AI skills and literacy a welcome and vital element of AI equity
2 December, 2025: The Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance (ADIA) today welcomed the National AI Plan as a stepping-stone to nationally coordinated action on AI literacy and broader digital inclusion challenges.
AI skills and literacy are rightly acknowledged in the plan as fundamental to spreading the benefits and reducing inequality in how new technology is adopted, as well as enabling the economic benefits of AI through mass adoption.
“We are very pleased to see AI literacy feature so prominently as part of the National AI Plan. Building capability, particularly for those most excluded from the digital world, is vital to ensure as many people as possible can confidently navigate and participate in an increasingly AI-driven society,” said David Spriggs, Chair, Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance.
As the recent Australian Digital Inclusion Index highlights, around one in five Australians are digitally excluded or highly digitally excluded and roughly one in ten are highly excluded. Rates of exclusion are much higher for people aged 75+ years, those who did not complete secondary school, public housing residents and First Nations people.
ADIA has previously called for prioritisation of digital skills and literacy as AI becomes more prominent across society and the economy, and advocated for national leadership and coordination on digital inclusion.
“This National AI Plan is an important milestone that highlights both the value of AI and challenges we face to enable all Australians to benefit. Skills and literacy are a vital element of this dynamic, however we urge the government to use this plan as a stepping-stone to coordinated national action around the broader challenges of digital inclusion,” Mr Spriggs said.
The ADIA has identified a number of initiatives to drive improvements in digital inclusion, including a national common language and benchmark for digital skills, a National Device Bank to facilitate device refurbishment and reuse, and a national concessional broadband product to improve affordable internet access.
The ADIA welcomes the continued focus of the Future Skills Organisation in its work to define digital and AI units of competency, and notes the announcement for the National AI Centre to work with Good Things Australia to develop new insights on the economic and social value of inclusive AI upskilling across Australia. We also welcome support for the work of the National AI Centre and Infoxchange to support AI skills and adoption for the non-profit sector.
“The ADIA looks forward to continued positive consultation and collaboration with the government, and to build linkages through the digital inclusion ecosystem as Australia’s works to effectively and equitably harness AI,” Mr Spriggs said.
Media Contact
Tim Marshall, Co-Convenor, Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance
tmarshall@digitalinclusion.org.au
Download our paper, A National Approach to Digital Inclusion
About the Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance
The Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance (ADIA) is a shared initiative with over 500 not-for-profits, businesses, academic and community organisations, and government agencies working together to accelerate action on digital inclusion. Our member organisations conduct a variety of research and practical programs aimed at reducing the digital divide and enabling greater social and economic participation for all Australians. Supported by Infoxchange, Telstra and Google, we work to enable collaboration and advocacy on key priorities for those organisations who work daily to advance progress on digital inclusion. Our work is guided by a governance and strategy committee – including representation from Infoxchange, Telstra, Google, Swinburne University of Technology, Good Things Australia, The Smith Family, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, Alannah & Madeline Foundation, The Inclusive Design Collective and Education Services Australia.