion & Tech for Good Workshop as part of the Digital Innovation Festival thanks to the Victorian Government.

Amanda Aldous, Coordinator of Wangaratta’s NEW Digital Hub opened the evening with an introduction of what role the Hub is able to offer locals.

Event organiser, Sally Rodgers of Digital Gold welcomed everyone for their attendance expressed how fortunate the Wangaratta community is to have this new space available and for allowing us to use. A special thank you to the Victorian Government and team behind the Digital Innovation Festival and Margot Ingoldy, Strategic Technology Partnerships | Jobs, Innovation & Business Engagement Group | Manager of Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions for her attendance. For without whom , the event would not be possible.

David Spriggs, CEO of InfoExchange and Chair of Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance shared a prerecorded message of support and the importance that digital inclusion has on a regional community like Wangaratta.

For those unable to attend, below are some photos, slides and list of supporters, presenters and links to their relevant organisations for your information. The event highlighted just how much support is already out there for everyone to improve their lives through digital. We as a community will continue to work together to help those currently find digital inaccessible, unaffordable or beyond their ability.

If you have any feedback or further questions about the event or digital inclusion, please don’t hesitate to contact Sally Rodgers from Digital Gold [email protected]

A brilliant summary by local Galen Catholic College Teacher Maree Timms, representing DTAC Wangaratta.

Thank you to all our fabulous speakers

Innovation – Start Ups

Emma Jones – Start Up Shake Up North East Victoria

Coworking – Collaborative Shared Spaces

Rohan Latimer – Jewellers CooWorking & Tech Hub

Small Business – Home Based Mumpreneur 

Emma Avery – Cloth Baby 

Ageing Population – Older People

Tenille Hall, Pangerang Community House BeConnected 

Community Impact – Social Change and Fundraising

Sarah Thompson Into Our Hands Community Foundation 

Health 

Jane Kealey – Telehealth, North East Health Wangaratta

Education 

Anne Shaw, Maree Timms, DTAC

Workshop

And to our workshop facilitator Susan Benedyka from Regional Development Australia

Illena Young Charles Sturt University, Wangaratta Regional Study Centre

Thank you also to Kylee Cleal who helped out on the evening with welcoming guests, catering arrangements and photographs on the evening.