Read about our annual survey, how we understand digital inclusion at the local level, and the Internet Skills Scale
The Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) is built on detailed, nationally representative survey data that is collected biennially.
We look at three dimensions of digital inclusion — access, affordability and digital ability — together, because all three shape whether people can make full use of digital technologies.
Since 2021, the ADII has been based on the Australian Internet Usage Survey (AIUS), designed by the ADII research team and delivered by the Social Research Centre at the Australian National University. The survey is designed to reflect the diversity of the Australian population and includes non-users through addressed-based sampling.
The 2025 ADII draws on data collected in 2024 from three related projects to understand how digital inclusion varies across Australia:
The addition of a significant sample of First Nations Australians across urban, regional and remote Australia allows us to provide an indicator to track progress on Closing the Gap Target 17: ‘By 2026, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have equal levels of digital inclusion’.
The AIUS asks who uses the internet, what benefits they gain, and what barriers they face. The survey is updated each year to reflect changes in technology and society and can be completed online or in hard copy. To ensure we reach people both online and offline, invitations are sent by post. To learn more about the AIUS and how we conduct the survey, read the AIUS method report.
While the AIUS provides a national picture, sample sizes can be small for some regions. To produce local-level results, we use Small Area Estimates (SAEs), which combine AIUS data with other sources like the Australian Census. This allows us to estimate Index scores for every state, territory, and local government area.
The ADII’s Digital Ability dimension is based on the internationally recognised Internet Skills Scale (ISS), developed by researchers Alexander van Deursen, Ellen Helsper, and Rebecca Eynon. The ISS measures six areas of skill: operational, information navigation, social, creative, mobile, and automation (Internet of Things). We use a modified version to reflect the way Australians now use digital technologies, with fewer questions and updated terminology.
