About the Project
The WA Digital Inclusion Project is a collaboration between leading community service organisations and peak bodies, the WA Government, digital partner NBN Co and major supporter Lotterywest. The Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS) leads the initiative and is responsible for project governance. WACOSS is proud to be a member of the WA Government’s Digital Inclusion Accord.
Lotterywest has provided a grant of $3.9 million to address the key barriers to digital inclusion. The three-year project began on 1 July 2022. Seven initiatives aim to assist up to 100,000 people in metropolitan Perth and regional centres where partners offer services.
The WACOSS Board provides project governance with a Strategic Reference Group guiding the team and a Project Partner Network representing partners.
The project aims to improve digital inclusion within the community through various initiatives. These include working with community organisations to enhance the digital skills of community service workers, and innovative pilot programs aligned with our focus areas of Ability, Access, and Affordability.
The WA Digital Inclusion Project has three key strategic focus areas:
Ability
Access
Affordability
Read more below about each strategic focus area:
Ability is a key barrier to digital inclusion
Digital technology and the internet have become an essential part of modern life in a short time. Being connected and getting online has brought many benefits, but at the same time, it has left many people behind. People may not have the digital skills or confidence to perform everyday tasks online, like online banking, connecting with friends and family, or streaming TV shows. Age is one of the common reasons for this.
During COVID-19, governments fast-tracked online services, leaving many Australians at risk of missing crucial services and supports for a good life.
Building the digital skills of community services workers to help clients access services online is a key focus area of the WA Digital Inclusion Project.
There are three initiatives that fall under the focus area of Ability:
Initiative 1
Train 1,500 community service workers on the use of digital inclusion resources.
Initiative 2
Improve the digital skills of at least 45,000 people in the community.
Initiative 3
Provide 100 scholarships to support people to obtain digital skills credentials.
Initiative 1: Train 1,500 community service workers on the use of digital inclusion resources.
We want everyone to be able to benefit from technology, whether it’s for education, employment, finances, or skill development. This initiative aims to train 1,500 community service workers from partner organisations to support their clients to get online safely and improve their digital skills and knowledge.
We will use an approach known as the train-the-trainer model. The WA Digital Inclusion Project Team will use co-design with partner organisations and their community clients to find the gaps and provide training where it will have the most impact.
This process will be completed by the end of 2022. The Project team will develop a training program using this information and valuable information from State and Federal governments and not-for-profit organisations. The program will be tested in a pilot program in early 2023 before training the trainers in our partner organisations.
During this project, our project team will assist partner organisations to train around 1,500 front-line workers and provide them with ongoing resources and training materials to support their clients in the community.
Initiative 2: Improve the digital skills of at least 45,000 people in the community.
Over 11% of people in Western Australia are “highly digitally excluded”. This means they don’t have the digital skills to use a device or navigate the internet and are unable to take part in a society that is increasingly digital.
Initiative 2 aims to uplift the digital skills of front-line community service workers and raise awareness of digital inclusion. This will help build community members’ confidence and skills so they too can benefit from the digital world.
These benefits can include connecting with friends and family online to reduce loneliness, shopping or banking online, or accessing Government services through MyGov.
Throughout this project, we aim to assist partner organisations to make a significant impact on 45,000 people in the community. This will be achieved through trained support workers and through the resources available on the WA Digital Inclusion Project website.
Initiative 3: Provide 100 scholarships to support people to obtain digital skills credentials.
The Scholarship Program will provide up to 100 participants with the opportunity to complete up to two credentialed skillsets in digital literacy, with a focus on gaining job-ready skills. These skillsets will be delivered through North Metro TAFE.
Skillset 1 Digital Inclusion for Seeking Employment is a pre-requisite to complete Skillset 2 Digital Inclusion for The Workplace, and both Skillsets run for 8 weeks each, with a weekly 3 hour on campus class.
Further details and information on the application process are available by clicking on the Scholarship Program Bundle Link below.
Access is a key barrier to digital inclusion
Improving access to connectivity for people in the community is a key focus area of the WA Digital Inclusion Project.
There are two initiatives that fall under the strategic focus area of Access:
Initiative 4
Create a website to help 50,000 WA community members access digital inclusion resources and facilities.
Initiative 5
Provide subsidised internet access to 500 social housing residents in a pilot program.
Initiative 4: Create a website to help 50,000 WA community members access digital inclusion resources and facilities.
Limited access to and awareness of digital inclusion resources is a major barrier to achieving digital inclusion. Initiative four aims to improve access to existing resources and present them in accessible formats. This will make resources easier to find and use for community workers, trainers, and people in the community.
This website will be the main point of contact for trainers and community workers to find digital resources and training modules. It will also enable people in the community to look for support online.
Initiative 5: Provide subsidised internet access to 500 social housing residents in a pilot program.
Affordability is a key barrier to digital inclusion
Getting online requires two things: a device that works well, whether that’s a mobile device or a computer, and an internet connection. For many people, these may be simply too expensive. Even an everyday device like a smartphone can cost many hundreds of dollars along with monthly internet costs and connection fees.
Improving the affordability of access and devices for people in the community is a key focus area of the WA Digital Inclusion Project.
There are two initiatives that fall under the area of Affordability:
Initiative 6
Provide affordable devices in a pilot program with 500 social housing residents.
Initiative 7
Train 150 financial counsellors to support 1,000 people to choose a digital solution that is affordable and the best fit for them.
Initiative 6: Provide 500 affordable devices in a pilot with social housing residents.
Initiative 7: Train 150 financial counsellors to support 1,000 people to choose a digital solution that is affordable and the best fit for them.
Many members of the community face difficulties in managing daily financial decisions – especially people on lower incomes or income support payments. These financial barriers can lead to digital exclusion. Initiative 7 aims to improve training and resources for financial counsellors so they can support clients to manage the costs of getting online.
Access and Affordability Pilot Program
Access and Affordability
are both key barriers
to digital inclusion
Many social housing residents do not have a device or internet plan that allows them to access the internet safely and cheaply.
The project team has partnered with Foundation Housing, Rise Network, Mooditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation, St Pats, Outcare and Uniting WA, as well as digital partners WorkVentures and NBN Co to develop and deliver the Access and Affordability Pilot. As part of the pilot, WorkVentures will provide an affordable device and subsidised 12-month internet plan to up to 500 social housing residents. Residents will also receive digital skills training, and support over 12 months through the project team and NBN Co.
Through monitoring and evaluation, the pilot will provide valuable information on how to support housing residents with devices and internet access.
