The Albanese Government’s First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group (FNDIAG) convened for its third meeting in Darwin today, where it considered a number of practical measures to support First Nations digital inclusion across the telecommunications, media and broadcasting sectors.
Established to accelerate progress towards closing the digital inclusion gap for First Nations Australians, the Advisory Group has identified initial priorities for further work, including data collection and digital mentoring.
These priorities are informed by the outcomes of the Group’s initial engagement with stakeholders, including the Central Land Council, the Northern Land Council, the Northern Australian Indigenous Reference Group, the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network, the NBN Co Low Income and Digital Inclusion Forum, and the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network.
Today’s meeting covered a range of issues, including:
- Ways to improve the national collection and use of First Nations data;
- Solutions to address the need for digital mentoring in remote communities;
- Possible pilots of alternative and complementary technologies to deliver high speed internet in remote areas; and
- Improving support for First Nations communities to identify their connectivity needs and options available to address them, including accessing grants.
- Engaging First Nations businesses in providing local solutions to closing the digital gap.
Funded through the October Budget, the Group forms part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to reduce the digital inclusion gap and work closely with First Nations people and organisations to improve digital inclusion. It is working closely with First Nations peoples and industry to provide advice and identify measures to support progress towards Target 17 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap – delivering equal levels of digital inclusion for First Nations Australians by 2026.
Today’s meeting was attended by the Minister for Communications – who joined virtually – and members of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group and its Digital Inclusion Expert Panel, which supports the Advisory Group.
