AI Women’s Power Group bridge AI divide with bicultural youth

The latest Australian Digital Inclusion Index reveals a pressing gap in digital ability and AI literacy among community service workers. Migrant communities are at risk of being left behind as AI transforms the way Australians live and work. There is an urgent need to supercharge AI skills and digital confidence, ensuring everyone can benefit from the opportunities of AI.

Over 30 bicultural youth workers participated in the AI Learning Day at Lander & Rogers, produced by volunteers from the AI Women's Power Group
Digital and AI inclusion highlighted as important for community workers who act as intermediaries for those at risk of exclusion
Professionals from Lander & Rogers, SAP, and Real Minds Artificial Intelligence delivered five specially designed AI sessions.

Building on a legacy of community partnership

Lander & Rogers’ commitment to supporting South Sudanese young people began in 2018 with the launch of the South Sudanese Business Response (SSBR). The initiative connects the firm’s professional network to provide employment and mentoring opportunities for South Sudanese young people between the ages of 17–25-years - addressing social exclusion and barriers to workforce participation. The SSBR also supports South Sudanese organisations with capacity-building workshops and pro bono legal assistance.

Bridging the AI divide through community collaboration

Recent national surveys show that while nearly half of Australians have experimented with generative AI, usage is lower among those in frontline community roles.

To address this, the SSBR and the AI Women’s Power Group, hosted an AI Learning Day for 30 bicultural youth workers and centre managers from organisations including:

Junubi Wyndham, who supports South Sudanese youth and families through educational, employment, and recreational programs.
Centre for Multicultural Youth, whose purpose is to create a society where multicultural young people are connected and can fully reach their potential.
NextGen Unite, a youth-led non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering South Sudanese Australians whose mission is to create transformative opportunities through education, mentorship, sports, and cultural activities.
Living and Learning Pakenham, which empowers individuals and strengthens communities by providing inclusive education, skill development, and support services—particularly for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups—through partnerships, community programs, and trusted local connections.
Aspiring Young Africans Foundation, a leading youth-led organisation supporting African-heritage young people with mentoring and cultural programs.

The specially designed AI Learning Day focused on practical, ethical AI skills, directly addressing the growing AI divide in Australia - defined as a gap in access, skills, and confidence that risks deepening existing social and economic inequalities if left unaddressed.

Prior to the AI Learning Day, the majority of attendees stated they would like to understand best practices for safe AI use; how to use AI tools for their work; how to identify opportunities to apply AI in their organisations; and to understand when and how to integrate AI into their workflows.

Empowering community leaders with AI confidence

The AI Women’s Power Group delivered the AI Learning Day to further the work of the SSBR. The AI Women's Power Group is an outcome-driven, women-led collective, committed to ensuring that the benefits of AI are accessible to all. For this initiative, it consisted of leaders from Lander & Rogers' innovation and pro bono teams, Real Minds Artificial Intelligence, and SAP.

Over the course of six months, the AI Women's Power Group team designed and ultimately delivered an agenda that included five key sessions:

AI governance and policy for organisational leaders
Ethical frameworks and safe use of AI
The best tools for everyday use
Mastering the art of prompting
Real-world use case applications

Participants left with confidence, practical skills and a deeper understanding of safe, ethical AI use. As one attendee shared, "Learning about prompts and the governance around using AI in my organisation was invaluable."

A model for inclusive digital transformation

The AI Learning Day demonstrated the power of cross-sector collaboration in closing the AI divide. By focusing on upskilling bicultural youth workers, who are often on the frontlines but have limited exposure to emerging technologies, the event empowered them to embrace AI to improve a multitude of day-to-day tasks, while upholding ethical standards.

The AI Women’s Power Group x SSBR initiative aligns with global calls for “AI for Good” — using technology to drive positive social impact and ensure no one is left behind in the digital transformation. By fostering AI literacy, ethical awareness, and practical skills in underrepresented groups, the AI Learning Day is a model for how community-centred events can bridge the AI divide and build a more inclusive digital future.

Quotes

Sobur Dhieu, Community Engagement Lead at Lander & Rogers, said: "What a wonderful day of learning and connection for the South Sudanese community. 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."

Tracy Anthony from Real Minds Artificial Intelligence, who led two sessions on AI policy and governance and an AI ethical framework and skills workshop said: "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. It was an honour to co-lead this initiative with the AI Women’s Power Group, an inspiring collective of changemakers committed to inclusive, purpose-driven innovation."

Sarah Marke from Lander & Rogers presented the AI Learning Day's prompting session and noted: “Sometimes the most meaningful change starts with a simple spark: curiosity, connection, and confidence. Through the AI Learning Day, we had the privilege of working with youth workers from Melbourne’s South Sudanese community to explore how AI can be used safely and purposefully in frontline work. It was a day filled with generosity and openness, and I left reminded that even small steps can create lasting impact. It's a testament to what’s possible when diverse voices come together to make technology inclusive.”

Courtney Blackman, also from Lander & Rogers delivered a workshop on AI use cases and commented, "The energy in the room during AI Learning Day was electric. The group came ready to engage, asked insightful questions, and experimented, unrestrained, with how AI could support their frontline work. From finding resources and generating activity ideas to writing reports, summarising complex documents, and preparing workshop materials, participants quickly saw the transformative potential of AI in their day-to-day roles. They left equipped with practical tools and excited by the realisation that such a powerful technology is readily available to create lasting impact."

Ching Ooi from SAP who led a hands-on AI tools and practical examples session said: "The AI Learning Day was a great example of how inclusivity can empower communities. By bringing together youth workers and leaders from organisations like Junubi Wyndham, the Centre for Multicultural Youth, NetGen Unite, and Aspiring Young Africans Foundation, we explored how AI can be applied ethically and practically in everyday work. It was inspiring to see participants walk away with real skills, confidence, and a vision for how AI can support their missions. At the end of the day, everyone should have access to the tools shaping our future."