More families in Tasmania without broadband at home will soon have access to a free NBN connection for 12 months as part of the Albanese Government’s ongoing roll-out of the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI).
Funded through the October 2022-23 Budget to narrow the digital divide and promote greater inclusion for disadvantaged families, the SSBI identifies eligible families through third-party nominating organisations who work with vulnerable communities.
Homes Tasmania has now joined as a nominating organisation and – given it owns the majority of all social housing stock in Tasmania – it is well placed to ensure this targeted support gets to those most in-need.
Eligible families will receive a voucher from Homes Tasmania that they can use at a participating internet retail provider to receive 12 months free internet.
NBN Co is leading the implementation of the Initiative. To be eligible, a family must:
- Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school in 2023.
- Be referred by a nominating organisation..
- Live in a premises where they can access a standard NBN service.
The SSBI initiative is supporting up to 30,000 families and recently reached its first milestone, with over 1,000 families connected.
