What is SWADE? 

While the SWADE program is primarily aimed at Seniors, it is also open to any regional West Australian disadvantaged by location, culture or health.  This opens up a very wide spectrum and is a huge undertaking given the size of Western Australia, the distances between towns and the sheer remoteness of many communities makes it a challenge to support them all from any one location.  While the SWADE and Linkwest teams are located in various locations throughout Western Australia - they are proficient in delivering a range of information and support through a supported Video Conference service.  BeingThere Video Conferencing plays a critical role in supporting both Linkwest and ASCCA to deliver support and services via a high quality, professional video conferencing service to all of their end users.

ASCCA Director - WA, and former Manager of Walpole Community Resource Centre, Jennifer Willcox (Jenny) has teamed with Natika Hawes-Wright (Tik) former Manager of Kununurra Community Resource Centre to form the driving force behind the initiative.  As these ladies know the WA CRC Network so well, having almost 40 years’ experience between them, they are perfectly suited to supporting digital engagement and literacy enhancement on a broad scale throughout Western Australia.  Once CRCs are sufficiently engaged to help their communities, the project will expand to Neighbourhood Centres, Aged Care Facilities and Public Libraries.  ​​

ASCCA’s Jenny and Be Connected project officer Tik are at opposite ends of Western Australia - Walpole is on the South Coast and Kununurra is in the Kimberley region at the Top End, and Linkwest is based in Perth and also supports centres from Kununurra in the north, to Esperance in the south east and many communities in between, hence a good quality, supported video conferencing service is critical in delivering a quality service to ASCCA and Linkwest members and Be Connected Network Partners.
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​​​In this digital age there are still many who are not confident participants in the digital age, and seniors are over-represented in this group.  This puts them at risk of digital and social isolation.

​SWADE’s goal is to work with new and existing partners and networks in order to provide access to capacity building opportunities via a mix of Video Conferencing and face to face support sessions, so that they are better placed to support their community members in a variety of technological needs.  

SWADE intends to inspire a generation into being active, confident and safe participants in the digital age, to bridge the digital divide and hopefully encourage them to join a Seniors Computer or Tech Club near them in order to continue learning and embracing technology and all it has to offer.
 
ASCCA membership can support the ongoing aspiration of centres to support their communities and assist older Australians to become confident, safe and active participants in the digital age.