Reverse mentoring in action

Published on 23 November 2023

In a unique partnership with Killara High, Gordon Library is providing young mentors to help older residents struggling with technology.

The Young Mentors program began last week, with the five-week program finishing in mid December.

The weekly program will see ten older residents coached in the basics of social media and AI software, as well as solving common problems such as setting up phone profiles and synchronising mailboxes on PCs and mobile devices.

Those taking part will also be introduced to e-readers and taught how to download and stream music and films to their devices.

A group of senior students from Killara High have offered to be mentors, and mentoring in languages other than English is available.

Each weekly session is being held at Gordon Library between 3.30pm and 4.30pm on Wednesdays. The sessions will be in the library’s dedicated workspace set up with PCs and charging stations for laptops and devices.

Mayor Sam Ngai said the program had been set up to meet the ‘huge demand for help with technology’.

“There are so many useful applications and software out there but older residents find it difficult to get help even to master the basics of these,” he said.

“We hope to be able to put on more sessions next year if this introductory program is a success.”

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Media enquiries: Sally Williams Ku-ring-gai Council Ph: 9424 0000