Digital connection key to Lola success at nbn awards

By PETER ROWE

The message from Lola Digital owner Kantesha Takai that she wanted to bridge the digital divide for First Nations peoples struck a chord with judges at the 2024 Innovate nbn Grants Program awards on Tuesday evening in Sydney.

Ms Takai’s content and marketing agency based Waibene (Thursday Island) in Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) took out the Indigenous Business award.

“We want to connect with families, especially those with children in the vulnerable ages of 16 to 20 to strengthen their digital capabilities and online confidence,” Ms Takai said.

“We will aim at not only empowering young people, but their parents and guardians as well to ensure the entire family feels involved and able to understand the digital landscape and the opportunities it provides for the future of work for young people.”

Founded in 2019, Lola Digital supports businesses and organisations to amplify their key messages and solidify brands with culturally safe and strategic marketing efforts in website design and development, graphic design, copywriting and across social media platforms.

Lola Digital also supports marketing campaigns with strategic planning and event management, and offers photography and videography packages.

With most of Lola’s services being digital-first, Kantesha has long advocated the need for better connectivity in her region to bridge the digital divide and ensure digital inclusion for First Nations people across the Torres Strait.

 

“In addition to digital capabilities, we aim to offer families financial confidence workshops delivered by a partner agency (Lugger Indigenous Finance Education),” she said.

“We believe that like all households, income and finances play a crucial role in determining better health and wellbeing of First Nations people.

“If we want to help unlock income generating opportunities through increasing digital capabilities, we have to provide families the supports to make healthy financial decisions.”

*Main image: Samantha Wheeler and Kantesha Lakai were the Indigenous Business winner at the 2024 Innovate with nbn Grants Program awards.