Australians living with disability among most digitally excluded as AI widens the gap
As AI reshapes daily life, people with disability remain among the most digitally excluded. Get Online Week 2025 offers free community events nationwide to help Australians build digital confidence, spot scams and use technology safely.
As artificial intelligence reshapes the way we live, work and communicate, a growing number of Australians are feeling left behind. New research from Good Things Australia has found that almost half (48%) of Australians say scams are now harder to spot, and nearly one in three (29%) can’t always tell the difference between AI-generated and real content.
The findings come ahead of Get Online Week (20–26 October) – an annual campaign helping people of all ages and abilities to build confidence and safety skills online.
Australians with disability missing out
Digital exclusion continues to hit people with disability hardest. The research shows that one in five Australians with disability (21%) can’t afford a new computer, laptop or smartphone, compared with one in ten across the broader population. Access to devices and support remains a major barrier to participation in education, work and social connection.
The issue isn’t only affordability. Over a third (37%) of respondents said they rely on friends or family for help when something goes wrong online, while one in four worry about how AI will impact them or their loved ones.
For many people with disability, this means facing a digital world that feels unsafe, confusing or out of reach – at the very moment services, job applications and social networks are moving almost entirely online.
Building confidence through connection
Good Things Australia CEO Jess Wilson says the rise of AI has made digital literacy more important than ever.
“Learning new digital skills doesn’t have to be daunting,” she says. “Australians are eager to give things a go – especially when it’s safe, fun and shared with others. Get Online Week is a chance to connect with your community, learn something new and leave feeling more confident.”
Wilson says that people most eager to embrace technology are often the ones held back by cost or confidence. That’s why Get Online Week is focused on creating safe, supportive spaces where people can learn at their own pace – whether that means spotting scams, paying bills online, or experimenting with tools like Good Things’ AI image quiz.
The cost of being left behind
The organisation’s Benefits of Overcoming Digital Exclusion report estimates that improving digital inclusion could generate $467.2 million in social and economic benefits each year, through better education, employment, financial safety, health and social participation outcomes.
“Closing the digital divide isn’t just about technology,” Wilson says. “It’s about ensuring everyone – including people with disability – can safely take part in the digital world.”
How to get involved
Get Online Week runs from 20–26 October, with hundreds of free community events nationwide. Participants can learn to access government services, stay safe from scams, explore AI tools, or simply gain confidence using the internet.
To find an event near you, visit goodthingsaustralia.org/get-online-week or call 1300 795 897.