Volunteering Inclusiveness and the Digital Challenge
For many of us, 2022 has begun in a familiar way. We are back working or volunteering from home. While it may feel familiar, this environment remains challenging and restrictive as we aim to stay connected to one another and to our communities. It reminds us of the vital importance of digital inclusion and the skills that are required to allow volunteers and the organisations depending on them to continue playing their key roles across Victoria.
Through its research, the Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance paints a stark portrait of the pervasive digital divide that puts thousands of Victorians and organisations at risk of being left behind as the digital transformation continues to gather pace:
- 1 in 4 Australians are digitally excluded.
- Less than 40% of us feel that we can keep up with the rapid changes in technology.
- Affordable access and ability combine to reinforce the digital divide.
There was some good news in 2021 with the Australian Digital Inclusion Index noting an improvement in digital inclusion at the national level (from an average score of 67.5 in 2020 to 71.1 in 2021). Yet the Index also highlights that these improvements are far from being evenly experienced by all Australians:
- The divide between metropolitan (72.9) and regional areas (67.4) remains significant.
- 14% of Australians would need to pay more than 10% of their household income to secure quality and reliable connectivity.
- Access continues to be much lower for:
- mobile-only users
- people over the age of 75
- people who did not complete secondary school
- people who rent from a public housing authority
- people who are unemployed
- people who are within the lowest income quintile.
Since the factors driving digital exclusion are deeply rooted in systemic inequalities, deliberate long-term planning and funding are required to develop sustainable solutions.
What can be done?
To avoid seeing Victorians and organisations permanently excluded in an increasingly digital society, Volunteering Victoria has used its State Budget submission to recommend for the Victorian Government to fund digital inclusion initiatives. The State Government has already committed to providing digital skills training and complementary face to face support for unemployed Victorians in the 2020-2021 Victorian State Budget and has launched Digital Innovation Futures Victoria. For Volunteering Victoria, it is vital that volunteers be explicitly included across all these important initiatives.
Further recommendations
Volunteering Victoria further recommends for the Victorian Government to:
- Support volunteering involving organisations with the implementation of a sound technology environment, notably by assisting with the purchase of equipment, enhancing the technology skills of staff and volunteers, and improving the delivery of services remotely or through a hybrid model.
- Increase access to free Wi-Fi and affordable digital devices for those in low-income households. For example, enabling free internet access and computers in homes for all public housing tenants.
- Support people with disabilities and older Victorians to be able to access appropriate equipment and technology that is best suited to their needs.
- Provide services and support to bridge the marked divide in digital access for regional communities.
- Ensure the availability and accessibility of offline services for those who choose not to use digital services, who struggle to make the transition, or who fall through the gaps.
- Provide increased funding and support to community service organisations to implement digital literacy training for service users and volunteers.
In addition to these measures, Volunteering Victoria recommends funding for a digital inclusion program that will enable Volunteering Victoria, in collaboration with place-based Volunteer Support Services, to:
- Create resources, fact sheets and videos for volunteers on accessing volunteering related digital platforms and developing digital literacy.
- Develop guides to navigate online and digital volunteering roles and platforms.
- Provide advice and support to volunteer involving organisations on familiarising themselves with digital platforms and developing online volunteer opportunities.
- Develop best practice guidelines on the provision of accessible volunteering support via both face-to-face and online formats.
Volunteering Victoria and Volunteer Support Services possess the expertise and connections required to build a more equitable volunteering environment where everyone has equal opportunity to participate. Supporting flexibility and adaptation of volunteers and organisations depending on them to digital platforms and volunteer roles is critical to our future success as a society.
Resources
Digital Transformation Hub
Good Things Foundation Australia
