TechCommons · Community Digital Education · Sydney, AU

Technology skills
for real life|

TechCommons brings free digital literacy and beginner-friendly Python coding to everybody; from young people to seniors. Build real skills, stay conencted with family, solve problems, and have fun. Flexible formats, small groups, no prior experience needed.

Free of charge
Group or one-on-one
10-week courses
Volunteer-run
Who We Are

Practical skills.
No jargon. No fuss.

TechCommons offers free, structured courses in digital literacy and Python coding for everybody across greater Sydney — with extra support for kids and underprivileged communities. Every session is designed to be genuinely useful — built around the things people actually want to do online.

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Practical from day one

Lessons cover real tasks — email, banking, video calls, scam awareness. Nothing theoretical for the sake of it.

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Group or one-on-one

Choose a small-group session or a dedicated one-on-one slot. Both formats run the same 10-week curriculum.

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Take-home reference cards

Every lesson includes a printed summary. Clear language, no assumed knowledge, easy to refer back to later.

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Completely free

Funded through grants and volunteer time. No fees, no hidden costs, no catch.

" We designed TechCommons around what participants actually need. It's a great way to learn and stay connected with family and friends.
— TechCommons Founder
Session Formats

Choose how
you'd like to learn.

Both formats cover the same curriculum. Pick whichever suits your pace, availability, and preference.

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Small Group — up to 8 people

Weekly two-hour sessions with a facilitator and a support volunteer. A good option if you enjoy learning alongside others and benefit from group discussion.

Most popular
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Fixed Weekly Schedule

Sessions run the same day and time each week across 10 weeks. Held at local libraries, community centres, and partner aged care facilities across greater Sydney.

Structured
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Roving Support Included

Every group session includes a dedicated support volunteer who moves around the room. You're never left waiting for help, and there's no pressure to keep up with anyone else.

Supported
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Multiple Locations

We run sessions across Parramatta, Hurstville, Penrith, Blacktown, and Liverpool. New locations added as volunteer capacity grows.

Sydney-wide
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Dedicated Volunteer, Just for You

One-on-one sessions pair you with the same volunteer each week for the full 10 weeks. You set the pace — lessons move faster or slower depending on what's working for you.

Flexible
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In-Home or Local Venue

Sessions can be held at your home, a local café, a library, or a partner aged care facility. We work around your situation.

Comes to you
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Adapted Curriculum

While the 10-week structure stays the same, your volunteer can spend more time on topics you find most useful and move quickly through things you pick up easily.

Personalised
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Between-Session Check-ins

Your volunteer can arrange a short weekly phone call to answer questions that come up between sessions. Optional, but many participants find it helpful.

Extra support
Program One · Digital Literacy

10 Lessons.
Real skills. No fluff.

A 10-week course covering everyday digital tasks. Sessions run two hours each, with printed reference cards to take home after every lesson.

WK
01

Setting Up & Using Email

Creating or accessing a Gmail or Outlook account. Writing, addressing, and sending your first email. Navigating your inbox, sent folder, and how to reply or forward.

Communication
WK
02

Sending Photos & Attachments

Attaching files and images to an email. Understanding file sizes. Downloading and saving attachments you receive. Finding photos on your phone or tablet to share.

Communication
WK
03

Clicking Links & Recognising Safe Sites

How to read a web address. Secure (https) vs unsecured sites. What the padlock icon means. Telling a trustworthy site from a convincing fake.

Online Safety
WK
04

Video Calls — Zoom, FaceTime & Google Meet

Installing and opening a video call app. Starting and joining a call. Muting, adjusting the camera, and ending a call. Troubleshooting audio and video issues.

Communication
WK
05

Passwords & Account Security

What makes a strong password. Using a password manager. Two-factor authentication explained simply. What to do when you're locked out of an account.

Online Safety
WK
06

Recognising Scams — Email, Phone & Text

The most common scams targeting Australians. Warning signs in emails and SMS. What to do if you've clicked something suspicious. How to report to Scamwatch.

Fraud Prevention
WK
07

Online Shopping & Internet Banking

Ordering groceries and goods online. Reading bank statements digitally. What payment information is safe to enter — and what should never be shared.

Finance
WK
08

Government Services — myGov, Medicare & ATO

Creating and navigating a myGov account. Linking Medicare and the ATO. Accessing health records, booking services, and lodging a tax return online.

Government
WK
09

Staying Connected — Facebook, WhatsApp & Groups

Setting up Facebook or WhatsApp. Privacy settings. Joining local community groups. Sharing photos with family without oversharing publicly.

Social
WK
10

Troubleshooting & Going It Alone

How to search your way out of a problem. Reading error messages without panicking. When to restart versus when to call for help. A checklist of everything you can now do independently.

Capstone
Program Two · Python Coding

From no experience
to writing real programs.

Python is the most readable programming language around. The 10-week course takes you from first principles to a working game you've built yourself — using real skills that transfer beyond the course.

week_01.pyWeek 1
# Your first Python program

print("Hello, world.")

