Focus Area: Connecting Communities

  • Seamless digital connectivity will enhance local community connections ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age

  • Council will shape digital democracy opportunities to generate conversations and collective action in Casey

  • Virtual and physical community hubs will facilitate new connections within our community

Objectives

To build community participation, engagement, collaboration and communication with Council

To create an accessible and inclusive digital experience for our entire community, including vulnerable people and diverse cultural groups

To enhance community connection powered by digital connectivity and access

Digital Equity Framework and Empowerment Paper

A key action from the Smart Casey Launchpad was to create a Digital Equity Framework to highlight how Council and partners can best reduce digital exclusion in Casey. As Casey has some of the highest digital exclusion rates in Metro Melbourne, it is important to coordinate efforts to ensure everyone in the community has fair access to digital channels.

You can read the documents below.

Digital Doveton

Through the Digital Equity Living Lab program, City of Casey has developed partnerships with organisations to trial innovative solutions to build digital inclusion in Doveton, Casey's most digitally excluded suburb. Some of the ongoing services include:

Digital Activation Program

The Digital Activation Program was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to help vulnerable community members get online with confidence and prevent social isolation. The program provided eligible residents over the age of 70, with the option to borrow tablets with data plans, as well as have remote phone support and one-on-one digital skill building sessions. Council recognises that being a Smart City means finding smart solutions to ensure everyone has equal opportunity and access in digital technology. The Digital Activation Program will continue to grow with new initiatives to support our community towards a digitally inclusive future.

The City of Casey’s Digital Activation Program was recognised for this work and won the Smart Cities Council’s ANZ Smart City Impact Award for 2020 (see article here).