Online participation by Australian households
Digital Economy Goal: by 2020, Australia will rank in the top five Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries in the percentage of households that connect to broadband at home.
Getting Australians online has great benefits for households and the economy as a whole. More and more of us now have internet connections at home and we are looking for higher speeds and greater bandwidth as our work and play go online. We are increasingly looking for work-life balance and want to work from home. We buy music, films and television online and play them via the internet on our televisions. We socialise, study, and use government services – all online, from the comfort of our homes.
Why is it important?
Everyone wants more time to spend with family and friends. It’s been estimated that if the number of Australian households with internet connections increased by 10 per cent, there would be savings to Australian households collectively of $2.4 billion a year. That’s a lot of money. We don’t like standing in queues waiting to pay bills or holding on the phone. No one likes sitting in traffic. The more we can do online, the more time and money we’ll save.
Where are we now?
Although there are many Australians already online, there are some of us who aren’t as yet comfortable with online engagement. As information, services, and business increasingly move online, the government is taking steps to ensure Australians are not socially and economically left behind. The government is delivering a number of programs to help Australians develop digital literacy skills.
Government Initiatives
A Digital Hub is where anyone can go to receive advice, support and training to increase digital literacy skills and to get an introduction to the many benefits of participating in the digital economy.
Broadband for Seniors kiosks provide seniors with free access to the internet and assist with gaining confidence in using computers. Kiosks are located where seniors in community centres, retirement villages, nursing facilities, libraries and clubs
