Papers & Presentations
Information Economy Access and Equity: towards a strategic framework
Tim Field, Chief General Manager, Government and Community Strategies, National Office for the Information Economy, DCITA
In A Strategic Framework for the Information Economy (released in January 1999) the Commonwealth Government identified as a key priority the need to "maximise opportunities for all Australians to benefit from the information economy".
Australian internet use overall is increasing rapidly but disparities in access and use are clearly emerging. Individuals on low incomes, older people, rural residents and/or those without a tertiary education are statistically least likely to use the internet yet such groups potentially have much to gain from the medium.
Similarly, while the business sector is steadily increasing its use of the internet for commercial purposes, the non-profit or community sector is lagging in its use of electronic networks to enhance service delivery. Many non-profit organisations are likely to have, as clients or members, individuals statistically least likely to be internet users. Non-profit organisations are thus important as intermediaries in ensuring Australians have the opportunity to fully participate in the information economy.
Available quantitative and qualitative data is being collected and analysed, both to assess areas of particular need (in terms of access opportunities) as well as to determine any outstanding data requirements. Until we know more about who is not participating in the information economy, and why they are not, it is difficult to know how and where to direct program activity.
Biography
Tim is Chief General Manager, Government and Community Strategies in the National Office for the Information Economy. Tim moved to the National Office for the Information Economy from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet where he dealt with Employment, Education and Training, Immigration and related policy issues. Tim has a background in a range of policy and program environments in the APS, dealing primarily with Commonwealth/ State and social policy issues. He has been responsible for delivery of assistance to people with disabilities and the unemployed, and has had a major role in the reengineering of assistance arrangements in these areas. He was also involved, a few years ago, in managing the Community Information Network, at the time the world's largest internet public access network.