1. EDGE 901
Assignment 2
The Digital Divide
2261273
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2. The Digital Divide in Remote & Rural &
Australia
The digital Divide takes various forms, and impacts individuals, social groups, businesses, regions and
nations differently.
Recent advancements in Information Computer Technologies (ICTs) across the globe have created a
myriad of opportunities by which to broaden participation in the network-based economy. The digital
Divide takes various forms, and impacts individuals, social groups, businesses, regions and nations
differently. Recent advancements in Information Computer Technologies (ICTs) across the globe have
created a myriad of opportunities by which to broaden participation in the network-based economy.
However these opportunities for digital, economic, social and global participation are unequally
distributed across Australia. In this sense Digital Technology has deepened and intensified the socio-
economic divisions among Social classes in Australia. Low Socio-Economic groups living in Rural and
remote Australian Communities are some of the most severely impacted by what has become known as
the Digital Divide. (Sargent 2008)
The Digital divide refers to this imbalance within society where the availability of, and access to digital
technologies is unequally distributed across social groups. These divisions are globally recognised to
be Race, Gender, Age, Socio-Economic Status, Educational Attainment, Disability, Language Spoken,
Employment and Household income and Geographic location. (Dodds 2010)
3. Australia’s Economic Position.
The Australian digital landscape presents a unique representation
of the digital divide. According to the OECD Australia is among the
world’s wealthiest countries, having weathered the global
economic downturn relatively well.
The OECD Declares Australia....
•
Australia, along with Finland, Ireland and Sweden have the
highest success rates in the OECD for young people with poorly
educated parents attaining a tertiary degree. (Education
Attainment & Upward Mobility.)
•
Australian women have surpassed men in tertiary attainment.
(Gender equality.)
•
Australia is in the top ten OECD countries in representation to
household access to a computer. 78% (Access)
4. Remoteness in Australia
Australia is a vast country where the majority of Australians (68.6%) live in urban
settings, however these cities are located thousands of kilometres apart, divided by
vast deserts and mountain ranges. (ABS 2007) Approximately 18% of the Australian
population live in rural and remote areas of which 10% live in very remote regions.
(Alston and Kent 2004)
Rural and regional generally refers to those communities or areas outside
metropolitan cities.
The OECD definition of a rural community is based on population density of no
more than 150 people per square kilometre. The concept of rural in an Australian
context can also be defined as areas far from major service centres. These
communities are characterised by limited availability of services such as
telecommunications, government access, banking, transport, civic associations,
community networks and Information Communication Technologies. (ICTs) (Sargent
2008)
6. What is a Rural Community?
According to Alston and Kent rural communities can be characterised into
three different yet equally susceptible categories in the context of digital
inclusion.
•
Communities, which are generally, characterised by low incomes, high
levels of unemployment, fewer opportunities for tertiary education,
reduced access to services and support.
•
Rural farming communities, which are not necessarily poor but represent
blue collar workers.
•
Wealthy affluent retirees who choose rural lifestyles. (Alston and Kent
2004)
7. Remoteness an Australian Divider
Remoteness is a significant issue, which has accentuated the ‘digital
divide’ in Australian society. In terms of ICT access rural communities
face constraints such as:
•
High cost of accessing ICT (telecommunication prices)
•
Limited choice and availability in service providers
•
Restricted access to education and educational resources
•
Training and user-supported services
•
Inadequate technical capability of the telecommunications infrastructure
to access services and information that require high bandwidth.
(Sargent 2008)
8. Rural Communities are vulnerable to the
digital divide for a number of reasons.
• Income Disparity (Metropolitan vs Non
Metropolitan centres.)
• Educational Attainment.
• A Lack of Services. (Government & Non
Government.)
• Unemployment.
9. Income Disparity
• Willis and Tranter identify that the digital divide in Australia is inextricably linked to
household income and personal wealth. Ownership of ICT technologies, subscription
to high speed Internet coverage, the use of ICT technologies in the workplace and
through tertiary education are largely patterned by personal income. (Willis and
Tranter 2006)
• The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2012 highlights the fact that income
distribution is unevenly spread throughout Australia. These statistics highlight the
disproportionate concentration of wealth in metropolitan areas and substantially
lower average incomes in rural and remote regions of Australia. (with the exception
of rural mining towns.)
• People on low incomes, living in rural areas are less likely to pay exorbitant prices
for internet use.
• People on low incomes are more likely to purchase dial up internet connection.
