Geelong falls behind in digital ability

GEELONG has taken a surprising step backward in a measure of people’s ability to access and use information and communication technologies.

The recently released Australian Digital Inclusion Index shows Geelong, with a score of 58.7, trailing the national rating (60.2) and falling further behind Melbourne (63.6).

Geelong’s score, which

measures and tracks digital access, affordability and ability ratings, fell from 60 the

previous year. A Geelong forum on tackling the digital divide last week heard how digital inclusion was fundamental to participating in economic and social life and accessing community services.

InfoXchange chief executive David Spriggs said Geelong’s digital inclusion score was disappointing with the downtrend likely to surprise the broader community.

“The Australian Digital Inclusion Index shows there is a continuing divide and an

increasing gap between metropolitan and regional areas,” Mr Spriggs said.

“But it’s particularly evident here in Geelong, which has actually gone backwards in the past 12 months.”

He said while people took smartphones and devices for granted, across Australia 2.5 million people were still not online.

The digital inclusion index exposed Geelong’s poor rating in digital ability (47.9), which was worse than the scores for Melbourne (54), Victoria (51.4)

and Australia (49.5).

“We know here in Greater Geelong, even though they might have the devices, people don’t have the skills and confidence, for example, to find a job online and to apply for a job online,” Mr Spriggs said.

In Geelong as part of the Digital Innovation Festival, InfoXchange conducted its Digital Springboard course, which it delivers in partnership with Google.

InfoXchange is the nation’s leading digital inclusion

charity and Digital Springboard is a communitybased learning program.

Technology Geelong, which facilitated the discussion on tackling the digital divide, revealed it was a piloting a program to assist delivery of InfoXchange’s training programs.

Technology Geelong chief executive Stephanie Beitzel said it was looking to ways to financially assist volunteers or groups that had the capacity to be trained and deliver the programs.

“Even though they might have the devices, people don’t have the skills and confidence, for example, to find a job online.” I NFOXCHANGE CEO DAVID SPRIGGS