Everyone deserves the opportunity to safely participate in our digital world and no one should be left behind. 

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Through the Good Things Foundation's network of community organisations and with the help of supporters, free digital skills events will take place in hundreds of communities this October to support people to get online.

Beginning in the UK in 2007 and introduced to Australia in 2018, Get Online Week supports thousands of people to get online safely and confidently through hundreds of fun, local digital skills events. 

This year, Telstra will join Good Things Foundation’s Australia-wide campaign to community organisations hosting events to reach Australians at risk of being left behind.

“Get Online Week means we can help more people to access free, local digital skills support in their community.” 
Jess Wilson, CEO Good Things Foundation Australia

Why is it important?

Digital skills are just as important today as access  to food, housing and education and that’s why Get Online Week is such an important time in the calendar. It is a chance to reach people who otherwise may get left behind and help them to feel confident and safe connecting with loved ones, shopping online or finding their new dream job.

Both Telstra and Good Things Foundation play an important role in understanding and closing the digital divide in Australia. This partnership sees both organisations working together to help millions of Aussies who are digitally excluded.

The Australian Digital Inclusion Index* tells us that more than 2.5 million Australians are highly digitally excluded and therefore missing out on the social and economic benefits that come with being online. This initiative is another way we are helping to close the digital divide and support building a connected future where everyone can thrive.

1 in 4 Australians are digitally excluded (ADII, 2021). Less than 40% of Aussies are confident that they can keep up with the rapid pace of tech changes (ADII, 2020). For people more at risk of digital exclusion, such as older people, people with disability, low income families and First Nations people, this rate is even higher. 

Being digitally included means having affordable access to the internet and the skills and confidence to use it safely. If the last two years have taught us anything, it's how vital this is for work, school, staying connected with loved ones, and for our health and wellbeing. 

Learn more about the digital divide here.

How does it work?

Get Online Week sees hundreds of local events take place each year hosted by community organisations. It gives people the chance to find the support they need to improve their digital skills and get motivated to learn more. 

Local activities are friendly and fun opportunities hosted by a community organisation, and each event is different. At Get Online Week events, people have learnt how to find YouTube tutorials about their favourite craft, gone on a QR code treasure hunt, and even holidayed from their armchair!

During Get Online Week 2021, over 450 community organisations around Australia held more than 1,000 online or COVID-Safe face-to-face events for people with low digital skills, reaching 15,400 people with support.

100% of event holders found Get Online Week 2021 was beneficial to their community. In addition to supporting people to improve their digital skills, they also found it positively contributed to their community’s well being and helped people to socially connect with others.

97% of Get Online Week 2021 event attendees reported learning something new at an event, with 95% saying it inspired them to learn more about what they could do online.

Read about the impact of Get Online Week here.

*The Australian Digital Inclusion Index is a collaboration between the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making & Society at RMIT, the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne University of Technology, and Telstra