Older people across NSW will be better protected from scams, as part of the Liberal and Nationals Government's comprehensive plan to support seniors.
A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will provide an additional $2 million to double funding for the Tech Savvy Seniors Program, with a focus on boosting scam-awareness and enhancing training for Service NSW staff who interact with older customers.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said this additional support for digital education and training builds on the Liberal and Nationals strong record of delivery for seniors living in NSW.
"We will ensure more seniors have access to scam-awareness training and that customer service representatives can better support them when they need to access government services," Premier Perrottet said.
"This funding boost is about ensuring elderly people have the support they need when using technology in our rapidly changing digital world and that our government services are the most accessible in the country.
"Better protecting the elderly from scams builds on the Liberal and Nationals comprehensive plan to support the growing number of seniors in NSW through dozens of rebates and thousands of discounts through the NSW Seniors Card.
"Whether it's the Senior Savers Card, Pensioner Water Rebate, Gold Opal Card or the Seniors Energy Rebate, the Liberal and Nationals will continue to help relieve household budgets and back seniors across NSW."
Minister for Multiculturalism and Minister for Seniors Mark Coure said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to ensuring that our older Australians feel safe, protected, and included.
"When our society changes, we need to make sure everyone, especially our seniors, are not left behind, and our plan will ensure that doesn't happen," Mr Coure said.
"That is why we launched the Tech Savvy Seniors Program ten years ago, and by expanding it, we will ensure more seniors can access what they need to stay active and protected in our increasingly digital world."
The Tech Savvy Seniors Program provides free and low-cost classes to seniors to help build their skills and confidence when engaging with the digital world, and is part of a raft of initiatives and programs to help keep seniors socially active, safe and resilient.
The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government's comprehensive plan to support the growing number of seniors in NSW includes our:
- Seniors Card and Seniors Savers Card, which give almost 1.9 million older people in NSW access to discounts at more than 6,600 businesses, travel, entertainment, and professional services;
- Regional Seniors Travel Card, a prepaid $250 card which helps regional seniors with the cost of travel;
- Gold Opal Card which gives seniors in NSW unlimited travel for no more than $2.50 a day;
- NSW Seniors Energy Rebate which is available to self-funded retirees to help cover the cost of electricity, up to $200; and,
- Dozens of savings measures that are available through the Service NSW Savings Finder Program, including 67 rebates for eligible pensioners and 39 rebates for eligible self-funded retirees.
The number of seniors in NSW is expected to grow from 1.9 million today to more than 2.4 million by 2031.
Seniors can go to the NSW Savings Finder Program homepage to find out more on how they can save.
