At home on the outstation: Barriers to home Internet in remote Indigenous communities

Indigenous Australians living in remote areas have little access to the Internet and make little use of it. This article investigates the various dimensions of Internet take-up in remote Indigenous communities in Australia and considers the implications for broadband policy. It focuses specifically on the circumstances and experiences of three remote Indigenous communities in central Australia. Residents in these communities provided significant insight into the social, economic and cultural aspects of communications access and use. This evidence is used to examine the drivers and barriers to home Internet for remote Indigenous communities and to discuss a complex set of issues, including: the dynamics of remote living, economic priorities, cultural engagement with technology, and the characteristics of domestic life in remote Indigenous communities.

► Indigenous Australians living in remote Australia are unlikely to have access to the Internet at home.
► The major perceived barrier is money, including affordability, priorities and demand sharing.
► Small communities can lack the information and means to organise an Internet connection.
► Perceived barriers include: limited English literacy, security of hardware, power supply and space.
► Possible drivers for take-up include education, online services, and entertainment.