auDA awards grants to boost digital inclusion in Australia

Fifteen projects have been awarded grants by auDA under the 2024 Community Grant Program, aiming to improve internet utility and promote digital inclusion among various Australian communities.

The power of the internet to bring tangible benefits to rural, regional, and remote Australians, individuals with disabilities, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, older Australians, and young Australians will see a boost as auDA provides each project with funding of AUD $40,000. These initiatives are managed by the auDA Foundation, which has contributed over AUD $5 million to similar projects in the past.

Sandra Davey, Chair of auDA's Public Benefit Program Committee, expressed satisfaction with the diversity and impact of the awarded projects. "auDA is pleased to fund 15 exceptional projects that will deliver meaningful impact, including initiatives to provide tools to help farmers act on climate change, support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage, improve the health and wellbeing of young people, and increase digital inclusion for people with disability," she stated.

Dr Bruce Tonkin, CEO of auDA, highlighted the importance of the Community Grant Program in bridging the digital divide for various societal groups. "auDA's Community Grant Program promotes digital inclusion that enhances the benefits of the internet to the wider community. I congratulate the teams leading this year's projects, which span digital access to healthcare, climate-resilient farming and education initiatives for regional, rural and remote students," he said.

A variety of projects received grants, including Deakin University's initiatives aimed at providing a reliable communication platform for remote learning and researching the impact of harmful digital marketing on young people. Farmers for Climate Action Limited will develop a Climate Smart Farming Toolkit to guide farmers in adopting environmentally sustainable practices.

Flinders University will create the IndigiSTEMM Jila HUB education platform to address educational disparities for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the Northern Territory. RMIT's project will focus on enhancing digital literacy and social connections for older Australians through digital forums.

The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation Limited plans to host the Erub Mer Living First Language Digital Hack-a-thon Camp to aid language revitalisation efforts for First Nations peoples. Cool Australia Limited will employ artificial intelligence to provide tailored educational resources through the Cool.org AI platform.

The Westmead Institute for Medical Research is developing an online tool for easier interpretation of Hepatitis B test results, while Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative Limited's Digital Dilly Bag project will focus on preserving Indigenous oral histories through a culturally sensitive digital hub.

Melbourne Social Equity Institute at the University of Melbourne will enhance Seedkit's capabilities to enable better measurement of digital inclusion impacts. The University of Queensland is working on a project called ENACT to improve technology access for individuals with cognitive impairments.

University of Sydney's BEeT for Youth programme aims to adapt online therapy for young people with eating disorders. The University of Tasmania will provide an online platform for exploring indigenous cultural archives, supporting language reconstruction through their Westlake Collection.

Efforts to secure digital inclusion will be supported by the University of the Sunshine Coast, focusing on the security of mobile apps used by people with disabilities. Moreover, Youth Options will create the 'Raising the Game Portal' facilitating employment opportunities for neurodivergent youth in the gaming industry through quality assurance roles.

These projects reflect auDA's commitment to enhancing internet accessibility and utility across a broad spectrum of Australian society, promoting social and economic inclusion through targeted digital empowerment initiatives.