• People on low incomes are more likely to attend schools which have inadequate ICT
services & Fibre optic broadband.
• People on low incomes are more likely to use the internet for low skilled interactions.
10. Australia’s Income Disparity between
Urban and Rural Centres. (a snapshot)
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(ABS 2010)
11. Infrastructure:
According to Sarkar and Singh, rural and remote communities are
typically characterised by a limited availability of the following services:
(Sarkar and Singh 2008)
• Telecommunications providers.
• Financial Services
• Health Services
• TransportPublic Housing
• Civic Associations
• Government Agencies
12. ICT and Access to Services
• In regards to ICT related services, these
communities are again at a disadvantage
when compared to metropolitan centres.
They systematically face constraints such
as high cost of accessing ICT, often
associated with limited choice of provider,
restricted access to education and training,
a lack of technical support from providers
and a lack of infrastructure required to
access services with high bandwidth.
13. Infrastructure deficiencies plague rural communities
and accentuate the digital divide for the already
disadvantaged:
• Indigenous Australians
• Transient and Homeless Peoples
• Unemployed
• Low Income Families
• Aged Persons
• People with a disability
• Culturally & linguistically Diverse people
These groups have all identified as facing significant challenges regarding access and
affordability of communications services.
(Dodds 2010)
14. Educational Attainment
and the Divide:
Bruce and Tranter also attribute the prevalence of the digital divide in rural
communities to type, category and level of work undertaken in regional and
metropolitan areas through what they categorise as the ‘occupational class
affect.’(Willis and Tranter 2006; Dodds 2010)
Tertiary educated professions working in white collar industries are 3.5 times
more likely to engage with ICTs than blue collar workers, not only in their
workplace but also at home. These professions are also more likely to
engage in high intensity ICT use. (Willis and Tranter 2006; Dodds 2010)
The ABS also highlights the significant representation of blue-collar workers
located in non-metropolitan areas.
15. Rural and Remote
Schools & the Divide.
High speed broadband is the foundation on which information communications
technology can be integrated into our schools, making a new approach to
learning and teaching possible. Teachers, parents, students and other members
of the community can get involved in online communication and information
sharing, regardless of location or school sector.
The availability of ubiquitous, reliable high speed broadband will support:
1 Schools, with the technological tools to work together (for example, virtual
classrooms, video and audio streaming, high definition video conferencing) and
create flexible, personalised learning for all students;
2 Teachers, to communicate, collaborate and access education resources across
traditional boundaries; and students, with networked computers to interact with
their peers and teachers in other schools across Australia and around the world.
(Department of Education 2011)
16. High Speed Access
Unevenly Distributed.
According to the 2010 Schools Connectivity, rural
and remote regions are disadvantaged in terms of
High Speed Broadband Access.
72% of Schools in Metropolitan Areas are
connected to High Speed Broadband via Fibre.
40% of School in Regional Areas
26.8% of Schools in Remote Areas
(Department of Education 2011)
17. Technology types used by schools according to geographical
regions (2010 survey)
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18. Unemployment:
According to the ABS the most disadvantaged Census
Collection Districts (CDs) were under-represented in major
urban areas and over-represented in smaller towns and
localities. They were also over-represented in remote
areas.
19. Young People, Unemployment and the Divide:
According the ABS, young people aged 15-34 are the highest age group represented in
terms of unemployment. This age group are the most likely to engage with ICTs.
These statistics suggests that they are the least likely to be able to afford this
interaction .
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2010.
20. Aboriginals in Rural Australia and the
Digital Divide: A Case Study
• The digital divide has a profound impact on social
groups living in Rural and remote regions of
Australia.
• According to the ABS 67% of Aboriginal Australians
live in rural and remote regions of Australia.
• Consequently Aboriginal People are some of the most severely
impacted by remoteness and access to ICTs.
• Therefore Aboriginal Australians are highly susceptible to the
Digital Divide.
(ABS 2010)
21. Aboriginal Localities
• According to the ABS, 2010
• 67% of Aboriginal Australians live
in non-metropolitan areas
• 43% of these live in rural locations
• 24% live in remote locations
(ABS 2010)
24. Computer use by Remoteness in
Aboriginal Communities:
Top Left: Computer use by Remoteness
Top Right: Frequency of Computer use by
Remoteness
Bottom Left: Computer location use by Remoteness
(ABS 2010)
26. Aboriginal Computer Use
Indigenous use of Computer at home
Indigenous use of internet at home
Non-Inidgenous use of computer at home
Non-Indigenous use of internet at home
% Comparison
70
52.5
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27. Aboriginal Use and Income
• Willis and Tranter state that Income and Education
are both key factors determining internet use. This
research is reflected in the Aboriginal population.
