Media release: Rotary response to digital poverty during COVID-19
A grant from the Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast is helping Ballarat Community Health respond to the challenge of digital poverty in the era of Covid 19.
Early in the health crisis, outreach teams at Ballarat Community Health transitioned delivery of support programs online. However, several of their clients facing mental and other health challenges have been disadvantaged, due to lack of access to digital communication technologies to participate in programs normally delivered face to face in small groups.
After early identification of the problem—often termed digital poverty—the Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast has responded by providing a grant of over $9,000 to Ballarat Community Health. The grant has enabled BCH to acquire hardware and online access for communications, which will be provided to clients for the duration of their programs.
‘The Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast was pleased to be able to respond quickly to a specific need during the COVID-19 crisis. Rotary always seeks to respond to its local community as well as supporting broader international initiatives,’ club president Huy Nguyen said.
According to Sean Duffy, CEO at Ballarat Community Health, ‘The technology grant allows us to continue our service delivery and has the added benefit of upskilling our clients in the use of current technologies. The technology will have wider application within our operations in the future beyond the current health crisis.’
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