The Yorke Peninsula region experiences some of the lowest digital inclusion levels in South Australia. Many residents struggle with limited access to technology and a lack of digital literacy, making even basic online activities like shopping or accessing telehealth services challenging. The Southern Yorke Peninsula Community Hub (SYP Hub) sought a way to empower their community members with the skills and confidence to navigate the online world. 

For more than two decades, the SYP Hub has been considered the heart of this vast and remote region. It provides essential services such as Service SA and Centrelink and operates a tourist centre, art gallery and meeting space, making it a critical resource for the 300 people who use it every month. 

Following conversations with the community, staff identified a lack of understanding and confidence for digital communication platforms, particularly social media. Using a $9,766 Telstra’s Connected Communities grant, the SYP Hub launched a series of tailored workshops designed to enhance participants’ social media skills. Partnering with Ninki Content Marketing, the ‘Let’s Get Social!’ workshops were created to provide practical and time-efficient strategies to help community groups, volunteers and small business owners maximise the power of social media. 

The workshops covered a range of topics, from social media basics to more advanced content creation and the response was extraordinary. Each session attracted eager participants, with many workshops selling out and generating requests for additional training. Attendees, particularly older residents, told of significant improvements in their digital confidence. Many local organisations now feel better equipped to effectively manage their social media platforms. 

Hub volunteers noted that the sessions “were incredibly well received,” with one participant sharing, “I went home and designed exactly what I needed without checking my notes even one time! Amazingly helpful learning session.”  

With accessibility in mind, five new tablets were also purchased to support project delivery, meaning all attendees could fully engage in the learning experience. Beyond the social media workshops, the new tablets have had long-term benefits and are now used by community members and staff for weekly computer classes, events, virtual meetings and community support programs.  

The new resources have also increased demand for and access to telehealth services, connecting residents with specialists in speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychology—a huge breakthrough for those in remote areas with limited healthcare options. 

Looking ahead, the SYP Hub plans to build on this momentum and deliver future telehealth-related workshops, particularly for older residents. The impact of this project extends far beyond its initial purpose, strengthening the entire community’s ability to thrive in an increasingly digital world. 

Around three hours drive from Adelaide, along the beautiful coast, the Southern Yorke Peninsula Community Hub (SYP) is a central organisation that offers a range of services to its community.

From faxing, to printing, to car and boat licenses, the Hub provides tourist information and is home to the local Salt Lakes Gallery. With a role as big as this in the community, it makes sense that the Hub would be crucial during emergencies.

In November 2019, bushfires occurred in isolated rural areas along the Peninsula, putting many towns at risk. The community of Yorketown was in the fire path until a wind change moved it along to then endanger the township of Edithburgh. The fires impacted power supplies, road closures and communications for prolonged periods. The SYP Community Hub supported the community as a response centre throughout this event.

Since the 2019 bushfires, SYP Community Hub has been heavily involved in coordinating disaster recovery services. This included purchasing a custom-built trailer, the first in the Yorke Peninsula Council area. Using a $24,950 Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) grant, funded by a private donor, the trailer has become a multipurpose community resource.

During emergencies, the trailer will enable deployment of supplies such as food, water and basic first aid. It will also assist in distributing supplies to volunteers and act as a rest station during incident response. The versatility of the trailer also means that it can be used during community-led events.

The impact the trailer has had on the community has been exceptional. “The response from residents is one of pride in its completion and the feeling of readiness should they once again be faced with an crisis like the 2019 bushfires. The community is better prepared, trained appropriately and with a strong band of volunteers.”

Like many plans during the last few years, the start of the project was delayed due to COVID. Materials were in short supply and the engineering firm responsible for building the trailer was hit by COVID and forced to close for a period of time. But once they were able to safely get back to work, the trailer came together nicely.