.
Computer use and internet use by income quintile Computer use and internet use by education level
28. The Impact of the Divide in
Rural and Remote Australia:
Social Diffusion
Loss of Economic Opportunity
Digital Literacy
Civic Dislocation
29. Social Diffusion:
ICT is seen as an increasingly accessible tool for networking
and accessing services that improve economic opportunity,
bridge social inequality and promote civic opportunity.
Therefore, instead of assisting with equalisation, new ICT’s
through limitations in access are reinforcing social inequality
through the creation of the technologically disadvantaged.
According to Sarker and Singh access to new technologies
spreads unevenly in Australia and those in rural and remote
communities become victims to the process of heterophily or
trickle down effect. (Sarkar and Singh 2008)
30. Digital Literacy & Access to Social Services:
In a society that is increasingly digitally enabled, barriers to accessing
ICTs can effectively act as barriers to accessing the community services
that disadvantaged and vulnerable rural and remote communities rely
on.
These essential community services include:
Social Welfare Agencies such as Centrelink
Employment agencies such as Mission Australia
Health Services such as Rural Health
Transport Services such as Meals on Wheels
Agricultural services such as the Australian Agricultural College Corporation
Many Government and non-government services are moving away from
traditional means of communication, yet without competencies in digital
literacy rural communities members have become isolated. This digital literacy
divide has added further stress to those already disadvantaged in rural and
remote communities.
31. HOW IS THE GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTING
TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN
RURAL AND REMOTE AUSTRALIA
ACCESS TO ICT - THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION
1-1 PROGRAM YEARS 9-12
THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION - AUSTRALIA
WILL CATCH UP!
LINKING SCHOOLS TO THE NATIONAL
BROADBAND NETWORK. (NBN)
Kevin Rudds’ pre-election promise on Australia’s
Education Revolution. (Australian Labor Party 2007)
32. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES:
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S 2020 PLAN:
AUSTRALIA WILL RANK IN THE TOP 5 OECD NATIONS
IN THE % OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT CONNECT TO
BROADBAND AT HOME!
The Australian Federal Government is proactively
attempting to address the Digital Divide in Rural and
Remote Australia. Telecommunications infrastructure
including a National Broadband Network (NBN) is
seen as a vital element in bridging the digital divide in
Australian rural communities.
33. NETWORKING THE NATION
The Australian Government’s Networking the Nation initiatives aims to assist the
economic and social development of Australia by improving availability, accessibility and
affordability for regional and rural communities. The program aimed to reduce disparity in
communications access between Metropolitan and non-Metropolitan Australians. The
NTN program funds a number of large and small initiatives throughout Regional Australia.
The Australian Government allocated $70 million to set up regional transaction centres in
rural towns. (RTC) These one-stop shops act as government service providers for
Internet, health, employment, insurance, taxation, Adult Education, drought and health
information.
This initiative has also provided Public Access Points (PAPs) throughout rural communities
of less than 3000 people. PAPs provide multipurpose access to ICTs such as computers,
Internet access and fax. PAPs also provide educational opportunities for ICT skill
development.
35. NATIONAL BROADBAND
(DANIELS,R. 2012; AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANBERRA 2012)
Digital Regions Initiative: July 2009-July 2013: Addressing Social Inequality:
This program is a four-year $60million collaborative project, which aims to improve the delivery of
education, health and emergency services in rural and remote Australia.
The first phase of this project aimed to address the current inequality in access to services social
services through innovative digital technology. (Austrailan government Department of Broadband
2009)
Phase two of this project aimed to leverage the potential of the NBN through:
•
Stimulating Australia’s digital economy in rural Australia
•
Creating employment opportunities in rural Australia
•
Build on specialist technology based skills needed in the social service sectors.
(Atkinson, Black et al. 2009; Austrailan government Department of
Broadband 2009)
36. THE NBN- EDUCATIONAL
EQUALITY FOR RURAL AUSTRALIA
BREAKING DOWN EDUCATIONAL
BOUNDARIES CAUSED BY
ACCESS TO ICT- DIGITAL DIVIDE
YOUTUBE CLIP TAKEN FROM NBN.COM.AU
37. Building the education revolution
(BER) - $16.2 Billion on Education &
Infrastructure for the 21st Century
• The Department of Education, Employment
and workplace relations.
