Digital Literacy Support for First Nations Australians

The Australian Digital Inclusion Index 2023 First Nations case study maps progress against Closing the Gap

State and Federal governments have announced programs designed to support access to digital literacy training and education for First Nations Australians, including those living in remote communities across the country.
Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O'Connor has announced a specific Indigenous stream to the Government Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) foundation skills program to improve literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. The redesign of the SEE program will provide more pathways for Australians to access training to improve their language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills. It is expected to support up to 2,000 First Nations people per year by 2026-27. From 1 July 2024, the program will focus on First Nations people, providing grants to Indigenous community-controlled organisations so they can partner directly with training providers. It will be delivered through First Nations organisations in partnership with TAFEs and other Registered Training Organisations or Adult and Community Education sector providers.
State Minister for Regional Development the Hon. Don Punch has meanwhile announced $50,000 funding for education sessions for up to 600 people to address an urgent need among Aboriginal seniors in regional and remote WA for digital literacy skills to help avoid being targeted with online scams and digital crime.
Research published recently by the Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) found that while digital inclusion is improving, certain groups, including First Nations Australians, remain marginalised. The Closing the Gap framework includes a specific target that ‘By 2026, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have equal levels of digital inclusion’. ADII aims to produce data that creates measurables against this target.
Read Minister O'Connor's full media release
Read Minister Punch's full media statement
Explore the Australian Digital Inclusion Index