Our Network
Living Connected has been set up as a network of centres and partnerships. We run drop-in centres and provide home visit services in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands and South Coast regions of New South Wales, but we’re continually growing and always interested in forming new partnerships, collaborating on new projects and sharing information and resources. Please get in touch if you’d like to become part of our wider network or just want to say hi and exchange details.
Our Team
Comment for Helen: some of the videos are dated. Sue mentions Covid and currently helping people on Zoom. Ridwone mentions he’s been working with us for a year. There’s also quite a difference in audio quality. I’m wondering if images and written (updated where necessary) bios would be a better way to present the team? Also, mine embarrasses the hell out of me, lol
Living Connected is a dynamic organization and our team is no different. We have a core group of management and long-term helpers, but we’re also lucky to have many students and other volunteers helping to deliver our services. You may see some of the faces below at a drop-in session or home visit, but you’ll likely see others too. Whoever you meet, we guarantee they’ll be friendly and helpful!
Helen Hasan
Helen is one of the founders of Living Connected based on research undertaken as Professor of Information Systems at the Australian Health Services Research Institute. She is currently Managing Director of Living Connected.
David Proud
David is both a Director and Team Member of Living Connected. He lives in Sussex Inlet and helps run the Living Connected Program in the Shoalhaven. David formerly worked with Wilson learning.
Kim Leach
Kim joined Living Connected in 2017 and is still here because she loves troubleshooting technical problems and seeing the difference digital literacy makes to people’s lives. Kim is certified by COMPTIA, the Computer & Technical Industry Association, and also runs her own tech support business, Techretary.
Jeff Gibson
Jeff Gibson is a member of our Northern Illawarra team where he regularly assists clients at Woonona Bulli RSL. He has decades’ experience with technology and is passionate about bridging the gap between digital technology and the people who use it.
Sue Rejske
Sue Rejske is a long-time digital mentor at our Woonona Bulli drop-in centre and has served on the Board of Living Connected.
Ridwone Hossain
Ridwone has completed a Master’s degree at the University of Wollongong and been part of the Living Connected team for several years. He has helped many, many people with a diverse range of problems on a variety of devices.
Peter Samsa
email sent to provide bio 29/4
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Phil Holleley
29/5 emailed Phil for better quality pic
Phil has vast experience in helping seniors with IT, for many years at the Living Connected classes at IRT Sarah Claydon in Milton and running classes such as the Tech Savvy Seniors program.
need better quality images for phil & david. given most of the board have bios above. could we include Jack in team with bio about ‘finger on the pulse of our bundanoon network. a lawyer and member of LC board
Our Board
One of Living Connected’s core beliefs is to be open to new ideas and different perspectives. The composition of our Board reflects this belief, with some Directors familiar with the day-to-day operations of our organisation and others bringing experience and expertise from a diverse range of fields, including business, law, media, charities and government.
Regardless of our backgrounds and specialities, every member of the board is committed to Living Connected’s overarching aim of bringing meaning and autonomy to the lives of all those we help.
Our Founders
The founders of Living Connected — Helen Hasan, Kate Surname, Corina Ionescu and Alanah Surname) — have followed the digital revolution over many decades, making use of each new generation of personal computing to enrich their lives. For several years, they helped residents in aged-care facilities do the same, learning what works and doesn’t work when it comes to seniors and technology.
Their review of the international research showed the importance of four factors in the quality of an elder’s life and social well-being– staying connected with family and community, spending time on meaningful activities, being independent and in control of everyday affairs, and having a dignified life.
With their own research showing how much better able to achieve these things seniors are when they can use computers and digital technology, they created Living Connected and its unique program of putting wellbeing before technology, customizing learning to individual needs, and ensuring ongoing assistance is available when needed.
In 2017, the program and its founders were awarded a place in the iAccelerate Business Incubator at the University of Wollongong, where they took advantage of business training and mentoring to turn Living Connected into what it is today, a thriving non-profit company that has helped thousands of Australians live better, more enriching lives.
0409 753 808
admin@livingconnected.org.au
