Alliance ICT

According to the Human Rights Commission, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders live with the consequences of Australia’s failure to protect their basic human rights, and continue to experience racial discrimination in many spheres of life.  Indigenous people generally experience lower standards of health, education, employment and housing. They are over-represented in the criminal justice system and the care and protection systems nationally compared to non-Indigenous people. For example: 

• The life expectancy of Indigenous people is around 17 years lower than that of the Australian population.  
• In 2006, the unemployment rate for Indigenous people was 16% compared with only 5% for the non-Indigenous population.
• In 2004–2005, 27% of Indigenous people were living in overcrowded conditions. 
• Indigenous people are more likely to experience homelessness than other Australians. In 2006, the rate of homelessness for Indigenous people was three times the rate of other Australians.
• Indigenous people are more likely to experience family violence than non-Indigenous people. While it  is difficult to estimate the incidence of violence in Indigenous communities, in 2005 it was reported that 18.3% of Indigenous women experienced physical or threatened abuse in the past 12 months, compared with 7% of non-Indigenous women. 
• Indigenous prisoners represented 24% of the total prison population in Australia in 2007. 

Indigenous peoples have also suffered from the limited recognition and protection of their cultures, languages and rights and ownership of land and resources.

According to the Good Things Foundation, most at-risk groups for digital exclusion: 

• First Nations people: In remote First Nations communities, 30% of people have no household internet or phone connection.
• Rural and remote Australians: Even with the roll-out of the NBN, only one third of Australia’s land area has mobile connectivity. This is despite regional and remote areas making up 30% of the Australian population.
• Low-income households and those with a mobile-only data connection: Half of low-income households had difficulty paying for home internet. Meanwhile, one third of those with a mobile-data only connection are low-income families with school-aged children.
• Women: Low digital literacy means women are more vulnerable to online abuse.
• New CALD migrants and refugees: Low digital skills and access are a barrier to accessing services during the pandemic and job opportunities more broadly.
• People with disabilities: People with disabilities are lower users of digital and social media and are more likely to experience cyberbullying and digital abuse.
• Those over 65 years of age: 80% find it difficult to keep up with tech changes.
• People outside of the labour force: Confidence in digital skills decreases as length of retirement increases.
• People with low levels of education: 44% have no media literacy support.