Digital Empowerment Initiative (DEI)
What is the Digital Empowerment Initiative?
Community First Step's Digital Empowerment Initiative is committed to creating a more inclusive digital landscape for the vulnerable culturally and linguistically diverse communities of Fairfield LGA and South West Sydney. By enhancing digital literacy and ensuring digital access for all, our initiative aims to empower these communities with the skills and confidence necessary to navigate and thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Why Our Digital Empowerment Initiative Matters
Our Digital Empowerment Initiative improves digital literacy and skills through multilingual workshops and programs. We address digital access and affordability by providing subsidised or free internet and devices to families in need and strengthen our efforts through partnerships with educational providers to leverage existing resources and infrastructure.
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By bridging the gap in digital literacy and prioritising digital inclusion efforts, we enhance community engagement, access to online services, and overall socio-economic development, moving us towards a more equitable and connected society where all individuals have the tools and knowledge to thrive in a digital world.
Continuing Programs
Digital Sisters Program - Bridging the Digital Divide for Women​
Our Digital Sisters program, funded by Good Things Australia, empowers women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with essential digital skills to navigate everyday life with confidence.
This free, four-week program is facilitated by bilingual mentors who provide information in Vietnamese and Arabic, ensuring participants can fully understand and engage with the content in a welcoming and supportive environment. Participants gain practical skills such as using smartphones, accessing online services, recognising and avoiding scams, and staying connected with family and friends.
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So far, we have delivered Digital Sisters to 6 groups - 3 for Vietnamese-speaking women and 3 for Arabic-speaking women - offering tailored learning experiences that meet the needs of each community.
We plan to run more Digital Sisters programs in the future. If you’re interested, stay connected with us for updates on upcoming groups.
Register your interest today for future groups!
Collaborate With Us!
We are actively planning the next series of workshops and programs for our Digital Empowerment Initiative. Your collaboration and support are vital in shaping these offerings. If you’re interested in collaborating with us, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can continue empowering the communities of South West Sydney through digital education.
Past DEI Activities
Community First Step's Digital Empowerment Initiative has successfully conducted a range of activities aimed at enhancing digital literacy and access. Here’s a summary of our past workshops and tailored programs.
Workshops
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Digital Banking: This workshop equipped participants with skills and confidence to manage their finances safely online.
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Digital Employment Assistance: Participants learned how to effectively search for jobs, apply online, and prepare digital resumes, boosting their employability and confidence.
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Navigating Services Australia Online: This workshop focused on helping participants navigate the Services Australia website with ease, ensuring they could access essential resources efficiently.
Tailored Programs
To support the unique challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse women-led, single-parent households, we designed tailored digital education programs:
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Digital Education for Vietnamese Mothers: This 2-week program improved Vietnamese-speaking mothers' digital literacy, boosting their confidence and skills in using digital tools effectively.
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Digital Education for Mothers from Arabic background: Developed in collaboration with TAFE NSW, this 6-week program equipped Arabic-speaking mothers with essential digital literacy skills, significantly improving their competence and confidence in navigating digital platforms.
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Participants in these programs received free laptops and data packages, significantly reducing digital exclusion and empowering them to access online resources independently.
Participant Feedback
​"Having my own computer is a lot better. I can use it any time - day time or night time, because it is my own... It has my own information in there - can store other things in there. With the public one I have to wait for my turn, travel there and book to use it.
I will tell my children I don’t need your help anymore. I have my own computer.
I don’t need to be scared anymore."
Digital Education for Vietnamese Mothers Program Participant ​