Regional Australia still lags cities in digital inclusion
The most digitally excluded were older people, those facing social or economic disadvantage and First Nations Australians.
Gaps between those in capital cities and the rest of Australia remain significant, with digital inclusion scores trending downwards with remoteness.
Access, affordability and digital ability scores were below the national average in Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland, while Northern Territory residents faced significant access challenges.
Telstra Chief Sustainability Officer Justine Rowe said the company would use the evidence in the Index to target support where it can have the greatest impact.
“Closing Australia’s digital divide is a focus for Telstra’s Connected Future 30 strategy and we commit to supporting the digital inclusion of 1 million people by FY2030, with at least 200,000 in the Northern Territory, South Australia or Tasmania where there continue to be significant digital inclusion challenges,” she said.
Across Australia, inner-metropolitan areas had the highest levels of digital inclusion, while remote and very remote local government areas had the lowest scores.
The study found many low-income households were unable to afford a home internet connection, leaving them reliant on pre-paid mobile as their main, and often only, way to get online.
Public housing residents, people without secondary education and people with disability faced the greatest challenges in paying for digital services.
There was a significant affordability gap of 13 points between First Nations people and other Australians.
More data specific to mapping the digital gap for First Nations Australians is expected to be released by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society in December.
Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide: 2025 Australian Digital Inclusion Index is published by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology and Telstra. (DOI: 10.60836/mtsq-at22)
Story: Aеdеn Rаtcliffе
