From hesitation to confidence

Be Connected Digital Device Grants | Good Things Australia Network Partners 

For many people experiencing digital exclusion, the barrier is not only knowing how to use technology. It is having reliable technology to practise on in the first place. The Australian Government’s Be Connected program provides grant funding to community organisations to teach digital skills in local communities.
At certain times, specific grants are made available for the provision of devices for people who are digitally excluded. Feedback from Good Things Australia Network Partners shows how access to a suitable device, combined with guided support, can build independence and connection.

Celebrating and Conserving Cultures works with culturally diverse communities, including women, seniors, new migrants and low-income families. Some community members rely on basic smartphones, making Tech Reuse for Good case studies | 3 learning, communication and essential online tasks difficult. Creative Bytes has seen similar challenges among older Australians in regional and remote areas, where people may depend on shared or outdated devices.

The experience of these organisations reinforces a central principle of tech reuse for good: devices have the greatest impact when people also have access to appropriate training and trusted support. 

"Access to technology has made a significant and visible difference for people in our community, particularly older Australians who previously felt excluded or intimidated by digital tools. Having reliable access to a device, combined with guided support, has helped participants move from hesitation to confidence in a relatively short period of time. Many participants report feeling more independent and less reliant on others for everyday tasks, which has had a positive impact on their wellbeing and sense of connection." 

Stewart McMillan and Heath Gilham, Creative Bytes, VIC, 2026