ADM+S And Telstra launch the 2023 Mapping the Digital Gap Annual Outcomes Report
Author ADM+S Centre
Date 28 September 2023
On 27 September 2023 ADM+S researchers released the 2023 Mapping the Digital Gap Annual Outcomes Report, presenting first year findings from diverse remote First Nations communities across Australia.
The report demonstrates complex barriers to communications infrastructure, affordable devices and services, and digital ability, and addresses the previous lack of data on the nature and scale of the digital gap for First Nations people.
The event was opened by Dr Dot West, Chair of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group, who spoke about the role of the Group and her advocacy in establishing> Target 17 of the Closing the Gap framework, aiming for equal levels of digital inclusion for First Nations people by 2026.
Dot said, “Measuring digital inclusion across Australia allows us to highlight those who remain unseen and unheard.
“Data also highlights where we have achieved success. It tells a story over time where we can look proudly on how First Nations communities, government, and industry, through genuine collaboration and innovation, have led to meaningful and positive changes.
“Although remote First Nations communities are among the most economically and digitally disadvantaged in Australia, they are also sites of extraordinary innovation, cultural and social resilience, and technical adaptation.”
This report marks the first time the digital gap for First Nations people has been measured nationally by remoteness categories – from major cities to outer regional, remote and very remote – across various demographic indicators. Factors such as older age, disability, language barriers, low educational attainment and income can further impact their digital ability.
The project supplements the Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) to enable comparative results against national data. Under ADII modelling, 45.9% of remote First Nations research participants are highly excluded, compared to 9.4% percent of the Australian population, illustrating the considerable disparities.
Nationally, the gap in digital access between First Nations people and other Australians is 7.5 points out of 100. But the gap widens significantly to 24.5 points for remote First Nations people and 25.4 points for those living in very remote communities.
Lead investigator Dr Daniel Featherstone said with government and other services increasingly moving online, it’s crucial that all Australians can effectively access and use digital technologies.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from digital technologies,” he said.
“We use these technologies to access essential services for health, welfare, finance and education, participate in social and cultural activities, follow news and media, as well as connect with family, friends, and the wider world. Improving digital inclusion and access to services is critically important to ensure informed decision-making and agency among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
The report found accessing digital technologies was most challenging in remote communities due to limited communications infrastructure, low household access and patchy, congested mobile services. With residents in remote communities typically on low incomes, 84% of these respondents in the study used or shared a mobile device, and 94% of these used pre-paid services. The high cost of pre-paid data and low household uptake of fixed broadband also led to significant affordability issues.
“While pre-paid services allow people more control over mobile costs, they typically cost more per gigabyte,” said Featherstone.
“This often leads to data rationing and periods without service. These affordability constraints have a significant impact on access.”
53.3% of First Nations people surveyed in the study said they had sacrificed paying for essentials such as food or bills to stay connected, compared to 19.1% of other Australians.
Featherstone said these compounding factors of access and affordability end up impacting the ability of First Nations people in remote communities to use online services, mobile apps and stay safe online.
The project team will continue to collaborate with remote Indigenous communities to track changes in digital inclusion across Australia, including updated community reports and contributions to the Australian Digital Inclusion Index dashboard and reporting.
“Having First Nations leadership and perspectives in the research is critical in supporting appropriate community-led solutions,” said researcher Dr Lyndon Ormond-Parker.
