1 in 5 students lack home learning devices. Help bridge the digital divide and support learning. Donate to the National Device Bank.
As students return to classrooms across Australia, a stark digital divide is impacting educational outcomes. A staggering 1.16 million young people (19%) lack access to a laptop or desktop computer at home, including 400,000 high school students and above, according to new data. This lack of access poses a significant challenge, especially with the increasing prevalence of “bring your own device” (BYOD) policies in schools.
“Affordability is the biggest cause of digital exclusion for low-income families with school-aged children,” explains Caroline McDaid, CEO of WorkVentures. “Devices with minimum requirements are now expected for homework and other tasks, and not having access to these can impact a student’s likelihood of completing Year 12, which we know is an important factor for engaging in further study and entering the workforce.”
WorkVentures, a not-for-profit organisation, is tackling this issue through the National Device Bank, a collaboration with Good Things Australia and Good360 Australia. The initiative aims to secure one million device pledges within five years, relying on donations of used devices from organisations and governments. “We also know that students who live in regional or remote locations, as well as those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, generally lack access to digital resources compared to those in major cities or with high socioeconomic status,” McDaid adds.
A significant contribution of 2,000 devices has been made by Deloitte, through WorkVentures and the National Device Bank, to support The Smith Family’s work in creating equal opportunities for disadvantaged young people. This follows WorkVentures’ distribution of over 100,000 devices to digitally excluded Australians.
“A personal laptop and reliable home internet connection is now a school necessity, not a luxury,” says Doug Taylor, CEO of The Smith Family. “Ensuring all young people are digitally included is also essential given the role it plays in economic, social and cultural participation.” He emphasizes the negative impact of digital exclusion on education, skill development, and future employment for the 30% of students on their Learning for Life scholarship program who are still not digitally connected. “In partnership with organisations like WorkVentures and Deloitte, we are continuing our efforts to ensure that all young people have digital access so they can take full advantage of their educational opportunities,” Taylor states.
Deloitte CEO and former WorkVentures Director, Jo Gorton, expresses pride in supporting the National Device Bank. “This initiative is a great example of the important role organisations can play in supporting students and demonstrates the power of collective action in advancing education for young Australians,” she says. “By providing devices and resources, we hope to empower young people and contribute to a more equitable future. We look forward to continuing to work with WorkVentures and encourage other organisations to donate devices to help them achieve their goal.”
McDaid concludes, “Australians are learning in an increasingly digital education environment, and disadvantaged students from demographics and locations all across Australia will benefit from a National Device Bank if it can be scaled to meet their needs.” WorkVentures and its partners are urging Australian companies and government agencies to donate their used devices to the National Device Bank. These devices are refurbished and redistributed free of charge to those experiencing digital exclusion, leveraging a network of approximately 6,000 not-for-profit and community organisations. To learn more about supporting the Australian National Device Bank, visit nationaldevicebank.org.au.
Also read: The Smith Family’s Back to School Appeal helps children in need
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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