This roadmap provides strategic direction for First Nations digital inclusion policy, intended to support government and industry to develop appropriate and effective policy, programs and products. It provides recommendations with immediate, medium and long term actions to improve digital affordability and digital ability and ensure the sustainability of the First Nations media sector. 

The First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group and Expert Panel was established in January 2023 to advise on Target 17 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap: ‘By 2026 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have equal levels of digital inclusion’. 

The roadmap builds on the First Nations Digital Inclusion Plan (2023-2026), focusing on fostering sustained progress toward closing the digital divide. It provides advice for government and industry as well as 30 recommendations across the areas of: access and availability; affordability; ditigal ability; information, news and media; data; and governance and advocacy. 

Key recommendations

• Increase government funding for connectivity and broadcasting infrastructure in areas where industry co-investment is not feasible.
• Increase the sharing of mobile network infrastructure by telecommunications providers in regional and remote locations.
• Improve the resilience of communications and broadcasting infrastructure, including the resilience of power supplies.
• Trial a subsidised model of household connectivity in remote areas.
• Provide unmetered access to .gov.au domains. First Nations news services and a potential future First Nations domain.
• Commit to data sovereignty in government and industry programs which impact First Nations communities and organisations.
• Reallocate funds from fines to media and telecommunications companies for breaching regulatory codes which negatively impact First Nations people to community-controlled organisations to deliver digital inclusion and media and broadcasting programs.