Tasmanians Again ‘Most Digitally Disadvantaged’

What does digital inclusion look like across Australia in 2023?

The national Index score in 2023 is 73.2, up 2.1 points from the 2021 score of 71.1. This increase appears across all Australian states. The past year has seen a narrowing in differences between states and territories, with all states and territories recording overall scores between 69 and 78. The Northern Territory records the lowest score (69) and the Australian Capital Territory continues to record the highest (78). However, there remains significant geographic and demographic variation within states, territories and communities, and a continuing divide between capital cities and the rest of the country.

Nationally, there is a 7.5 point gap in digital inclusion between First Nations and non-First Nations people. In remote and very remote parts of Australia, this digital gap widens.

The metro-regional gap has narrowed to 5.0 in 2023 (from 5.5 in 2021) with metropolitan areas recording an average Index score of 74.8, compared to 69.8 in regional areas.

Housing tenure and composition continues to influence digital inclusion. While private renters have the highest average Index score of all housing tenure types, this may be because young adults are more likely than older adults to rent[2], and Digital Ability and Access scores correlate strongly with age, with young Australians generally receiving higher scores. People living in public housing recorded an Index score 11.7 points lower than the national average, with digital inclusion scores among this group growing slower than the rest of the population.

The number of highly excluded Australians has declined, but remains substantial

The number of highly excluded Australians (those with an Index score of 45 or below) has decreased from 10.6% in 2021 to 9.4% in 2023. The number of excluded Australians (those with an Index score above 45 and below 61) also decreased from 16.6% in 2021 to 14.2% in 2023.

Taken together, the number of excluded and highly excluded Australians in 2023 is substantial, totalling nearly a quarter (23.6%) of the national population. This significant segment of the population lacks the required resources to participate fully in economic, social, and civic life, presenting and compounding barriers to education, work, and vital services.

Highly excluded Australians are more likely to have a disability (24.5% highly excluded), live in public housing (28.2% highly excluded), have not completed secondary school (32.5% highly excluded), or be over 75 years of age (42.3% highly excluded). The majority of those who did not complete secondary school and/or are over 75 years of age are digitally excluded, with over half experiencing exclusion to high exclusion.

Digital exclusion is compounded by disparities in Digital Ability

The ability to access, afford, and effectively use digital services is not a luxury – it is a requirement for full participation in contemporary social, economic, and civic life. In this context of ‘compulsory computing’[3], digital inclusion is more important than ever.

Digital inclusion is strongly related to other markers of social disadvantage. This gap between digitally included and digitally excluded Australians is clearly seen in terms of Digital Ability. There are large gaps in Digital Ability scores between employed and unemployed Australians, people with a bachelor degree and those who did not complete high school, younger and older Australians, and those on the lowest and highest incomes.

The gap in Ability is also illustrated by differences in how different social groups use the internet, with a greater range of economic, administrative, social, and cultural activities undertaken by younger people and those with higher levels of income and educational attainment. Given the need to adapt a range of skills and literacies to a changing set of technologies and applications, limited skills and literacies may compound inequalities for groups already experiencing disadvantage over the long-term. Digital Ability is a moving target and skills must keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies and their applications, meaning gains in previous years cannot be taken-for-granted.

Given the complex and evolving nature of digital inclusion in Australia, ensuring that everyone can make full use of digital technologies and the benefits they bring, while avoiding their potential negative consequences, will remain an ongoing task.

Read the full report.

Media release – TasCOSS, 18 July 2023

Tasmania still lagging behind on digital inclusion

The release of the 2023 Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) has revealed Tasmania is once again taking home the undesirable title of most digitally disadvantaged state in the country for the sixth time since 2016.

TasCOSS CEO, Ms Adrienne Picone, said the latest ADII report showed Tasmania remains at the bottom of the pile for digital inclusion, with an estimated 54,000 Tasmanians highly excluded from the digital world and around one-in-four Tasmanians locked out from fully participating in economic, social and community life.

“Tasmania has improved along with all other states but our digital inclusion score remains 3.2 points behind the national average and the lowest of all states,” Ms Picone said.

“Tasmania also recorded the worst digital literacy and skills score in the country, which is having a profound effect in the broader community.

“Digital access and the ability to use digital technologies is an essential part of daily life, in much the same way as access to other essential services such as electricity and water.

“There are also concerning trends borne out of the data, with Tasmanians with low levels of income, education and employment, those living outside of Hobart and Launceston, older Tasmanians, Aboriginal Tasmanians and those living in public housing, all reporting higher rates of digital exclusion than the rest of the population.

“Whether you’re looking for work, accessing government services, engaging in education or training, paying bills or connecting with your community and friends, so much of what we do day-to-day relies on a secure, internet connection and the skills to navigate the web.

“We hope the announcement in the recent State Budget of a new digital inclusion strategy, and a mechanism for bringing key stakeholders together to address this crucial issue, reflects a genuine commitment from the Government for improvement in this area, which has not been evident in recent years.

“Closing the digital divide requires a long-term investment, particularly in relation to digital skills and affordability for people on low incomes.

“TasCOSS recognises there’s a role for service providers and others to play, but the Tasmanian Government has primary responsibility for charting the course and driving investment to achieve a digitally included Tasmania.”

TasCOSS is calling on the Government to commit to the following evidence-informed proposals to address digital inclusion in Tasmania, including:*

• Delivering on PESRAC recommendations to close the digital divide by setting clear, ambitious and achievable targets for improving digital access, affordability and ability — this must be more than incremental improvements in our ADII score.
• Introducing a Tasmanian Government telecommunications concession for low income households.
• Boosting investment in digital skills through a community-based network of coaches and peer workers to support priority groups, including people who have low literacy and numeracy skills.
• Working with NBN Co and telecommunications providers to develop a low cost broadband product available for all new social housing connections, including the supply pipeline of the new Homes Tasmania authority.

* For more information and additional recommendations, please see Wellbeing First (pp. 30-33).