• $16.2 Billion is an integral feature of the
government’s $42 Billion Nation Building
and Economic Stimulus Plan.
• BER has funded 24,000 infrastructure
projects across Australia (BER 2012)
38. Some initiatives of the
BER:
• The National Secondary School Computer
Fund
• ICT Innovation Fund
• Online Curriculum, Resources and Digital
Architecture
• Online Curriculum Support (National
Curriculum and online resources funding.)
39. REGIONAL BLACKSPOTS
PROGRAM:
In 2009, The Australian Government Department of
Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
has pledged $250 million to improve infrastructure
blackspots regional communities. This program aimed
to stimulate economic activity in regional areas.
40. DIGITAL HUBS PROGRAM
13.6 million. This program establishes digital hubs in
rural communities through the NBN. The program will
provide online training and the opportunity to
experience NBN enabled services and technology. This
initiative is designed to contribute towards the Digital
Community Goal that by 2020 Australia will rank in
the top 5 nations In the OECD in the percentage of
households that connect to broadband at home.
41. REGIONAL EDUCATION, SKILLS
AND JOBS INITIATIVE:
As part of the 2011/2012 Budget the Australian government announced a regional
skills and jobs plan initiative.
This collaborative program between local, state and federal stakeholders aims to
develop strategies that will improve participation, outcomes in education, training
and employment in rural Australia.
The overall objective is to improve productivity and participation in regional
Australia ensuring that rural and remote communities are equipped with the same
opportunities to acquire the skills needed to participate in the 21st century
economy.
42. ACCESS - A FIRST ORDER
BENCHMARK
Australian Bureau of Statistics. Media Release (15th
December 2011.)
Nearly 3/4 of Australian Households now have
broadband.
43. Reference List: REFERENCES:
ABS (2010). The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. A. B. o. Statistics.
Canberra, Australian Federal Government.
ABS (2012). Perspectives on Regional Australia: Variations in Wage and Salary Income between Local Government
Areas Australian Government.
Alston, M. and J. Kent (2004). "Coping with Crisis." Rural Society 14
(3).
Atkinson, J., R. Black, et al. (2009). "Exploring the Digital Divide in an Regional City." Australian Geographer 39(4).
Austrailan government Department of Broadband, C. a. t. D. E. (2009). "Digital Regions Initiatives." Retrieved
22/09/2012, from http://www.dbcde.gov.au/funding_and_programs/digital_regions_initiative.
Department of Education, E. a. W. R. (2011). School Broadband Connectivity Survey. C. o. Australia. Canberra,
Department of Education. 2010.
Dodds, C. (2010). Low Income Measures Assessment Committee, TELSTRA.
Indicators, A. B. o. S. R. (2010). ABS Regional Statistics. A. F. Government, ABS.
Labor, A. (2007). A computer for every year 9-12 student. austrlaianlabor, youtube.
Notara, D. (2011). Another Barrier. Spiral Research & Consulting, Australian Communications Consumer Action
Network (ACCAN).
Roberts, K. (2012). Education at a Glance. Australia. Paris, OECD.
Sargent, J. S., Mohini; Molla, Alemayehu; Karanasios, Stan; (2008). Exploring the impact of Government initiatives on
the livelihood of Australian Rural Communties. 21st Century Bled Conference e Collaboration. Bled, RMIT
University Australia.
Sarkar, P. and M. Singh (2008). "Narrowing the Digital Divide: The Australian Situation." Internantional Journal on
Computer Science and Information Systems 3(2).
Schleicher, A. (2012). Education Spending rises but access to higher education remains unequal. OECD Pressroom,
OECD.
Thatcher, A. and J. James (2005). "Bridging the Digital Divide through online conferencing." Journal of Computing
systems.
The Allen Consulting Group, A. (2010). Quantifying the possible economic gains of getting more Australian
Households online. Sydney, Australian Government Department of Broadband, Communications and hte Digital
Economy.
Wilks, J. and K. Wilson (2010). Children, Young People and Social inclusion: Mobilising to Address Disadvantage on
the NSW North Coast. Coffs Harbour, Southern Cross University.
Willis, S. and B. Tranter (2006). "Beyond the Digital Divide; Internet diffusion and inequality in Australia." Journal of
Sociology 42(3).
