Measuring digital inclusion for First Nations Australians

Collecting a nationally representative sample of First Nations digital inclusion for the first time

Currently there is a digital inclusion gap between First Nations Australians and other Australians. This digital gap is recognised by the inclusion of Outcome 17, one of 19 national socio-economic outcomes in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which aims for equal digital inclusion by 2026. Previously, there has been no reliable comparative national data to measure this target and changes over time.

Measuring Digital Inclusion for First Nations Australians is a three-year project funded by the Australian Government to provide accurate national data on First Nations digital inclusion. The project tracks progress towards Closing the Gap Target 17 by measuring access, affordability and digital ability across urban, regional and remote communities, as well as use of media and information services.

Initial findings

The Measuring Digital Inclusion for First Nations Australians project report, released in November 2025, provides the first accurate measure of Closing the Gap Target 17. It includes detailed analysis of how the digital gap varies by dimension, geography and for different demographic groups, along with impacts of current policy and programs.

Report

Counting on Connectivity: measuring digital inclusion for First Nations Australians

2025 findings

How the project works

The project involves undertaking surveys with First Nations people in remote, regional and urban settings. We have adapted the Australian Internet Users Survey–used by the Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) to measure digital inclusion dimensions of Access, Affordability, Digital Ability– to include questions about use of media and information services and non-digital communications.

The project combines data with the ADII and the Mapping the Digital Gap project, undertaken in remote communities, to provide a comprehensive and comparative picture of digital inclusion for First Nations Australians nationally.

Key elements of the project are:

National surveys – Over 2,800 First Nations people take part in each survey round, primarily face to face.
Track changes over time – Two research rounds will show how digital inclusion for First Nations peoples changes in the coming years.
Community partnerships –We partner with local First Nations organisations and co-researchers to run surveys in cities, towns and communities across Australia.
Shared knowledge – detailed results are made available on a dedicated First Nations dashboard on the ADII website.

How we are doing this work

The way we do the research is guided by important agreements and principles:

Indigenous data governance – communities have the right to control, access, and use their own data, in line with Closing the Gap Priority Reform 4: Shared Access to Data and Information at a Regional Level, and guided by the AIATSIS Indigenous Data Governance Principles and the Maiam nayri Wingara Indigenous Data Sovereignty Framework.
Ethical research guidelines – the research is guided by core values and principles outlined by NHMRC, AIATSIS and the United Nations. The project has received Ethics approval from the Human Research Ethics Committees of RMIT University (#28091) and Swinburne University (#8485).
First Nations leadership – the project is led by First Nations researchers, guided by the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group, and shaped by community partnerships.

Data collection

We are collecting data in two rounds – the first in 2024/25 and the second in 2026/27. Each round will include about 2800-3500 surveys with First Nations peoples in cities, regional towns and remote areas.

This information is combined with over 3000 surveys collected through the Australian Digital Inclusion Index to enable national comparison. Together, this gives us robust national Index scores to compare results for First Nations Australians compared to other Australians, across the digital inclusion dimensions and for different places and social groups. This also enables First Nations data to be compared across the whole ADII dashboard.

The first round of data collection in 2024/25 has involved:
1,998	Surveys completed by Ipsos ATSIRU, using both online and face-to-face methods
807	Surveys collected by the Mapping the Digital Gap project in 11 remote communities in 2024
729	Collected face-to-face by ADM+S researchers working with local First Nations organisations in 10 regional towns in 2025*

* These surveys were not ready in time for inclusion in the 2025 Index, with results to be published in a separate report and dashboard page in early 2026.

Ipsos and Mapping the Digital Gap sites

Ipsos Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Unit (ATSIRU) collected data using a mix of methods. Working with local First Nations researchers, they conducted 1360 face to face surveys in regional and urban sites, and an additional 630 online and phone surveys via their iMob Panel.

Mapping the Digital Gap researchers conducted partnered research in collaboration with local First Nations co-researchers in 11 remote communities.

Combined, the surveys form the First Nations data used to create the Australian Digital Inclusion Index.

Regional target sites

The research team also collaborated with First Nations partner organisations to undertake surveys in an additional 10 regional sites. These surveys were not available for inclusion in the 2025 Index, with results to be published in a separate report and dashboard page in early 2026.

The survey

To ensure comparability with national results the survey tool is an expanded version of the Australian Internet Usage Survey (AIUS), developed and used for the Australian Digital Inclusion Index. The AIUS includes sections on internet access, mobile phone and household internet use and costs, digital skills and applications used, affordability, and barriers to use as well as demographic questions. Respondents are also invited to add comments at the end of the survey.

In order to understand all of the ways that respondents access and share news and information, and to align with the indicators in Outcome 17, the adapted First Nations survey includes additional questions on First Nations language/s spoken, public phone and Wi-Fi access, and news and media use. The survey is non-identified beyond postcode to ensure privacy of respondents.

First Nations leadership and partnerships

First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group

The First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group (FNDIAG) was appointed by the Minister for Communications in 2023 to provide guidance on policy and programs to address Target 17. The Advisory Group is made up of First Nations Australians who are experts and advocates in digital inclusion and the media and broadcasting sector. The FNDIAG have undertaken active community, government and industry consultation in developing their Initial report in 2023 and Roadmap in December 2024, outlining a 5-year plan to help close the digital gap. The FNDIAG also acts as the advisory group for the Measuring Digital Inclusion for First Nations Australians project.

Ipsos Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Unit

External research partner organisation Ipsos Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Unit has been contracted to undertake 2000 surveys in each round, using a mix of face-to-face surveys by a network of community-based First Nations researchers and their existing iMob First Nations panel.