Byte-Sized Lessons with a Major Impact

Logging on, downloading and double clicking are second nature to many in today’s world. But for some, the use of computers is still a mystery. Candice Jaques shares the story of how one Australian woman learned a new skill that’s changing her future.

She had come to the Slacks Creek ADRA Centre to help a struggling friend get a food parcel for her family. Little did Elaine know what a change it would make in her own life.

“I had only come to help my friend,” Elaine said. “But I saw the sign for free computer classes and decided to enquire.”

Elaine, 56, wanted to get into administration work but knew absolutely nothing about computers. She had been given a laptop a year earlier but didn’t even know how to turn it on.

A cook for more than 30 years, Elaine had been made redundant when management changed at the hotel where she worked. More than three decades on her feet, leaning over hot grills had taken its toll on her body, so Elaine saw her redundancy as a chance to make a change. She saw the basic computer classes at the ADRA Centre as an opportunity to help her do just that.

“When I asked about the classes, I was told enrolment was full,” said Elaine. “But I had my own laptop, so I was able to join straight away.”

The basic computer courses at the Slacks Creek ADRA Centre are funded by the Queensland government, under the “Skilling Queenslanders for Work”

initiative (community literacy program). The classes are part of the ADRA Training program, which also provides literacy and numeracy classes, job-finding assistance and access to further opportunities for personal development.

The computer courses are free for those who are unemployed, the underemployed and parents returning to the workforce. The courses introduce students to the basics of computer use—including turning it on, accessing programs, printing and basic word processing. Most of the students are those who missed a computer education at school.

“Computers were totally new to me,” explained Elaine. “I found the class really challenging but I would take notes and practice at home. One day, I made a really silly mistake in class and deleted something I’d been working on. I cried all the way home that day, believing I just didn’t have what it takes. I decided to pack it in and not go back.”

When the trainer didn’t see Elaine for a few days, she called to find out what had happened. After convincing her to keep trying, the trainer had Elaine come in for some one-on-one tuition.

“I thought it was my age,” said Elaine. “Fifty-six is no time to be learning about computers! But now I am so glad I came back to class. The attention and patience the trainer gave me was great. When I realised I could do it, I couldn’t help yelling out ‘Yes! Yes!’ I was so excited that I could actually remember what I’d learned and that I could do it.” Elaine went on to complete the course.

Part of the ADRA Training program is to help students identify a “pathway” to follow once they have completed the computer course. A pathway is usually further study, employment or volunteering to increase skills and confidence. Elaine has chosen to volunteer until she feels more confident with her new skills.

“I would eventually like paid work,”

she said. “But at the moment, I am volunteering to get my skills up.”

Elaine is a relief volunteer at a call centre for a St Vincent de Paul Society warehouse. “It’s a busy call centre, which receives information about donated goods,” said Elaine. “The phone operators have to take calls and log information into a database at the same time. A year ago, I would never have offered to volunteer but since doing the ADRA computer course, I know now that I can.”

In addition to the ADRA Training program, the Slacks Creek ADRA Centre provides free counselling, a moving service for low-income families and food parcels.

Your support of ADRA’s work means that projects in Australia and overseas can meet the needs of people like Elaine, who now believe in themselves and have hope for a better future.