Building Digital Confidence
How the Seniors Tech Club is helping older adults
For many older adults, digital tasks that many of us take for granted can feel unexpectedly daunting. As more services and community connections move online, having the confidence to navigate digital technology has become an important part of staying connected with whānau, friends, and the wider community.
The Waitākere Ranges Local Board recognised the growing need for digital literacy support among older adults and engaged Community Waitākere to deliver a series of workshops in response. Working alongside staff at Geeks on Wheels and the Glen Eden Library, Community Waitākere designed and delivered a six-session programme shaped by feedback gathered from local participants.
Before the programme began, older adults were asked what they wanted to learn about using their digital devices. Their responses shaped the six workshops, which covered everything from device basics to online banking and scam awareness. Geeks on Wheels developed and delivered each session, tailoring the content to help participants build practical skills and stay safe online.
Although this was a pilot, participants embraced the programme with enthusiasm. Each session combined practical demonstrations with plenty of time for questions, giving people the opportunity to try things for themselves in a supportive environment. Feedback gathered from participants at the end of each workshop helped shape the delivery of the programme, ensuring it met their needs. Attendees particularly valued the hands-on activities and one-on-one support.
“Helpers were very understanding,” commented one participant, while another noted that “the patience of the tutors was awesome.”
As part of the feedback, we asked the participants how they rated their confidence levels for the topics covered during each session. Encouragingly, no participants reported feeling less confident, with most indicating they felt more capable after each workshop.
Alongside the sessions, participants were also encouraged to attend digital drop-in sessions with Glen Eden Library staff during weeks the programme wasn’t running. These provided an opportunity for participants to practise their new skills with ongoing support, helping them to build their digital capability beyond the programme itself.
Many participants indicated they found great value in the programme. One commented that “Classes need to be continued – my friends want to attend.” Another stated that “I think this is an important teaching opportunity for older people. Many things change and we need to keep up.”
The positive feedback and increased confidence demonstrated the value of creating accessible opportunities for older adults to build digital capability. Following the success of the pilot, the Waitākere Ranges Local Board has agreed to deliver the programme again in the next financial year, supporting more older adults to continue learning, connecting, and participating actively in an increasingly digital world.
