The Smith Family and SAP narrow digital divide

With only 68% of disadvantaged children having access to the internet at home, The Smith Family and SAP Australia are working together on a program to help these students.

The Young ICT Explorers digital challenge is designed to develop lifelong digital literacy skills in children, as well as working to resolve youth unemployment and bridging the digital divide.

2014 National Assessment Program ICT literacy data shows around 70% of students from high socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds attained or exceeded the proficiency standard, while only 40% of students from low SES backgrounds reached the set standard.

To narrow the digital divide, the partnership between the two organisations will see The Smith Family help to facilitate and support its partner schools across Australia to participate in SAP’s Young ICT Explorers, with the goal to increase representation of low SES schools to 50% by 2020.

As part of the challenge, students in years three to 12 across Australia are invited to develop and showcase their best ICT-related project to peers, academics and industry leaders in a creative forum.

“There is a digital skills gap in Australia, and that gap matters,” said Max Roberts, state manager for Queensland and Northern Territory at SAP Australia.

“Australian industry will require another 100,000 ICT workers if we are to meet the transformational demands of the digital economy and stay competitive.”

Australia is also facing increased youth unemployment, particularly in disadvantaged communities. It is therefore necessary for industry, government, not-for-profits and educators to assist students in reaching ICT proficiency standards if the country is to have enough ICT professionals.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Queensland’s Innovation Minister, Leeanne Enoch, said, “I am passionate about digital inclusion because it is important that all of our young people can be part of the knowledge economy in the future. SAP’s partnership with The Smith Family will ensure the Young ICT Explorers challenge reaches even more disadvantaged communities throughout Queensland and Australia.”

This year, Young ICT Explorers has grown from 800 to 1600 student participants, with a record number of schools and projects registered. Forum events were held in eight locations across Australia with the upcoming national final forum bringing together state winners to be held in Sydney on 26 November 2016.

“It’s vital that disadvantaged students are supported to access the technology and training they need to fully participate in their education and build the skills they need to successfully attain employment in an increasingly STEM focused workforce,” The Smith Family’s CEO, Dr Lisa O’Brien said.

The partnership will also establish a framework for additional organisations to support Young ICT Explorers and enable many more young people to participate in this exciting initiative by 2020. Additionally, there is the opportunity to invite more employees of corporates to mentor young Australians and support them as they create their technology projects for Young ICT Explorers.

Additional Young ICT Explorers supporters include foundation partner Digital Careers, as well as sponsors Discovery Networks, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), Symantec, CompTIA, Fujitsu and Soltius.

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