How do we plan to achieve it?

The Digital Inclusion Initiative (DII) develops and implements direct action strategies to address such issues as affordable access to information tools, economic development of communities through community enterprise initiatives and increasing skills, provision of content that is relevant to and produced by communities and a society devoted to lifelong learning.

Affordable Access

Many people do not have access to the tools that are essential to full participation in the information age. The elderly, financially disadvantaged, people with disabilities and residents from some remote areas of Australia lack an affordable and accessible telecommunications service. Further, lack of access to affordable hardware, software and support is also an inhibitor to participation.

DII will provide access to information technology for all residents, including appropriate computer hardware, software and user support.

Community and Economic Development

People who use computers are more employable and likelier to find jobs that pay above the minimum wage. They can use networks to communicate with others in useful ways and to draw on knowledge. Communities need support to develop the familiarity with the digital economy that will attract business opportunities and investment.

DII delivers quality community facilities through the installation of cabling or wireless mesh networks in high rise and broad acre public housing estates, and explores opportunities for public-private partnerships (PPP) to enable residents in public housing to access information technology. A community development model allows resident involvement in the development of social enterprises through training, support, systems development and enterprise management.

Relevant Content

Like no other medium in our communications history, the internet allows ideas and voices to be shared from community to community and citizen to citizen, with no controlling authority to determine the content or dictating how information is transmitted. All people have the right to contribute to their community in the real-world sense, and the same right should apply online as well.

DII explores how communities can take their content needs into their own hands and develop the information and services that meet the diversity of their local needs, through the establishment of community intranets and appropriate communication systems, and refinement in the delivery of information in languages other than English.

Lifelong Learning

Encouragement of the use of information technology and development of skills can also be achieved through the establishment of targeted programs delivering education and skills development activities to disadvantaged groups. Because change is the only constant of the information society, it is imperative that people develop the lifelong learning skills to adapt to what amounts to a moving target. The required skills are not just technical or scientific, but include the ability to solve problems, multitask and work well in teams.

DII develops, coordinates and provides training for residents, to suit their immediate learning needs and help them develop skills to be used in their working and social lives.