Bridging the digital divide among First Nations communities

It is important that everyone can access the information and services they need, which in today’s digital world increasingly means requisite connectivity, ability and affordability.

The Australian Government recently published its Indigenous Digital Inclusion Plan discussion paper, acknowledging digital inclusion for First Nations communities as being below the national average. The Plan aims to contribute to the government’s proposed Indigenous Digital Inclusion Plan with ideas that will have an impact in remote and regional First Nations communities.

We’re really pleased to see this first step in recognising the need for First Nations people to be equally digitally included, that many have been calling for years now, underway. There is significant ground our communities, government and leaders need to make up to ensure we meet the National Partnership Agreement target of equal digital inclusion for all First Nations Australians by 2023.

What is the digital divide?

Digital inclusion and literacy describe having affordable access to digital technology (internet data, devices, software and applications) and the capability to use this technology to engage and communicate in a safe and confident way. In today’s society, highlighted further by the COVID-19 pandemic, digital inclusion and literacy provide access to employment, education, basic government services like health care, and much-needed connection to friends and family.

Most of us don’t even realise how much we rely on technology to complete basic tasks, from paying bills to Zooming with a loved one or checking in via the COVIDSafe app. Whilst according to research by ACMA the percentage of Australians completely offline has dropped from 10% to 1% during the pandemic, the impact of being digitally excluded continues to worsen, further isolating those who are often already our most vulnerable.

The digital divide in First Nations communities

There are three main factors that contribute to the digital divide: a lack of access, affordability and ability. A report by World Vision Australia and the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) found that 37% of First Nations homes relied more heavily on costly, inefficient mobile data for internet access compared with the general population (21%). Good Things Foundation Australia’s latest Digital Nation Australia report highlighted that a third of those with a mobile-data-only connection are low-income families with school-aged children. Similarly, First Nations Media Australia’s recent study (supported by ACCAN) found that most First Nations community respondents used a mobile phone for internet access, while only a quarter had access to a personal computer (laptop or desktop).

Beyond affordability, there is also the issue of access. The Digital Nation Australia report highlighted that in remote First Nations communities, 30% of people have no household internet or phone connections. And without access, it’s hard to build the ability to navigate the online world.

This is concerning given the fact that 87% of jobs in Australia now require digital skills and that government services are undergoing rapid digital transformation. Medicare, education resources, the tax office as well as essential services such as banking are increasingly moving to an online-only delivery model. The pandemic has only amplified this issue, as more people are working and studying remotely, widening the divide between the digitally connected and those with low digital skills or access.

What needs to change

First Nations Media Australia has identified the core challenges to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers as: the availability of communications infrastructure, access to internet facilities and online services, affordability, awareness, which includes digital literacy skills and understanding of cyber-safety issues and culturally appropriate training, tools, content and services.

While there are successful national programs like Be Connected funded to support the broad population of older Australians to improve their digital skills, there is no nationally funded program to support digital inclusion for First Nations people. However, there are great programs making a real difference in communities that have been designed and led by First Nations people, like inDigiMOB.

First Nations Media Australia has partnered with Telstra to support digital inclusion education activities in remote Indigenous communities and town camps across the Northern Territory, and more recently South and Western Australia, through the inDigiMOB project. inDigiMOB partners with communities and local organisations to offer a suite of appropriate resources to meet the unique needs of individual communities for digital inclusion. Some examples include tailored videos to help navigate online banking, use Google, avoid online scams, choose a phone plan, use social media safely and utilise map functions.

The inDigiMOB model of digital mentors supported by workshop opportunities has been successful in the Northern Territory where it has been operating for four years now. In response to interstate demand, the project has been expanded to working with communities in South Australia and Western Australia this year.

There is significant potential to upscale a program like inDigiMOB, in partnership with shire councils to exponentially increase the delivery of digital skills workshops, complemented by an ongoing digital support officer available to each community to resolve some of the barriers facing digital inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in regional and remote communities.

In line with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the way to truly effect change is to ensure the National Indigenous Digital Inclusion Plan is co-designed with First Nations communities and funding support is provided to First Nations organisations to implement the findings. We look forward to seeing this move beyond a plan and into actions.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/profit_image