First Nations Australians twice as likely to be digitally excluded: report

(Press-News.org) First Nations Australians are twice as likely as other Australians to be digitally excluded and face barriers to accessing, affording and using the internet. For those living in remote Australia, the barriers are much greater.

Three in four First Nations people living in remote and very remote communities are digitally excluded according to the Mapping the Digital Gap report by RMIT University and Swinburne University of Technology. This means many face significant barriers to accessing and using online services needed for daily social, economic and cultural life.

This 2025 outcomes report draws on three years of fieldwork to compare digital inclusion levels for First Nations people to nationwide Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) scores by remoteness, location, age and other factors.

Drawing on expanded data, the report found a 10.5 point digital gap for First Nations Australians nationally, with this gap more than doubling in the remote communities surveyed for the report.

But it wasn’t all bad news; the Mapping the Digital Gap research found an 8.7 point improvement in digital ability for First Nations people in very remote communities, rising from 45.8 in 2023 to 54.5 in 2025.

This boost suggests First Nations Australians now have greater access to digital connectivity and support to develop online skills needed for work, education, health, banking and other vital services.

Co-investigator Associate Professor Daniel Featherstone from RMIT said people living in remote communities were rapid adopters of digital technology and innovative in finding ways to connect.

“We found digital participation is on the rise, with more people than ever before trying to get online.” Featherstone said.

“Connectivity is an essential service nowadays, especially in remote communities.

“But there are a range of barriers to having affordable and reliable internet access in these communities – largely due to limited or strained infrastructure, low household connectivity and high reliance on pre-paid mobile services.”

While access is improving in many remote communities with expanded mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity, it remains the largest contributor to the digital gap, 42.4 points below the national score for non-First Nations Australians.

The gap in access is nearly four times greater than the gap for affordability (11), and more than twice the gap for digital ability (19.3).

Elders, low-income households, and people with limited English or people living with a disability in remote areas continue to face significant barriers to getting online.

The RMIT and Swinburne research team partnered with local First Nations organisations in 12 remote First Nations communities from 2022 to 2024, working with community co-researchers to promote community engagement in the project.

First Nations co-investigator Professor Lyndon Ormond-Parker from RMIT said the community partners and co-researchers were critical to the project’s success.

“All data collected is given back to the community through annual outcomes reports, with digital inclusion plans to support community-led and place-based solutions,” he said.

The team is tracking progress towards Closing the Gap Target 17 under the National Partnership Agreement, which aims for equal digital inclusion for First Nations Australians by 2026.

Daily internet use rising but gaps remain

In 2022, 44% of people in remote First Nations communities visited by the research team used the internet daily, with 20% not online at all.

By 2024, daily usage climbed to 62%, while non-users fell to 14%.

Meanwhile, 95% of non-First Nations Australians are daily users and just 2% are non-users.

Telstra, the study’s industry partner, provides mobile, fixed line phone and broadband services in remote communities, providing essential connectivity. 

Lauren Ganley, Head of Telstra’s First Nations Strategy & Engagement, said reliable connectivity was critical to improving digital inclusion in remote communities.

“Quality connectivity can be life-changing for remote First Nations communities, unlocking access to opportunities and growth,” Ganley said.

“Telstra is proud to partner in this important work and help bridge the digital gap, so communities can connect, learn and thrive.”

New dashboard puts data in communities’ hands

Under an expanded national project with support from the Australian Government, the ADII team last month launched the First Nations Digital Inclusion Dashboard – Australia’s first interactive, national data set tracking First Nations digital inclusion.

The dashboard empowers local organisations and communities to access up-to-date data to inform local decision making.

This will give First Nations communities better tools to track progress and advocate for further improvements, ahead of the next Mapping the Digital Gap report in December 2026.

Mapping the Digital Gap: 2025 Outcomes Report is published by RMIT University, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, Telstra, and Swinburne University of Technology.

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