QLD:Net costs a barrier for seniors: study

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2011
QLD:Net costs a barrier for seniors: study

BRISBANE, Aug 10 AAP - More than 40 per cent of older Australians say the internet
is too expensive, leaving them at risk of being shut off from health and other online
services.

A new survey suggests seniors, and particularly pensioners, risk being left behind
as businesses and governments shift more services online.

Queensland University of Technology researcher Sandra Haukka interviewed 149 seniors
aged 50 and older across the nation.

Dr Haukka found 53 per cent of participants had a moderate or above interest in the
internet, while 46 per cent put their interest as low or nil.

Two thirds of respondents rated their internet skills as very low, and more than 40
per cent said cost was a barrier to using the internet.

One third said the internet would improve their daily life.

Dr Haukka's work included in-depth interviews with seniors who did not use, or rarely
used, the internet including those in urban, regional, rural and remote areas.

"With the government and private sector spending billions on the National Broadband
Network, we have to make sure that the internet can be used by all those who need it the
most," Dr Haukka said.

She said society's increasing reliance on the internet for commerce and services was
leaving older Australians with low web skills unable to conduct business transactions,
access services, find out about community events or use the internet to communicate with
friends and family.

"While many participants thought that logging on will have little impact on their lives,
in the near future they will be under great pressure to stay in their homes longer to
reduce the strain on the government's health budget caused by the ageing population,"

Dr Haukka said.

"The internet should help people to live independently for longer, enabling them to
learn, bank, shop, communicate and network from home.

"There are serious negative impacts for those without access to it, such as the inability
to access Centrelink, which is shifting more and more of its services online, or obtaining
their health records from Australia's e-health record system when it becomes widely available
in July 2012."

Dr Haukka said it was clear many seniors wanted help to join the online world.

"Many seniors told us they need one-on-one help, more cheap classes, equipment, a help
line and clear instructions," Dr Haukka said.

AAP tnf/ht

KEYWORD: INTERNET

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