How many times a day are you online?

Digital media has become an integral part of the daily lives of many. As technology continues to evolve, so does the effect it has on families as technology and global trends have seen a shift in the structure of families around the world. With this transformation, the United Nations still recognise the family as the basic unit of society. The family make up is the most important part of a developing child and now more than ever, children and their relationships are impacted by technology with access at their fingertips.

This year’s International Day of Families theme, “Families and inclusive societies”, puts emphasis on digital inclusion and the discussion on how technology is bringing families closer together. A recent survey conducted by the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre and Western Sydney University, supported by Google Australia, has found that families who interact using digital media have strengthened their unit; using this tool to increase their opportunities to connect, interact and grow. Technology encourages innovation and creativity and as the digital native generation are independent in their communication with others, digital inclusion is central in this development.

Shared by the interactive panel at our 2018 Synnex Alliance event in Melbourne, the key customers and end-users in IT in the education space are the parent and student. There is a significant need for parents to ensure they are competent in new and emerging technologies and for students to access valuable online tools. Even before a child reaches the age to start school, the growth in the technology industry has pre-exposed children to different applications and internet resources that are preparing them for school. It is then vital that children are equipped with skills that future employers and jobs demand, which is a responsibility primarily left in the hands of parents and industry leaders.

The development of IT in digital era education ensures that students receive tools that empower knowledge and support needed to develop. In conjunction with the role that families play in this, technology is building the ICT talent that Australia’s workforce and society require. To stay updated on the conversation on the International Day of Families, follow #DayOfFamilies .

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Links included in text:

-          Recent survey: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/newscentre/news_centre/story_archive/2016/australian_families_embrace_technology_to_improve_wellbeing_and_relationships

-          2018 Synnex Alliance event in Melbourne: https://bit.ly/2woFgeO  

-          #DayOfFamilies:https://twitter.com/hashtag/dayoffamilies?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag