Inquiry into the factors driving educational attainment

ACCAN recently submitted to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education (the Committee) on the Inquiry into the factors driving educational attainment. 

This submission recommends the Committee consider the merits of the following:

1. The creation of a concessional broadband product for low-income households receiving Commonwealth financial support to improve education access.

2. Continued funding of the national device bank to facilitate the distribution of affordable internet devices to communications consumers across Australia. 

3. Establishing a Digital Communications Technology Standard under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) to improve digital accessibility standards for telecommunications services to remove barriers for people with disability and support greater participation in education.

4. The continuation and expansion of co-designed community Wi-Fi programs to support remote First Nations communities’ access to education.

5. Support funding of national digital skills and literacy programs to empower people to compare communications services and guide them through switching to more affordable communications plans. 

6. Implementing wholesale and retail mobile network performance standards to improve consumers’ access to mobile services. 

7. Implementing coverage obligations on Mobile Network Operators to expand access to terrestrial mobile coverage.