Digital inclusion is a critical enabler of Commonwealth priorities, supporting workforce participation and productivity, advancing equity and inclusion, improving access to and efficiency of service delivery, strengthening community wellbeing, and promoting the safe and responsible adoption of technology.
It is a requirement for full participation in our digital society and economy, enabling people to access essential government, education, social and health services. And yet, 1 in 5 Australians are digitally excluded.1
Economic modelling shows that investment in digital inclusion programs for highly excluded cohorts would see a benefit of at least half a billion dollars per year.2
Ensuring everyone has essential digital skills and access isn’t just about creating a more inclusive society, it also makes good economic sense.
With rapidly changing technology, including the rise of AI, it is imperative to support those more likely to be left behind in order to create a resilient digital economy and society. The Australian Digital Inclusion Index found that digital exclusion mirrors and reinforces other forms of disadvantage. Rates of digital inclusion are significantly lower in one parent households and low income households, among income support recipients, older people, people with disability, First Nations people, people in regional Australia and with lower levels of education.3
Digital inclusion interventions create tangible impact. The Australian Government’s Be Connected program for over 50s has a Social Return on Investment of $4 for every $1 spent.4 Meanwhile, the digital ability of older Australians has noticeably improved.5
While Australia’s digital divide has narrowed, there are still millions missing out.
As a national digital inclusion leader working alongside government, industry, and community, Good Things Australia’s key recommendations for the 2026–27 Commonwealth Budget cover 3 key areas:
- Digital inclusion to strengthen social connection, cohesion and wellbeing
- Continue funding the Digital Sisters program to support migrant and refugee women to build digital skills, confidence and social connection.
- Continue funding the Digital Champions program to enable people with intellectual disability to participate safely and confidently in digital society.
- Digital inclusion as a foundation for safe and equitable AI adoption
- Support AI skills, literacy and capability building programs to ensure all Australians can understand, safely use and engage with AI-enabled systems and services, and that the rapid adoption of AI and new technologies does not further exacerbate digital exclusion.
- Commonwealth leadership and coordinated investment to close the digital divide
- Support equitable access to connectivity, devices and data through a National Device Bank and a Tech Reuse for Good Charter.
- Appoint a Minister for Digital Inclusion and deliver a national strategy to embed digital inclusion across government policy, programs and service delivery.
Good Things Australia thanks the Australian Government for the opportunity to make this submission to the 2026-27 Federal Budget.
Read our full submission:
- Good Things 2026-27 Pre-budget Submission PDF (.pdf)
- Good Things 2026-27 Pre-budget Submission DOCX (.docx)
References
- Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide, Australian Digital Inclusion Index, 2025
- Economic Benefits of Overcoming Digital Exclusion, Good Things Australia, 2024
- Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide, Australian Digital Inclusion Index, 2025
- Improving the digital inclusion of older Australians: The social impact of Be Connected, Social Innovation Research Institute and the Centre for Social Impact, 2020
- Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide, Australian Digital Inclusion Index, 2025