CUC Hughenden is helping seniors stay connected, one click at a time

For many people living in remote communities, staying connected with family, accessing essential services and navigating everyday life increasingly depends on confidence with technology.

In Hughenden, a partnership between CUC Hughenden and the Flinders Shire Library is helping local seniors build that confidence through Savvy Seniors, a free monthly program that provides one-on-one support with everyday technology.

Held in a relaxed setting over a cuppa, the sessions give participants the opportunity to work through whatever technology challenge they are facing, whether it’s sending a text message, accessing an email account, understanding a phone bill or navigating an app. There are no formal lessons or expectations, just practical support tailored to each person’s needs.

For many seniors in Hughenden, technology has become an essential way to stay connected with family and friends living away from town. When a device stops working or an app becomes confusing, those connections and access to important services can become much harder to maintain.

The program was developed after staff identified a growing need within the community.

“We began to notice a lot of the seniors were sharing their passcodes with others for them to get into personal apps like banking and super accounts. This was purely as they didn’t know how to navigate the apps once in them. This was concerning for me and got us thinking how we can support the older generation in keeping control of not only their finances and be comfortable with technology and how to use it.”

Jo-Ella Young, Library and CUC Centre Manager

Now six months into the program, participants have worked through a wide range of everyday challenges, from recovering locked accounts and accessing emails to learning how to send photos by text message and manage their phone plans independently.

Each session is designed to leave participants feeling a little more confident than when they arrived.

“We just want people to walk out feeling like they can do it themselves next time. For a town like ours, staying connected to family often comes down to a phone working properly, and watching someone go from frustrated to confident in one session is why we do this.”

Since launching, Savvy Seniors has continued to grow through word of mouth, with regular participants encouraging friends to attend. What began as a small group helping each other navigate everyday technology has become a valued community initiative.

For CUC Hughenden, the program demonstrates that improving access to learning extends beyond higher education. Sometimes, building confidence with a phone or tablet can be the key to maintaining independence, staying connected with loved ones and participating more confidently in everyday life.