Digital access critical for the education of Tasmanian children - by TCF Chairperson Sally Darke

Like the rest of Australia, Tasmania is experiencing a “digital divide” between those able to access and use technology and the internet, and those that cannot. The rising cost of living and the rapid digitalisation that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this divide.

One crucial area that requires Tasmanians to have access to digital content is education, with children's access to technology and the internet crucial for them to keep up with fellow classmates. As shown in the 2022 NAPLAN data, Tasmanian children have significantly low rates of attaining the ICT standard, partially due to parents being unable to afford the technology required to learn these integral skills. This is only getting harder as costs of living impact more and more families.

The Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF) sees the development of digital skills as equally important as literacy or numeracy skills and have funded The Smith Family’s Digital Student2Student (DS2S) program to help children around Tasmania develop their digital and literacy skills through online peer-to-peer tutoring.

A nationwide survey of over 2,200 families supported by The Smith Family in 2023 showed that 88% of families are worried they cannot afford back to school essentials due to the rising cost of living and 51% thought their children are likely to miss out on digital devices they need for education. 16% thought their children would miss out on internet access for schoolwork, which will directly impact their ability to succeed in school. Children that are already behind in areas such as literacy and numeracy are more likely to fall further behind if they do not have access to digital support and devices.

Schools do as much as possible to provide students with laptops and digital education, however, are not always able to supply enough devices to adequately digitally include all students and cannot guarantee the student has internet access at home.

Through the DS2S program, students are selected by The Smith Family’s partner schools as being eligible. Their families are then contacted by The Smith Family, and they work collaboratively to assess their digital access. If required, the family will be given a ‘Digital Access Pack’, which may include a device, data or training and support from digital mentors to ensure the family is digitally included. The children are then paired up with trained ‘buddies’ - students a few years older than them - that will support and foster their confidence in reading and using a computer.

To be digitally included students must have year-round access to a reliable device that is connected to the internet that can be used for educational purposes, technical support and the opportunity to develop their digital capability, such as the ability to understand and use the technology they have, seek solutions and keep themselves safe online. All students should be able to access and learn how to use the internet and technology safely and easily, and the DS2S program helps them achieve this.

We at the Tasmanian Community Fund are proud to support The Smith Family in its work to grant greater access to education through the DS2S program. Allowing children to access education is a core value of ours and digital access is essential to children getting the best education available. The Smith Family's DS2S program is a great example of ensuring no child is left behind, and we encourage all levels of Government, organisations and communities to work towards ensuring all children are digitally included.