Keeping intouchable: A community report on the use of mobile phones and social networking by young Aboriginal people in Victoria

For young Aboriginal people new technology enables creative engagement and provides a means for negotiating and developing their identities, asserting and affirming their Aboriginality within an urban environment. In this report, although young people’s responses indicate the central role of mobile phones as interactive communication devices, they also acknowledged their limited experiences with new technology as a tool for creative and alternative approaches to learning. This limited use of new technology for learning contrasts with the daily use of mobile phones to facilitate social connections with family, friends and peers. For young Aboriginal people new technology enables creative engagement and provides a means for negotiating and developing their identities, asserting and affirming their Aboriginality within an urban environment. From the perspective of the participants, their stories confirm that mobile phones are essential for keeping them in ‘the loop’. Authors: Fran Edmonds, Christel Rachinger, Jenny Waycott, Philip Morrissey , Odette Kelada and Rachel Nordlinge