Mature aged people are concerned about cyber security, says Liberal candidate for Bendigo East Greg Bickley.
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Mr Bickley said many older people had informed him of their worries about the potential ramifications of going online and using new technologies, such as iPads.
He said he had raised the issue with a number of government ministers and he would advocate within the Liberal Party for more funding to be allocated to programs that helped older people navigate technology.
"For young people this technology is almost intuitive but for people it has to be learned," he said.
"Broadly speaking, the online world presents many challenges and if we can increase people's confidence about going online and surfing the net, then I think that's something we should do."
Bendigo East resident Doreen Sheers was one of the people who raised the issue with Mr Bickley.
"Going online can be a little intimidating at first. I was very worried about identity theft and you just don't know how safe you are online."
Mr Bickley said there were many community learning centres in Bendigo that would have the capacity to teach people online skills.
It was important people felt secure online, Mr Bickley said, because new technologies provided terrific opportunities for people to remain connected to their communities as they aged.
“As we move further into an online world, our ability to stay in touch with family and to feel connected with our community is a vital part of our well-being as we get older," he said.
"So it is very important that governments do all they can to ensure that mature age residents particularly, have the tools they need to feel confident online.”