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Ready, Set, Go Digital! Online business workshops for the region

Assistant Minister for Skills and Member for Northern Tablelands, the Hon. Adam Marshall looking over GoDigital material with RDANI Executive Officer Nathan Axelsson.
Assistant Minister for Skills and Member for Northern Tablelands, the Hon. Adam Marshall looking over GoDigital material with RDANI Executive Officer Nathan Axelsson.

A new initiative run by Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) is set to help businesses, organisations and individuals to benefit from the internet. GoDigital is being facilitated by RDANI Project Officer Tiffany Gilleland, who has a wealth of experience in social media and bringing her general online savvy to assist even those at a beginner level with computers.

Member for Northern Tablelands, the Hon. Adam Marshall has applauded the project. “Building and improving online skills in regional communities is vital for boosting business growth,” he said. “I encourage people to take advantage of GoDigital and make the most of this helping hand into the online world. We have much to gain from reducing the online skills gaps in this region. The challenges caused by the tyranny of distance should see greater online business activity and innovation in the bush to compete with the conveniences of the big cities.”

Funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Regional Economic Diversification Programme, the GoDigital project will see free workshops conducted in the following 12 Local Government Areas: Armidale Regional; Glen Innes Severn; Tenterfield Shire; Uralla Shire; Walcha, Tamworth Regional, Liverpool Plains Shire; Gunnedah Shire; Narrabri Shire; Moree Plains Shire; Inverell Shire and Gwydir Shire Councils.

The project will also deliver online materials, Q&A sessions held by Webinar / teleconference, as well as ongoing support over a six-month period. Materials will be provided in a modular format and participants will have the freedom to select the sections they require, or go through all of the content.

RDANI Executive Officer Nathan Axelsson said that recent RDANI projects helped to identify a need for digital upskilling in the region, with smaller operators keen to have the ability to sell their goods and services online through a fully-functioning and easy-to-use e-commerce website.

“A 2013 RDANI report into businesses in the Digital Economy found that 86% of businesses in the region do not sell to customers online in any capacity, while 56% have no e-commerce site or online strategy at all. Any increase in skills that reduces those figures is a positive for the growth prospects of our region,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter whether you are a prospective start-up or well-established, a producer or a cottage industry, a retailer or a trades business, even a community organisation or service club, it is time to GoDigital,” said Mr Axelsson. “The skills to have an online presence should be considered a must. Most of us are more likely to look something up with an internet search than the phone book. That means even our local tradies need GoDigital to get online and connect with potential customers.”

GoDigital course material will cover practical subject areas, from an introduction to online business, to building a website, building business with blogs and social media and trading online.

“After six months, the GoDigital Project will have provided Northern Inland businesses with the skills to trade online for the first time, while others will have new digital skills that yield positive results,” Mr Axelsson said.

Anyone looking to take advantage of the free GoDigital workshops or educational resources should contact the Regional Development Australia Northern Inland office on 02 6771 0700 or email: tgilleland@rdani.org.au
 

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