The second strategic focus of the Hume Digital Strategy is to get everyone online by 2017. The economic gain from enabling an extra 10 per cent of the population to get online has been estimated by the Federal Government as resulting in a minimum increase of over 0.5 per cent in the areas output or wealth.
Obviously ensuring access for the community is the first step in getting people online which is the first strategic focus of the report. Once the platform is in place we still need to ensure we get region-wide participation and that we develop the skills needed to participate effectively in order to ensure digital readiness. (see Figure below. source: Hume Digital Strategy)
Digital readiness
The region as a whole must commit to a “broad campaign and program of projects to raise enthusiasm, skills and digital inclusion”. The specific actions outlined in the strategy are:
- To set a bold target for all online by 2017. The aim is to drive and motivate partners and the community towards the goal of a networked region
- To develop a tool to assess broadband readiness and the use of digital media
- To ensure partners make digital inclusion a priority and are digital champions for their area, client or community group
- Ensuring best practice is shared and activities coordinated
- Focusing on groups at risk of digital exclusion such as over 60s, the indigenous community, people with a disability, recent migrants and refugees
- Focusing on businesses that historically have low take up, such as those in agriculture and hospitality sectors, and small business enterprises
- Focusing on re-skilling and/or up-skilling those in work or seeking to enter the workforce
- Exploiting libraries and other relevant public infrastructure to act as key digital hubs for access and skills
- Driving up community acquisition and use of digital skills and demand for broadband through increased digitisation of services and engagement with residents via online platforms and social media, and
- Ensuring public spaces have WI-FI connectivity/availability
The full Digital Strategy documents can be downloaded here.
Are you involved in getting people online in the region? We’d love to hear your story via our comments and Twitter and Facebook pages.
years. They are an independent member of BIG4 Holiday Parks franchise, which has parks all around Australia. They currently have 23 self-contained cabins, 12 ensuite powered sites, powered caravan & tent sites and 12 mobile homes. The park predominantly caters for the family market. Both Kym & Kaye have made significant capital investment into technology and their park ensuring it has some of the best family friendly facilities like giant jumping pillow, solar heated pool, synthetic grass tennis court, pedal go-karts, recreation room and camp kitchens.