While the overwhelming majority of Australian children have internet access at home, a small proportion do not. This inequality, highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, risks entrenching disadvantage for those families.
To boost education opportunities, the Australian Government has committed to providing up to 30,000 families with no internet at home a free NBN service for 12 months. To be eligible families with school age children will be nominated by schools, education authorities and community organisations.
The Government is supporting NBN Co‘s delivery of this initiative with a $4.5 million grant. This is a targeted affordability initiative while the Government considers longer-term solutions to address digital exclusion and education.
NBN Co and the Department are currently consulting on the design and implementation of the initiative. Further updates will be provided shortly.