Collective action needed to close digital divide

Urgent collective action between business, government and the community sector is needed to reverse the tide of a widening digital divide, according to a panel of experts.

During a roundtable last week, representatives from Telstra, the New Zealand Government and Good Things Foundation Australia warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the gap, which could expand further over the next decade as digital adoption accelerates to an even greater pace.

According to Telstra Group General Counsel & Group Executive, Sustainability, External Affairs and Legal Lyndell Stoyles, an estimated 10% of Australians are not digitally included.

“If society continues on this path, you can only imagine the rate of exclusion we’re going to see over the next 5–8 years as the digital world becomes smarter, faster and more sophisticated — and it will impact our most vulnerable.

“A coordinated National Strategy needs to be developed as a priority in the next term of government and we need to get it right and roll it out in the first half of next year. To be successful, the strategy needs to encompass a coordinated effort between government, industry and the community sector. It’s an exciting time as long we can get it right.”

The gap is even wider in New Zealand, where around one in five New Zealanders are digitally excluded, according to New Zealand Deputy Government CIO Ann-Marie Cavanagh.

“We see the highest rates of exclusion among the elderly, Māori and Pacifica communities, as well as people with disabilities,” she said.

“While skills and access are critical to bridging the digital divide, understanding motivation to access the internet is also key. If we look at elderly people for example, they may seek digital ability to be able to stay connected with family, so we need to offer training and support tailored to that.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Kheng Guan Toh