Why virtual and online training is essential for people living remotely and carers in general
As the opportunities to attend in-person activities become more frequent, we reflect on how some parts of our community will remain disconnected if we don’t continue to support their remote learning. One thing we’ve all learnt over recent years is how important digital access and skills have become for all Australians.
Without the ability to meet in-person to attend training, access to remote learning has become an essential requirement for many people and the organisations that provide support and services to them. While the community is opening up, there will be those who are unable to easily transition back to in-person activities, such as those living remotely and carers.
Living remotely or caring for a loved one can make it practically impossible to attend any kind of in-person training. For many carers we have met, virtual learning is the only feasible way they can build their skills and knowledge due to the nature of their caring responsibilities.
Over recent years, YourLink has partnered with a number of organisations providing support to carers including Carers NSW, Carers SA and VMCH. These programs have delivered devices, data, support and training to members of their communities via Zoom sessions.
A number of these participants are located out of the main metropolitan areas of NSW, SA and Victoria. They all share the same need for digital connection that you and I have. In fact, it could be argued, they have a greater need given their geographic location or caring responsibilities they have.
Through these sessions we have come to understand the value and impact that learning virtually in someone’s home can have.
One carer couldn’t contain her excitement about how life changing it has been to become digitally included as part of the program - “people look at me and see that I’m young so they don’t think I’m isolated or not digitally connected but I am. I care for my grandfather 24/7, we only have the TV and get the paper delivered. Now I have an iPad and know how to use it, I’m keeping up with what’s happening in the rest of the world like everyone else.”
Any parent who has had to support virtual learning at home over the last two years can vouch for the challenges and considerations that come with this type of learning. Some of these include:
Access to a device and the software to participant in the training
Access to enough data and stable data for the connectivity needed for video calls
Support to join and use the learning platform
Ensuring the facilitator / teacher delivers the content in a suitable way to maintain the attention and avoid distractions
Setting the expectations around how remote and virtual learning will differ to the in-person experience
YourLink works closely with its partners to overcome these barriers and deliver training in a tailored way that suits their particular clients. We have to consider that we are teaching a digitally excluded person how to learn technology using the very technology that they may not be confident with. If someone doesn’t know how to use a device, how will they be able to learn if they are hundreds of kilometres away from their teacher?
We adopt a very human centred approach to connect with each individual. Initial contact may be needed by phone for those unfamiliar with joining a Zoom session. Guiding them step by step to join the session. See our seven tips for helping people use Zoom. Once they are on board, the training is delivered in an environment that is relaxed and comfortable.
One of our clients mentioned in her feedback - “I hadn't done much Zoom before, I was a bit nervous but the sessions felt more comfortable than I thought they would be.”
Isolation is a common theme amongst carers and those living remotely. So it makes sense that the digital access they crave to learn will open up opportunities to connect with the wider world, their own interests and hobbies or progress their career aspirations by learning online.
In our view, there is a responsibility to continue the progress in ensuring opportunities are created for those that may remain isolated due to geography, caring role or disability. Being digitally connected is no longer a ‘nice to have’ for everyone in a world that is rapidly moving online.
YourLink is dedicated to the digital inclusion of seniors, carers and care workers. Read about our programs with Carers NSW and Carers SA.