Regional digital inclusion overview

State Library’s Regional Digital Development Officers (RDDOs) work across regional and remote Queensland to gather data on digital access, affordability, and ability to design place-based digital skills programs to help individuals and communities realise their digital potential.

The RDDO for Far North Queensland supports an area stretching from Croydon Shire in the southwest to Cassowary Coast in the east, and north to Cook Shire.

According to the Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII), the region continues to experience some of the greatest digital inclusion challenges in Australia. Fifteen of the top 20 most digitally excluded Local Government Areas (LGAs) are in the region, which experiences persistent barriers across all 3 pillars of digital inclusion – access, affordability, and digital ability.

Digital inclusion varies widely across Far North Queensland. Urban centres like Cairns tend to have better infrastructure and digital literacy, while more remote and rural communities face significant barriers to connectivity and skills development.

Through research, collaboration, and community-led initiatives, the regional digital development project is working to close these gaps and help ensure that all Queenslanders, regardless of location, can participate fully in the digital world.