Dementia carer finds computer literacy liberating

Dementia carer Ms Mandy Calderon of Umina has described becoming computer literate as liberating and instilling a new professional confidence in her.

Ms Calderon is in the final stretch of a TAFE Certificate I in Information, Digital Media and Technology and is set to graduate by the end of July.

"I wanted to be able to further my career and knew I needed to gain a lot more knowledge about computers," Ms Calderon said.

"Before, I was fine with emails and Facebook.

"Now, I'm so much more confident with a computer in many ways.

"I'm using my skills already," she said.

"After class, I always try to come back home and practice on my computer and if I forget how to do something I refer back the handout we received each week.

"I've learned so much and am definitely pleased I'm doing this course.

Ms Calderon said older people should consider stepping back into the classroom and that they should not fear being left behind in an environment typically dominated by younger people.

"At the end of the day, we've got to get with the times whether we want to or not.

"Everything is changing, and we really need to understand computers," Ms Calderon said.

SOURCE:

Media release, 18 Jun 2019

Kristy Sheppard, TAFE NSW