Urunga Neighbourhood Centre (UNC) and Bellingen Shire Youth Services’ (BSYS) pilot IT project was a real success with many laughs shared and confidence boosted. 

Each senior brought in their tech pieces, with anything from iPods to tablets and laptops, to be shown the ins and outs of their equipment by our high school students. 

The two-hour workshop, held at the Urunga Neighbourhood Centre, also covered Facebook basics, digital photo uploading, apps and new technology hints and tricks. 

Vanessa Hogan, long-time volunteer and technology tutor at UNC helped the students prepare for the workshop.

"It’s great to have young people volunteer to do this for their community and with a two-month waiting list, they’re also a great help to kick start the learning with so many new gadgets being purchased leading up to Christmas."

The feedback from the students and seniors was great, with everyone agreeing it needs to be an ongoing program in 2014.

"I enjoyed every minute of it" one of the students commented. 

Youth worker Magdalena Grainger says the organisations will work hard to get the program running next year.

"It is great for our youth to be recognised in our community as people who have knowledge and skills to offer."

UNC and BSYS would also like to thank the Bellingen Neighbourhood Centre for its support and Bellingen High School for helping us put the program together in a short amount of time.

For more information contact Magdalena on 0437460856 or Vanessa on 0412649649.