Older people, lower household incomes and levels of education are major factors that have created a “digital divide” in regional Australia, according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) research carried out in the regional city of Albury on the NSW-Victoria border.

 

And the divide is also apparent between regional and metropolitan Australia, with access to the Internet in only 34 per cent of homes in Albury with a population of 50 000 compared to the Australian average of 37 per cent.

 

“Three per cent may not seem significant, but this is equal to an additional 1 500 people in Albury who have no - or limited access - to computers and the Internet and would have access if they lived in an Australian capital city,” said one researcher in the CSU team, Dr John Atkinson.

 

“Regional centres and areas such as Albury are not currently equipped to assist these extra disenfranchised users.

 

”The answer is for governments not to just ‘throw’ money at the problem of the ‘Digital Divide’. To get best value for taxpayers they need to carefully target programs to the groups in the community with the most need.”

 

Dr Atkinson and CSU honours student James Tan were approached by Albury City Council to investigate factors that separate those who have access to computer technology and to the Internet, and those with little or no access, which is based on physical access and ability to obtain computer hardware, software, training, and technical support.

 

Initial research found several groups in Albury had significantly less access to the Internet, including: low income families, people aged over 65 years and people with education levels less than Year 9 at high school.

 

Further interviews and focus groups found a number of other special groups were also disadvantaged in access to computers and the Internet. These included disabled people, people from various cultural and language groups, Indigenous people, youth aged between 13 and 19 years old and single parent women.

 

In their recommendations to Albury City Council, Dr Atkinson urged Council to continue to provide computers and Internet access through community centres, public libraries and youth centres. “However, these centres need to be supported by a community computing Technical Support Officer who can provide technical support and training,” he said.

 

“Communities should also look at reducing the cost of computers and Internet access by recycling computers, using only basic software on machines and brokering cheaper Internet services for those most affected by the ‘digital divide’.”

 

Other suggestions included ensuring disadvantaged groups can get access to appropriate hardware and software such as touch screens, voice activated software and language packs.