A service drawing on youngsters' digital expertise to help seniors with tech challenges was a godsend for Port Macquarie's Terry Gogarty.
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Mr Gogarty was among the seniors seeking solutions at a tech savvy session at Port Macquarie Library on Saturday, October 30.
The social enterprise, Youngster.Co, was behind the session which had a focus on the Service NSW app, QR codes and digital vaccination certificates.
The service creates jobs for young people and helps seniors with technology.
It bridges the gap between generations as youngsters share their digital skills to benefit seniors and the seniors pass on their wisdom.
Youngster.Co representative George Teasdell helped Mr Gogarty set up his Apple ID so he could download apps and reconnect with his family thanks a functioning mobile phone.
"It's a godsend," Mr Gogarty said about the assistance from Youngster.Co.
"I get shut out [of my phone] because I keep forgetting my password."
Mr Gogarty said he would be able to contact his family and be back to a reasonably normal life amid the pandemic due to the tech help from Youngster.Co.
Signing into venues manually had been a hassle with his mobile phone out of action.
Youngster.Co representative Thomas Crundwell helped Geoffrey Barnett add his digital vaccination certificate to the Service NSW app.
Mr Barnett said the session was excellent as he had no tech knowledge.
"These guys are fantastic," he said.
"It just makes it a lot easer to bring it [digital vaccination certificate] up at a click of a button rather than trying to find the certificate on your phone."
Youngster.Co is staging tech savvy sessions for seniors across the Mid-North Coast including Urunga, Nambucca Heads, Bellingen and Macksville.
Bookings at participating venues can be made on the Youngster.Co website.
The co-founder of Youngster.Co, Tony Rothacker, said he was amazed about the response to the session at Port Macquarie Library.
"We had people walking in straight from the street," he said.
"We've had such a warm welcome by the community and a big thank you goes to the library and staff who have been extremely supportive.
"It is great to see the community get together when there is a need to make sure no one gets left behind."
Thomas Crundwell, George Teasdell, Nathaniel Anderson and Nathan Chad were the youngsters on hand to help the seniors with their tech challenges.
There will be a second tech savvy session for seniors at Port Macquarie Library from 10am to noon on Saturday, November 6.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council partnered with Youngster.Co to make the sessions a reality.
Seniors can register their attendance online, call Port Macquarie Library on 6581 8755 or simply turn up at the session.
They should bring along their mobile phones, identification documentation and know their passwords.
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