The 2025 Australian Digital Inclusion Index was recently released and reveals a mixed picture of digital inclusion in Australia. While there have been improvements in internet coverage and speed, around one in five Australians remain digitally excluded.
Key findings include:
- 9.2% of Australians are ‘highly excluded’ and 11.4% are ‘excluded’, facing significant barriers to digital inclusion.
- Digital exclusion is more prevalent among older Australians (66.5% of those 75+ years), low-income households (63%), and those with lower education levels (54.5%).
- First Nations Australians face significant digital exclusion, with a 10.5-point gap in digital inclusion compared to other Australians.
- Regional and remote areas continue to experience barriers to digital inclusion, with scores decreasing with remoteness.
The report highlights the need for continued efforts to address these disparities and ensure equal digital inclusion for all Australians.
People with disability are often disproportionately affected by digital exclusion due to barriers such as inaccessible websites, lack of assistive technology, and limited digital literacy training.
The report includes case studies on The AI divide in Australia, the uneven shift to remote work in Australia, and Digital inclusion and the changing state of connectivity in regional Australia, providing valuable insights into the complexities of digital inclusion in Australia.
To find out more, please read the Australian Digital Inclusion Index’s report on Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide.