180 likes | 311 Views
The Digital Divide in Family Support. ACWA08 suetreg@barnardos.org.au. Anna at fifteen. Family homeless over a year Re-housed hour+ from school Can’t afford mobile calls/phone broken Rented computer is unusable Can’t IM friends - feels excluded
E N D
The Digital Divide in Family Support ACWA08 suetreg@barnardos.org.au
Anna at fifteen • Family homeless over a year • Re-housed hour+ from school • Can’t afford mobile calls/phone broken • Rented computer is unusable • Can’t IM friends - feels excluded • Difficulties with homework • Feels unsafe to use public library
Barnardos’ interest in ICT • Need to improve participation in family support services particularly with children and young people • Case management system (SCARF) could be basis of software which may be potential useful to service users • Social justice issues for disadvantaged children • Experience with mobile phones
Vodafone Foundation project with homeless young people • Itinerant lifestyle made contact, early intervention and monitoring of welfare was difficult • Access to mobiles and free calls to workers enabled: • Emergency assistance- overdose, self harm, arrest, assault, • Reminders- appointments • Better engagement- birthdays, events • Importance of understanding social circumstances -theft and muggings, dealing, cashing, debt.
Could we use this the Internet more ? • Websites for access to information and exchange (depression sites, medical sites) • IM/ Email with workers • Social networks- 13%of adults make relationships on-line • Virtual worlds and social learning
Access of families to the Internet • Actual use of Internet and young people: In 2003 98% used computers (OECD, 2006) 90% of 15 year olds competently used Internet, (95% in year 12, 49% in Years 1-3). • 2001 study of disadvantaged families with children: 59% children had computer at home (compared to 74% in general population of families with children) 32% (cf. 48%) had access to Internet at home (McLaren &Zappala) • BUT what of agency service users ?
Research on access and attitudes to ICT among family support service users 2006/7 Qualitative study – 30 in 25 families4 (under 12) 3 (12-17 years) 5 (18-21years) in after care support 18 parents. 6 programs in Canberra and Sydney including outer areas Assessed the mix of technologies that were currently used or which were interest to service users
Mobile use 25 used pre-paid phones Only one not interested 4- lost, stolen Wide usage but problems of running out of credit. ..my worker would call me and I wouldn’t be able to call her back
Home Access to Internet • Home internet functional (6 of 30) • Previously had Internet- 11 Broken, fires, pawned, couldn’t afford payments • no IT Support • cost of service providers-no ISP • no modems in donated machines • Usually interested- 2 older participants exceptions • Interested but no access (11):educational (loosing skills) and social exclusion.
How The Internet Is Used • Websites: school research, rarely for Jobs/bills/ Centrelink • Instant messaging: extensively used and missed where access was poor. • Email not checked and sense that phone is easier, lessening popularity with spam and problems of effort. Two previously in fostercare were the exceptions. • Chatrooms: unclear • Blogging: generally unknown, literacy an issue • On-line Games: more limited, download problems • Social Networking Sites: heavy use, age specific
Innovative use by families • Keeping in touch- geographic separation in disrupted families • Overcoming violence- access to children by violent partners • Small business ventures
Attitude towards ICT and workers • Interested- it’s the norm • There are existing communication barriers- not identified by all BUT some objection to pagers, workers frequently did not allow mobile access • Face to face communication needs to be maintained • Timing important- getting to know you, use within relationship • Interest in information • Maintaining skills
How could Internet contribute to work with families • Initiation of communication -hours, space, social barriers (education and literacy), sequencing of communication, value of wit and group membership • Distribution-more private than paper, ownership of what is written, password protection, automatic functions • Use -attractive, company and entertainment • Increased self disclosure, relationship development, increased participation: self presentation, focus on feelings, anonymity, time to think, less focus on appearance
Duty of Care • Safety- Internet vulnerability Education on safe use of the Net- can we afford not to do this? • Distorted communication- changed dynamics, honesty • Balancing on and off-line communication, privacy and individual preference.
We need to ask the questions • Are we adding to disadvantage by not engaging with the Internet? • Are workers ICT practices affecting communication? • Are we missing an opportunity? Maintaining contact and communication is central to our work. • How can we provide technical and educational support? • Will it happen to us anyway?