Universal access

Finding a digital future for the disadvantaged

Universal access to the internet is now a fundamental infrastructure requirement of any civil and democratic society that espouses equal opportunity, equality and a fair go.

Digital inclusion is one of the top issues confronting Australian society today. Digital inclusion is at the heart of a socially inclusive society based in the information age.

A big call this may be, but it would appear that the Commonwealth Government shares this view as it prepares to roll out the National Broadband Network, the largest infrastructure project in the history of Australia.

So what better opportunity to ensure that all those in our communities who wish to access the new technologies and the benefits that brings are able to do so irrespective of income, ability or location?

There are a number of groups in our communities who are disadvantaged in access to digital technology and for whom support and assistance must be provided.

The indicators of disadvantage include:

• non-English-speaking background
• new settler communities
• physical or sensory disabilities
• mental health problems
• drug and/or alcohol dependency
• low income
• sole-parent families
• vulnerable older people and the aged
• unemployment or under-employment and
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background

The issue of lack of access to digital technology is most strongly felt in communities of concentrated socio-economic disadvantage.

Digital inclusion will therefore encompass and modify social inclusion, political inclusion and recreational inclusion and is essential, if we wish to achieve social inclusion in the 21st century Australia. But digital inclusion does not simply mean ‘connecting everyone to the internet’.

Digital inclusion is about affordable access to information technology, economic development, of disadvantaged communities, increasing user IT skills, the creation of relevant web-based content and the inspiration of local communities to lifelong learning.

Digital inclusion is about improving the quality of life and life opportunities of socially excluded people. Having a job, being healthy, participating in community life, having a stable home, and not being discriminated against are fundamental aspects of the aspirations of most people.

It is critical to recognise, however, that for many disadvantaged people, affordability is the ultimate barrier, and that equitable, universal access will not be achieved without recognition that the market cannot provide for all without deliberate and considered intervention.

Infoxchange is calling for the establishment of a not-for-profit social enterprise with a mission to ensure that every Australian who wants to participate in the digital economy is able to do so, irrespective of income, ability or location.

This social enterprise would be able to gain access to NBNCo networks at a price point that would ensure health care card holders are not paying more that $10 per month for a basic internet service. This service would focus on allowing people to participate equally, find a job, and access government, community and business services, that are more often now only provided online.

If affordable internet connectivity is not made available, low socio-economic groups will be without access to some of society’s most important tools and social exclusion will be the unacceptable consequence.

Digital inclusion is a strategy that nurtures a civil society. It is a strong philosophical claim to assert that digital inclusion is a means of sustaining democracy and nurturing civil society. Even without such a grand claim, however, lesser claims for digital inclusion are profound.

Digital inclusion:

• improves living standards
• meets social needs
• eliminates social exclusion through the accumulation and sharing of knowledge for creativity, innovation and production
• uses networking as the central principle of cooperation essential for further societal growth.

A digitally proficient and inclusive society will:

• improve the opportunity for the homeless to get better access to a bed,
• enable the person seeking respite to find time out,
• enable the unemployed to find a job,
• enable the hungry to find a meal and
• enable mental health sufferers to find peace.

For more information about digital inclusion please visit:

www.digitalpool.org.au

www.digitalinclusion.net.au