This Anti-Poverty Week (October 13-19), National education charity The Smith Family is shining a light on the deepening digital divide that is holding many students back from making the most of their education, as part of a wider push to end child poverty.
Without access to an appropriate digital device, a child’s success at school can be severely compromised. But because students experiencing disadvantage often cannot afford such items, their participation in
education and employment opportunities are limited.
“Gone are the days when pen and paper were the key materials a child needed at school,” says The Smith Family CEO Doug Taylor.
“Digital devices are now non-negotiable in both the classroom and at home. Students simply cannot hope to complete their homework and assignments without having these items and being digitally connected.”
Digital inclusion supports better learning for life
Currently, 30 per cent of students supported through The Smith Family’s Learning for Life education program are not digitally included, which means they have no access to a laptop or tablet – either their own or shared – and they don’t live in a household with mobile or broadband internet.
Breaking down this growing digital divide to create greater educational inclusion means more than just having access to a device and a reliable internet connection. It also involves having the necessary skills and support to navigate the online world, with the latest NAP ICT Literacy report revealed 25 per cent of year 10 students and 40 per cent of year six students don’t have access to a suitable device outside school.
Meanwhile, the latest Australian Digital Inclusion Index shows that while the digital divide has narrowed many of those on the wrong side of the divide are falling even further behind.
“While it’s promising to see some improvement in closing the digital divide, the reality is still that too many children, already affected by disadvantage are being further impacted by digital poverty,” Taylor says.
“I have serious concerns about the ability of all students to thrive in the modern-day classroom and to be adequately prepared for future work and study opportunities if they do not have access to the necessary digital resources, home internet and technological support, as well as the chance to develop their digital literacy skills.
“Our recent Smith Family Community Attitudes survey shows that my concerns are shared by
Australians. The survey found that, along with literacy and numeracy skills, 79 per cent of respondents
believe digital skills are a critical component to a young person’s education.”
Taylor says the findings also show that people believe students experiencing poverty are further disadvantaged when it comes to not having access to the essential digital resources for classroom participation.
Aiming to end digital poverty
During Anti-Poverty Week, which aims to help Australians understand poverty and take action collectively to end it. The Smith Family, WorkVentures and Good Things Foundation are jointly highlighting the growing issue of digital poverty.
This year, Anti-Poverty Week is supporting three campaigns that are acting to end poverty: End Child Poverty, Raise the Rate and Everybody’s Home, and there are a range of public events in capital and regional cities around Australia for people to attend. Donations to The Smith Family can help.
CEO of WorkVentures Caroline McDaid says a key component to closing the digital divide is helping the public to understand the impact of what it means to be digitally excluded and proactively and pragmatically helping Australians affected by this issue to overcome this challenge.
“We’re proud to be supporting The Smith Family’s work by helping students access the technology they need and empowering them to take full advantage of the resources and opportunities available to them.”
Work Ventures has supplied The Smith Family with 6,400 refurbished laptops over the last two
financial years.
“The Smith Family is committed to ensuring every Learning for Life student we work with is digitally included – meaning they have a device, internet access and digital skills,” says Taylor.
