One-in-five Australians still digitally excluded

Growing digital connectivity in the agricultural sector was one of the topics discussed at FarmX.

Regional Development Australia (RDA) Tasmania Regional Development Coordinator & Digital Uplift Project Lead Kaitlin Roach, Telstra Acting Chief Sustainability Officer John Wilkinson, and Australian Farm Institute Executive Director Katie McRobert led the Telstra panel, Growing Regional Tasmania: Digital Capability, Agriculture and Community Impact.

Ms Roach said that one in five Australians were digitally excluded - when people cannot access, afford, or use digital devices and the internet – and that it was particularly prevalent in Tasmania.

“FarmX has been a fantastic opportunity to share that data, but also to show that in the agricultural sector there are opportunities to improve business, productivity and daily life through improved digital skills.”

Digital connectivity in Tasmania was something that Ms Roach said was hit and miss.

“It’s very much dependent on your proximity to metropolitan areas or phone towers, as well as which providers you use.

“Connectivity literacy is a whole other issue in itself, and it’s important that people can get really strong and solid information to make the right decisions for their businesses in the region.”

In partnership with Telstra, RDA Tasmania has been running Digital Uplift, a community-led program that supports people across Tasmania in building practical digital skills for everyday life, work and learning.

“We’re encouraging people to improve their digital capability, but we’re also very aware that not all farms have great digital connectivity in the first place.

“You need to have digital connectivity in order to improve your digital skills.”