WA Digital Inclusion Project

The WA Digital Inclusion Project is a collaboration between leading community service organisations and peak bodies, the WA Government, digital partner NBN Co and major supporter Lotterywest. The Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS) is leading the initiative, and has responsibility for project governance. 

WACOSS is proud to be a member of the WA Government’s Digital Inclusion Accord.

Lotterywest has provided a grant of $3.9 million to address the key barriers to digital inclusion. The three-year project commenced on 1 July 2022, and its seven initiatives aim to assist up to 100,000 people in metropolitan Perth and regional centres where partners offer services.   

Project governance is provided by the WACOSS Board, with a Strategic Reference Group providing guidance to the project team and a Project Partner Network established to represent partners. Monitoring and evaluation of the WA Digital Inclusion Project’s impact will be undertaken by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre. 

The project aims to improve digital inclusion within the community through various initiatives, including working with community services organisations to build the capability of community service workers to support their clients’ digital skill requirements, and implementation of  innovative pilot initiatives aligned with our strategic focus areas of Ability, Access and Affordability:

1. Ability– build the digital skills and capability of front-line community services workers so that they support their clients to access services online. 
2. Access– improve access to connectivity for people in the community. 
3. Affordability– improve affordability of access and devices for people in the community. 

There are seven key initiatives that support the three strategic focus areas. These are outlined in the factsheets below which are free to download: 

• Initiative 1 – Train 1,500 front line community service workers on the use of digital inclusion resources.
• Initiative 2 – Uplift the digital skills of at least 45,000 people in the community.
• Initiative 3 – Provide scholarships to support people to obtain digital skills credentials.
• Initiative 4 – Establish a new digital inclusion website to support up to 50,000 WA community members to access digital inclusion resources and facilities.
• Initiatives 5 & 6 – Access and Affordability Pilot. 
• Initiative 7 – Train 150 financial counsellors to support at least 1,000 people in selecting the best fit affordable digital access option for them.

We are currently working on a website for the WA Digital Inclusion Project, with a launch planned for Friday 31 March 2023. 

Download an overview of the project here.

For further information please contact: [email protected]