Helping to Close the Gap through Digital Inclusion

Digital technology continues to radically change how we interact with the world, including the ways we work, access services and entertainment, and communicate with each other. The COVID 19 pandemic accelerated this change.

Many First Nations people are actively engaging with digital technology, to maintain culture and language, increase education and learning, foster leadership, nurture social connections, and encourage entrepreneurship. However there are some First Nations people, particularly living in regional and remote locations, experience challenges in accessing and using digital technologies.

The First Nations Digital Inclusion Plan (2023-26) (the Plan) has been developed to prioritise solutions to some of the challenges that First Nations people face in participating in the digital environment. The Plan will support improvements in digital inclusion for First Nations people and better outcomes through key initiatives, including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group.

The Plan provides a strategic framework and suite of actions through which Australian Government agencies, industry, and business will work in partnership with First Nations people to improve digital inclusion.

The Plan considers three critical domains of access, affordability, and digital ability, as well as best practice principles for policy and program design to facilitate digital inclusion. 

During the life of the Plan, the NIAA will play an influencing and facilitation role in supporting Australian Government agencies to develop and implement actions under the Plan. 

We encourage you to consider how you can apply these principles in your work.
Interested in learning more? Read the Plan on the NIAA website or take a look at the Fact Sheet.