The City of Armadale in Western Australia is helping bridge the digital divide for 10 local high school students, by providing free internet access to assist with their educational aspirations.
In partnership with Telstra and Curtin University’s AHEAD program, the City has launched ConnectivED, a one-year pilot program that allows selected students to utilise mobile hotspot technology and bring the internet home to them.
Modelled on a successful program run by the New York Public Library and since replicated across the US, the City of Armadale libraries will implement the program, offering free hotspot devices and capped data to students demonstrating aspirations towards higher education.
The term of the loan would be for the full academic year with the option to also borrow a smart device for those students who do not own one.
Armadale Mayor Henry Zelones OAM JP said that through in-kind support from Telstra, the City’s libraries could empower young people to achieve greater educational outcomes by bridging the digital divide.
“The 2011Census revealed that 21 per cent of households in Armadale had either no internet connection or limited access to dial up,” he said.
“Now in 2017, this has likely improved however, there will still be families who cannot afford access to a stable internet connection.
“The City’s libraries have helped bridge the digital divide by offering internet access at its branches, and now internet portable Wi-Fi hotspots are an emerging technology that has caught our attention as a means to expand the reach of broadband to the community.
“Access to portable Wi-Fi devices will expand the reach and benefits of free internet access provided by the library to disadvantaged students and will help boost their educational outcomes.”
Telstra Area General Manager Boyd Brown said the ConnectivEd Wi-Fi program was an innovative and exciting partnership opportunity for Telstra to support the local Armadale community.
“This is a fantastic initiative by the City of Armadale to assist Year 12 students from low income families to get connected and have access to the internet to support their educational needs,” he said.
“This pilot program is a welcome start to bridging the digital divide in Armadale by assisting these students in their critical year of learning to have the same broadband benefits that a lot of others take for granted.
“This initiative is part of our broader NBN strategy for Armadale – to help build a digitally connected city with a strong focus on education, business and community development.”
