Volunteers from the AI Women’s Power Group produced the event
Lander & Rogers has hosted an AI Learning Day for youth workers through its South Sudanese Business Response (SSBR) initiative.
AI Women’s Power Group volunteers produced the event, which featured five AI sessions centered on bolstering practical and ethical AI skills. The sessions touched on AI policy and governance, AI ethical frameworks and skills, prompting, AI use cases, and AI tools and practical examples.
National surveys showed that generative AI usage was low among frontline community workers although almost half of Australians have used this tech. The recent Australian Digital Inclusion Index highlighted a gap in digital ability and AI literacy among community service workers, according to Lander & Rogers.
Before the AI Learning Day, most attendees indicated that they wanted to learn best practices for safe AI use, how to utilize AI tools in their work, how to identify AI use opportunities in their organisations, and how and when to integrate AI into workflows.
“For our committed youth workers, this was a structured way for them to see how artificial intelligence could make their work easier, safer, and more impactful. It’s not just about learning new technology, it’s about giving leaders the confidence to use AI to support families and build a brighter future. This experience has opened doors and shows that with support, the South Sudanese community in Melbourne can thrive in the digital age”, said Lander & Rogers community engagement lead Sobur Dhieu.
Junubi Wyndham, Centre for Multicultural Youth, NextGen Unite, Living and Learning Pakenham, and Aspiring Young Africans Foundation were among the organisations that took part. Junubi Wyndham offers educational, employment, and recreational programs to support South Sudanese youth and families.
The Centre for Multicultural Youth seeks to cultivate a society that links multicultural youth. NextGen Unite is a youth-led non-profit organisation that looks to empower South Sudanese Australians through opportunities in education, mentorship, sports and cultural activities.
Living and Learning Pakenham provides inclusive education, skill development, and support services for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups through partnerships, community programs and trusted local connections. The Aspiring Young Africans Foundation is a youth-led organisation offering mentoring and cultural programs to African-heritage young people.
Lander & Rogers’ innovation and pro bono team leaders, Real Minds Artificial Intelligence and SAP contributed to the AI Learning Day.
“The AI Learning Day was a powerful example of what happens when innovation meets community. By bringing together youth workers from across Victoria and equipping them with practical, ethical AI skills, we’re helping frontline organisations harness technology responsibly and confidently”, said Tracy Anthony of Real Minds Artificial Intelligence.
The SSBR was established in 2018 to offer employment and mentoring opportunities to young South Sudanese people between 17-25 years old. It aims to tackle social exclusion and barriers to workforce participation.
The initiative provides capacity-building workshops and pro bono legal assistance to South Sudanese organisations.
