AUSTRALIA | Industry leaders have voiced their concerns about the decline in digital inclusion among seniors and what needs to be done to fix the problem.
New data released has indicated that while digital inclusion is improving in Australia, more still needs to be done to ensure older Australians aren’t left behind, COTA Australia said.
The latest Australian Digital Inclusion Index reveals that while there has been steady progress, around one in five Australians still struggle to fully engage in the digital world.
Chief Executive Officer of COTA Australia, Patricia Sparrow, said that while the results are encouraging, the pace of change remains too slow for many older Australians.
“Digital inclusion is about more than just being online, it’s about having the right equipment, affordable connectivity, and the skills to engage safely and meaningfully,” Sparrow said.
“For Australians aged 75 and over, and those aged 50 to 75 who are on low incomes, live regionally, or live with disability, the digital divide remains a very real barrier to full participation.”
The index shows that of all the cohorts of Australians tracked, over 75’s are the people with the least digital abilities (-32.1 gap compared to national average), and 65-74 year olds (-15.5 gap to national average) are also in the top five. It also found that older people aged 75+ (12 percent), 55-64 (10 percent) and 65-74 (8 percent) are the age groups most likely to need to spend ‘more than 10 percent of their household income on internet access’.
Sparrow said that as more services move online, the risk of exclusion is growing.
“If we don’t ensure older Australians are equipped and supported, we risk people being locked out of essential services, from healthcare and banking to social connection and aged care information,” she said.
“We must expand and properly fund digital literacy programs for older Australians, and ensure governments and industry work together on genuine affordability schemes.”
Sparrow said it’s vital that non-digital options remain available.
“Digital-only doesn’t work for everyone. Forcing people online is inequitable; inclusion means having choice,” she said.
“Digital exclusion is social exclusion. We can’t afford to let older Australians who are offline or under-equipped get left behind.”
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