A new partnership between Good Things Australia’s ‘AI for Good’ program and the National AI Centre aims to build AI skills and support digital inclusion across Australia.
Good Things Australia is proud to announce that the National AI Centre is joining its movement to spread the benefits of artificial intelligence by sponsoring the ‘AI for Good’ program.
In an initiative designed to put learning into action for communities across the country, this partnership aligns community-based support with Australia’s National AI Plan, which sets out a government wide strategy to maximise the economic and social opportunities of AI while ensuring its benefits are equitably, responsibly and sustainably shared.
“With the support of the National AI Centre, we are taking a significant step forward in our mission to ensure no one is left behind as technology rapidly changes,” said Jess Wilson, CEO Good Things Australia.
“By conducting Australian first research on how to best bring AI literacy education directly into communities and creating accessible learning resources for those most likely to be left behind, we are turning national policy into meaningful local action.”
The sponsorship connects high level AI policy with grassroots digital inclusion to benefit the lives of everyday Australians.
“As AI becomes more common in the tools and services people use every day, it’s important that all Australians have the opportunity to understand it and benefit from it, not just those who already have strong digital skills,” said Lee Hickin, Executive Director of the National AI Centre.
“Good Things Australia has spent years helping people build digital skills through local communities. This partnership will extend that work into AI, giving more Australians the opportunity and agency to understand the technology, explore its potential and decide how it can work for them.”
The research will be conducted by Swinburne University of Technology’s Social Innovation Research Institute and is due to be published in March 2027. It will explore what works and how successful approaches can be strengthened and built upon, showcasing the value of not for profits, industry, academia and government working together to share insights and build solutions for inclusive AI learning.
Background
Since 2024, Good Things, in partnership with Microsoft, Telstra and LinkedIn, has demonstrated that community based, culturally safe AI literacy programs can significantly improve confidence, capability and safe use of AI among digitally excluded Australians, beginning with migrant and refugee women through the Digital Sisters: AI for Good program (2024–25) and now being embedded across digital inclusion programs delivered by Good Things.
Current data highlights the urgent need for this collaboration: 1 in 5 Australians are digitally excluded, and 1 in 4 report struggling to use AI apps and tools. The ‘AI for Good’ program addresses this gap by providing local, free support and essential AI literacy education.
AI for Good is a Good Things initiative supported by Telstra, Microsoft, Linkedin and the National AI Centre.
Learn more about AI for Good here.
About Good Things Australia
Good Things Australia is a future-focused digital inclusion leader, advocating, partnering, educating and innovating to ensure no one is left behind in the digital world. We develop and deliver a range of innovative digital inclusion programs to support those most in need, and lead national conversations on inclusive and responsible AI literacy. We bring community voices and lived experience into how AI is designed, adopted and governed, with our AI for Good initiative recognised in the Australian Government’s National AI Plan. Proudly supported by partners including Telstra, Microsoft, LinkedIn, the National AI Centre and Swinburne University, Good Things empowers communities to engage with AI technologies safely and confidently.
About The National AI Centre
The National AI Centre is the Australian Government’s lead body helping organisations understand and use artificial intelligence safely and responsibly. It works with organisations to identify where AI can add value and how to use it effectively. Through practical guidance, programs and partnerships, the National AI Centre helps organisations move from curiosity about AI to adoption that delivers real value.
Contact
Good Things Australia: linda.berrigan@goodthings.org.au | 0478 119 066
National AI Centre: Media@Industry.gov.au | 02 6213 6308
