services and information. In a digital age, digital inclusion of the populace is also important to our nation's economic and social performance. Digital inclusion is a complex and challenging problem for policy-makers, practitioners, and researchers. While the digital divide has narrowed, it has deepened, and as the internet increasingly becomes the default medium for communicating, informing and interacting, the disadvantages of being offline increase. Digital inclusion is not just about computers, the internet or even technology. It is about using online and mobile technologies as channels to improve skills, to enhance quality of life, to drive education and to promote economic wellbeing across all elements of society. Digital inclusion is fundamentally about social and economic participation. Although the digital divide is closing, in Australia there are still deep gaps evident with a large number of vulnerable individuals without basic internet access or skills: Four in ten of the lowest income households in Australia are not connected to the internet 24% of Australians born in non-English speaking countries, do not access the internet compared to a 17% national average 75% of people educated to year 12 or below use the internet, compared with 91% of people with a tertiary qualification Of people aged 65 or more, only 46% are internet users and 75% feel confused about using technology Of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households, only 63 per cent reported having internet access at home, versus 77 per cent for non-Indigenous households More than two thirds of people who are homeless had difficulty paying their mobile phone bill in last 12 months One million people with a reported disability do not have internet access at home In only 68% of children aged 5 to 14 years Australia’s most disadvantaged communities, accessed the internet at home over a 12 month period (compared to 91% of children in the most advantaged communities) Access and affordability can present barriers to digital digital inclusion. However, an individual’s engagement is also affected by digital literacy (skills and ability), whether a person can see potential benefits of engagement and motivation and attitude, including concerns about safety and security. The Australian Digital Inclusion Index will be used to measure the extent of digital inclusion in Australia. The Australian Digital Inclusion Index The Australian Digital Inclusion Index will help inform and promote public policy, commercial and program responses to enhance digital inclusion in Australia. The objectives of this initiative are to: Improve our understanding of digital inclusion and its relationship to social and economic disadvantage in Australia; Raise awareness of and focus attention on, the social impact of digital inclusion; Facilitate consultation, debate and discussion;
services and information. In a digital age, digital inclusion of the populace is also important to our nation's economic and social performance. Digital inclusion is a complex and challenging problem for policy-makers, practitioners, and researchers. While the digital divide has narrowed, it has deepened, and as the internet increasingly becomes the default medium for communicating, informing and interacting, the disadvantages of being offline increase. Digital inclusion is not just about computers, the internet or even technology. It is about using online and mobile technologies as channels to improve skills, to enhance quality of life, to drive education and to promote economic wellbeing across all elements of society. Digital inclusion is fundamentally about social and economic participation. Although the digital divide is closing, in Australia there are still deep gaps evident with a large number of vulnerable individuals without basic internet access or skills: Four in ten of the lowest income households in Australia are not connected to the internet 24% of Australians born in non-English speaking countries, do not access the internet compared to a 17% national average 75% of people educated to year 12 or below use the internet, compared with 91% of people with a tertiary qualification Of people aged 65 or more, only 46% are internet users and 75% feel confused about using technology Of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households, only 63 per cent reported having internet access at home, versus 77 per cent for non-Indigenous households More than two thirds of people who are homeless had difficulty paying their mobile phone bill in last 12 months One million people with a reported disability do not have internet access at home In Australia’s most disadvantaged communities, only 68% of children aged 5 to 14 years accessed the internet at home over a 12 month period (compared to 91% of children in the most advantaged communities) Access and affordability can present barriers to digital inclusion. However, an individual’s digital engagement is also affected by digital literacy (skills and ability), whether a person can see potential benefits of engagement and motivation and attitude, including concerns about safety and security. The Australian Digital Inclusion Index will be used to measure the extent of digital inclusion in Australia. The Australian Digital Inclusion Index The Australian Digital Inclusion Index will help inform and promote public policy, commercial and program responses to enhance digital inclusion in Australia. The objectives of this initiative are to: Improve our understanding of digital inclusion and its relationship to social and economic disadvantage in Australia; Raise awareness of and focus attention on, the social impact of digital inclusion; Facilitate consultation, debate and discussion;