Three years on: How the digital gap is changing in remote First Nations communities

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) and Telstra invite you to attend the online launch of the 2024 Mapping the Digital Gap Outcomes Report.

Join our online event for an overview of the data, context, and key findings from the report, discussion of the evolving state of communications infrastructure across research sites, case studies of on-the-ground experiences of residents and service providers, and an interactive Q&A session with leading industry and academic experts.

The evolving digital divide
After three years of research in partnership with 12 remote First Nations communities across Australia, Mapping the Digital Gap data now tracks the evolution of digital inclusion outcomes against Closing the Gap target 17. The target states that ‘By 2026, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have equal levels of digital inclusion.’

While the digital gap shows signs of narrowing, many striking inequalities remain. Over two-thirds of survey respondents in remote communities now struggle to afford basic internet services.

Improving digital inclusion outcomes and access to services in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is critically important for informed decision making and agency. Digital exclusion impacts on access to critical services, health outcomes, access to news and information, and participation in social and cultural activities.

About the report
The 2024 Mapping the Digital Gap Outcomes Report presents the most significant changes in digital inequity found between 2022-2024. It investigates areas of improvement and concern across the dimensions of Access, Affordability, Digital Ability, and Media and Information. The report also outlines community-specific results, highlighting variations due to communications infrastructure and social, cultural, and geographic context.

These findings provide important insights into what can drive improvements in digital inclusion in remote First Nations communities.