name = input("Your name: ")
print("Good to meet you,", name)

year = int(input("Year of birth: "))
age  = 2025 - year
print(f"That makes you around {age}.")
week_04.pyWeek 4
# Conditions — if / elif / else

temp = int(input("Today's temperature (°C): "))

if temp >= 30:
    print("Hot day. Stay hydrated.")
elif temp >= 18:
    print("Pleasant. A jacket is optional.")
else:
    print("Cool. Worth bringing a layer.")
week_07.pyWeek 7
# Functions — reusable blocks of logic

def bmi(weight_kg, height_m):
    result = weight_kg / (height_m ** 2)
    return round(result, 1)

w = float(input("Weight (kg): "))
h = float(input("Height (m): "))
print(f"BMI: {bmi(w, h)}")
week_10_game.py Week 10 — Game
# Week 10 — Text adventure game
# Built using everything from weeks 1–9

import random

def start_game():
    print("\n=== THE LOST KEY ===")
    print("You wake up. Your front door key is missing.")
    rooms = {
        "kitchen": "A counter, a drawer, and the fridge.",
        "lounge":  "Sofa cushions and a coffee table.",
        "garden":  "A flowerpot and a garden chair.",
    }
    key_room = random.choice(list(rooms.keys()))
    found    = False

    while not found:
        choice = input("Search (kitchen/lounge/garden/quit): ").lower()
        if choice == "quit":
            print("Game over."); break
        elif choice in rooms:
            print(f"You check the {choice}. {rooms[choice]}")
            if choice == key_room:
                print("You found the key! You win.")
                found = True
        else:
            print("That's not a valid room.")

start_game()
Course Structure · Python

The 10-Week
Python Plan

Each two-hour session includes a written summary to keep. Devices are available to borrow. Practice between sessions is encouraged but not mandatory.

WK
01

What is Python? Setup & Your First Program

What programming is and what it isn't. Installing Python and a code editor, or using the browser-based option. Writing and running your first script. Understanding "output" and "syntax".

FoundationsSetup
WK
02

Variables, Data Types & User Input

Storing information in variables. Strings, integers, and floats. Using input() to make programs interactive. Build: a personalised greeting program and an age calculator.

FoundationsData
WK
03

Arithmetic, String Formatting & f-strings

Python as a calculator. Order of operations. Combining and formatting text with f-strings. Build: a tip calculator and a kilometres-to-miles converter.

ArithmeticStrings
WK
04

Conditions — if, elif, else

Writing programs that respond differently based on input. Comparison and Boolean operators. Build: a weather advisor and a number-guessing game with live feedback.

LogicControl Flow
WK
05

Loops — for, while & range()

Automating repetition. The difference between for and while loops and when to use each. Build: a multiplication table generator and a countdown timer.

Control FlowAutomation
WK
06

Lists & Iteration

Storing multiple values in a single variable. Adding, removing, and sorting items. Iterating with a loop. Build: an interactive shopping list with add and remove functionality.

Data StructuresPractical
WK
07

Functions — Writing Reusable Code

Defining functions with def. Parameters and return values. Why functions make programs easier to maintain. Build: a BMI calculator and a currency conversion tool.

FunctionsOrganisation
WK
08

Dictionaries & Structured Data

Key-value pairs — analogous to a spreadsheet row. Looking up, updating, and deleting entries. Build: a personal contacts book and a word frequency counter.

Data StructuresIntermediate
WK
09

Reading & Writing Files

Opening, reading, writing, and appending to text files so data persists after the program closes. Handling errors gracefully. Build: a journal that saves timestamped entries to a file.

File I/OIntermediate
WK
10

Final Project — Build a Text Adventure Game

Using every skill from weeks 1–9, participants build a playable text adventure game: rooms, choices, randomness, win/lose conditions, and saving progress to a file. The game is demo'd to the group. Certificates awarded.

Game ProjectCertificate 🎓
Community Partnerships

Partnering with
aged care centres.

We bring TechCommons programs directly into residential and community aged care facilities — working with your staff and residents at no cost to the organisation.

Whether your residents are in independent living, assisted care, or memory support, we can adapt our programs to the setting. We work around your schedules, use devices you already have or bring our own, and coordinate directly with your activities team.

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We come to you

Sessions run on-site at your facility. No transport required for residents, no setup burden on your team.

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Flexible scheduling

We work around your activities calendar. Morning, afternoon, or weekend slots are all available depending on volunteer availability.

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Devices provided if needed

We can bring laptops and tablets for sessions, or work with devices your residents already own.

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Staff coordination included

A TechCommons coordinator liaises directly with your activities team for session planning, feedback, and reporting.

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No cost to your facility

The program is entirely free for partner organisations and their residents. We're funded through grants and corporate giving.

BaptistCare Partner
Hammond Care
Anglicare NSW
Uniting AgeWell
Your facility →

Register Your Facility

Use our quick form and a TechCommons coordinator will be in touch within three business days to discuss how we can work together.

Open Partnership Enquiry Form
From Participants

What people say
when they leave.

By week three I was emailing my daughter photos from my phone without asking anyone for help. That felt genuinely significant to me.

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Margaret, 71
Digital Literacy graduate · Parramatta

I did the Python course out of curiosity. By week five I had written something that worked and I could explain exactly why. The game we built at the end was genuinely fun to show people.

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Derek, 64
Python graduate · Penrith

The scam awareness session alone was worth it. I recognised a phone scam two weeks later and knew exactly what to do. That's a real, practical outcome.

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Robyn, 68
Digital Literacy graduate · Hurstville

We run on people
who care.

TechCommons is entirely volunteer-operated. Whether you're a teacher, a developer, or just someone who knows their way around a computer — there's a role for you.

Python Teacher

Teacher

Lead weekly sessions for a group or work one-on-one with a participant. Full lesson plans provided. Ideal for those who have previous experience in Python or who are eager to learn more.

Digital Literacy Teacher

Technical

Support sessions with basic technical knowledge — troubleshooting devices, explaining concepts, and helping participants who need a bit more time on specific topics. Ideal for those who are well versed with common tech services, such as email, social media and messenging.

Curriculum Developer

Content

Write or improve lesson content. Valuable if you have a background in education, instructional design, or plain-language writing. Work is done remotely and at your own pace.

Corporate / Venue Partner

Partner

Bring TechCommons into your corporate community program, offer your venue for sessions, or donate devices. We work with organisations of all sizes.