According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics  Australia is more connected to the internet than ever before with households having multiple devices that connect to the internet (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 28th Mar 2018).  We are ranked 15^th out of the top 100 nations when it comes to the Inclusive Internet Index commissioned by Facebook and compiled by The Economist Intelligence Unit, which ranks countries in four categories four categories of inclusion: Accessibility, Affordability, Relevance and Readiness (The Economist Group, 2019). However, despite these high global and national statistics, rankings and there is still a digital divide occurring in this country.

Some groups within our country are not as included in our digital world, to the point of being excluded. The digital inclusion index tracks how included Australian are digitally, and has found that income, education levels, geography of being socioeconomically disadvantaged has significant effects (Thomas, 2018). We are a nation of the haves and have nots. Some have fast internet access, others do not, some have the skills and ability to use technology effectively, while others struggle and are being left behind.

It is a school’s responsibility to ensure that education is provided equitably to all students. Access to internet, devices and ability vary amongst students within a school community. To remedy the digital divide that is occurring within school communities the school must be proactive in remedying such inequality.  Three ways our school does this is by:

• Through providing access to free fast internet within school grounds and extended hours of operation, through the library, for those who do not have adequate access at home.
• Ensuring that there is a standard of devices for students to use and access to devices for those students who do not have the equipment necessary for full digital inclusion
• Engaging in digital literacy programs that build the skills and competencies need to be ‘digitally included’ in today’s digital learning environment.

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (28th Mar 2018). Household use of information technology, Australia. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8146.0

The Economist Group. (2019). The inclusive internet index. Retrieved from https://theinclusiveinternet.eiu.com/explore/countries/performance

Thomas, J. B., J. Wilson, CK. Cook, K. Louie, YM. Holcombe-James, I. Ewing, S. MacDonald, T. (2018). Measuring Australia’s digital divide: The Australian digital Inclusion Index 2018. doi:http://doi.org/10.25916/5b594e4475a00