The Department of Communities is supporting a program put forward by the State’s COVID-19 Youth Taskforce that gives vulnerable young people access to refurbished mobile phones, laptops and tablets.
Implementing the program will enable the young people to find online support services during the recovery period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, the Department said registrations were now open for the Youth Digital Inclusion Project, the first idea to come from the Youth Taskforce since it was established to combine the efforts of community sector service partners and the State Government.
“To run the project, the Department of Communities has given the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia a grant to distribute approximately 300 refurbished smartphones, tablets and laptops, supported by six months of data (capped), to young people aged 16 to 24 years,” the statement said.
“Eligible young people will receive the devices and data to access important health and social services, employment opportunities and stay connected with friends and family.”
It said that incorporated not-for-profit community organisations which provide youth-specific services, and/or work directly with young people were eligible to apply for the program.
“Approved youth services will then be able to apply on behalf of each client who would benefit from a device,” the Department said.
“All applications will be assessed by a panel,” it said.
A young person would be eligible for one device only under the initiative and would not be required to return it after six months.
Applications close this Friday (4 September) and more information can be found at this PS News link.
