Promoting digital equity: auDA funds 15 initiatives supporting diverse communities – $600,000 in grants announced.
.au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA) has announced the recipients of its 2024 Community Grant Program, awarding $600,000 to 15 projects designed to improve internet access and promote digital inclusion across Australia. Each project will receive $40,000 to benefit specific groups, including rural, regional, and remote Australians, people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, older Australians (65+), and young Australians (12-24).
“auDA is pleased to fund 15 exceptional projects that will deliver meaningful impact,” said Sandra Davey, Chair of auDA’s Public Benefit Program Committee. These initiatives range from supporting climate-resilient farming practices and preserving Indigenous cultural heritage to improving youth wellbeing and increasing digital access for people with disabilities.
auDA CEO Dr Bruce Tonkin added, “auDA’s Community Grant Program promotes digital inclusion that enhances the benefits of the internet to the wider community. I congratulate the teams leading this year’s projects, which span digital access to healthcare, climate-resilient farming and education initiatives for regional, rural and remote students.”
The diverse range of funded projects includes a communication platform for remote learning in disadvantaged communities (Deakin University), research into harmful digital marketing targeting young people (Deakin University), a Climate Smart Farming Toolkit (Farmers for Climate Action), an Indigenous STEMM education platform (Flinders University), and digital literacy forums for older Australians (RMIT). Other projects focus on language revitalisation in the Torres Strait, AI-powered teaching tools, online health resources, Indigenous data sovereignty, and employment opportunities for neurodivergent youth.
“These projects represent a significant investment in Australia’s digital future,” commented a spokesperson for auDA. “By supporting these diverse initiatives, we’re helping to bridge the digital divide and ensure all Australians can benefit from the internet.”
The Community Grant Program, managed by auDA and funded by the auDA Foundation, has awarded over $5 million to similar projects to date. This year’s successful projects were celebrated at an event in Melbourne. The program aims to enable more Australians to access the social and economic opportunities the internet provides.
“Digital inclusion is crucial in today’s world,” continued the auDA spokesperson. “These grants empower communities and individuals to participate fully in the digital economy and society. We are proud to support these projects, which are making a real difference in the lives of Australians.” The full list of projects and their descriptions can be found on the auDA website. auDA encourages everyone to learn more about these important initiatives and their potential impact on digital inclusion across the nation.
Also read: Bridging the digital divide: Roadmap for First Nations inclusion
Milton writes as both an occupation and a hazard. He also works on the newsletters you see on Tuesday and Thursday with articles you should find interesting.
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