Digital divide still growing

Cost has been identified as a major deterrent, with people over 65 having the lowest digital inclusion scores – more than 13 points below the national average. Women in this age range fare even worse ... a further three points lower.

The data comes from the 2017 Australian Digital Inclusion Index, an annual survey of digital affordability, access and ability.

And it shows that digital inclusion scores decrease with age. Men aged 50-64 scored 54.9 (women 53.9) compared to men 65-plus ng 44.6 (women 41.3). The overall national score for men is 57.5 and women 55.5.

“Australians go online to access a growing range of education, information, government and community services,” the report says.

“Increasingly they also participate in online communities and create digital content. But some people are missing out on the benefits of connection.

“Digital inclusion is based on the premise that everyone should be able to make full use of digital technologies – to manage their health and wellbeing, access education and services, organise their finances and connect with friends, family, and the world beyond.”

The report says it was worrying that the digital inclusion gap between low and higher income households had increased in the past four years, as had the gap between older and younger Australians.

According to the index, those most excluded were

people on low incomes, older people, those with a disability, people who did not complete secondary school, Indigenous people and the unemployed.

While the value of internet services had improved, the report says households are spending a growing proportion of their incomes on them.

Low-income households spent a much higher percentage of their income on the internet.

The report showed that while digital ability is improving it remains low for many groups and “therefore remains a critical area for attention for policy makers, business, education and community groups”.

Tasmania is the least digitally included state, followed by South Australia.

The list is headed by the ACT, followed by Victoria and NSW.

A Department of Social Services spokesperson said the government was committed to ensuring seniors had the digital skills and knowledge to take advantage of new technology and stay connected with loved ones online; and would invest $50 million to improve seniors’ digital literacy and improve their online safety.

“The government’s Be Connected program ... adopts a family and community centred approach to target those aged 50 and over, who have minimal or no engagement with digital technology,” he said.

Asked if the government proposed to provide financial assistance to help seniors afford internet services and equipment, the spokesman said a telephone allowance was already paid to income support payment recipients but not to those on the age pension who received a pension supplement which included a telephone allowance.

The free Be Connected program includes a website and access to face-to-face coaching and support through the Be Connected Network – a group of community organisations across Australia, including libraries, neighbourhood centres, community clubs and retirement villages.

Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association president Nan Bosler said the three challenges to digital inclusion for seniors are how to get a computer, afford the internet connection and learn how to use it.

“We have an ageing population so it is not difficult to understand why older Australians are thought to be declining in digital inclusion,” she said.

“Those on limited fixed incomes are always going to have to think before they spend; they will resist spending money if we can’t motivate them to see the value of using the internet.

“That highlights cost as a dominant impediment.”