Be Connected is an Australian government initiative that aims to provide a family and community centred approach to supporting, coaching and teaching older Australians aged over 50 years to improve their skills and confidence in using digital technology.

The aim of the Building Digital Skills grants program is to enable organisations to support people aged over 50 in Australia to gain basic digital skills and confidence through free face-to-face contact, either one-on-one or in small groups, utilising the learning courses available on the Be Connected Learning site.

Note: Network Partners applying for their first Be Connected Building Digital Skills grant can only apply for a $3,000 grant in the first instance. They will be eligible for a second grant once they have met 80% of their learner registration requirement and have submitted a satisfactory financial acquittal of their grant.

The grant can be used to cover costs that helps Australians over 50 build basic digital skills and confidence, such as:

• New devices including computers, laptops, tablets
• Upgrading software for devices
• Internet fees
• Digital mentor expenses, including training to be a digital mentor
• Printing of learning materials for older Australian learners
• Police checks for all staff and mentors involved in delivering the Be Connected project
• Marketing/promotional costs

Standard grant contracts come in four sizes:

1. $3,000 to support 30 learners
2. $5,200 to support 75 learners
3. $10,500 to support 150 learners
4. $20,500 to support 300 learners

Organisations who would like to apply for a Building Digital Skills grant must:

• Be a registered Network Partner within the Be Connected Network
• Have premises that are well frequented by people aged over 50 in Australia
• Premises are accessible to people aged over 50 (e.g. ramps, lifts, air conditioning, heating, sufficient space, lighting, etc.) and have appropriate facilities (e.g. toilets, seating)
• Provide an ABN number (if applying for a $5,200 grant or greater)
• Have public liability insurance
• Have acquitted previous grant/s awarded by Good Things Foundation

If you are not sure if you have an overdue grant acquittal, please contact Good Things Foundation to check

• Phone: (02) 9051 9292
• Email: connect@goodthingsfoundation.org