By Andrew Davis, Executive (Digital, Strategy and Customer), TasNetworks
As Australia’s energy and utility operators, we are responsible for delivering and maintaining some of the nation’s most critical infrastructure. Our role extends well beyond day-to-day service delivery. We plan for the long term, manage complex systems, and invest today to ensure reliability, resilience and capability well into the future.
That long-term perspective is equally as important when considering Australia’s growing digital divide, particularly as it affects the young people who will one day be responsible for leading Australia’s vital sectors.
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Digital learning as the new default
As another school year begins, digital learning is now the default across most Australian classrooms. Students are expected to research online, collaborate digitally, submit assessments electronically and build the foundational skills required for further education and employment. Yet for a significant number of young Australians, access to the basic tools required for this type of learning remains out of reach.
Currently, an estimated 1.42 million young people in Australia do not have access to a computer at home1. This figure has risen sharply in just one year, from 19% to 23%1. More than 523,000 of these young people are aged 14 and over1, a critical stage of education when learning becomes increasingly independent, technology-enabled and closely linked to future career pathways.
The ripple effect of digital exclusion
For families and students, the impact is tangible. Many young people attempt to complete schoolwork on mobile phones, share a single device between multiple household members, or disengage altogether when participation becomes too difficult. These challenges are particularly pronounced in regional and lower-income communities, including those that host much of Australia’s energy infrastructure and form a critical part of the sector’s future workforce.
While the digital divide is often framed as a social issue, it also has direct implications for the energy and utilities sector. It affects workforce readiness, regional equity and the availability of future skills that our industry increasingly relies upon.
A workforce shaped by digital capability
The energy sector is undergoing rapid transformation. Digital technologies now underpin network operations, asset management, customer engagement, and system security. Smart grids, advanced metering, data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence are no longer emerging concepts; they are integral to modern energy systems.
The skills required to operate in this environment do not develop overnight. They are built progressively, starting at school, through exposure to technology, access to digital tools and opportunities to develop confidence and capability. When young people lack access to devices at home, they are disadvantaged not only academically, but in their ability to build the digital literacy increasingly expected across technical and professional roles.
This digital learning gap is becoming more pronounced as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in education and work. Research indicates that young people without access to learning devices are significantly less likely to use AI tools and demonstrate lower levels of digital literacy and critical evaluation skills1. In contrast, access supports more confident, informed and responsible use of technology.
At the same time, there is strong consensus across the community that digital skills are essential for future employment. However, recognising their importance does little to address the issue when access to devices is missing.
Where industry can make a practical difference
Across the industry, technology refresh cycles are a routine part of operations. Laptops, tablets, and other devices are replaced regularly to meet security, performance and operational requirements. Many of these devices still have substantial functional life remaining yet are often under-utilised or decommissioned.
Through initiatives such as the National Device Bank, an initiative led by not-for-profits WorkVentures and Good Things Australia, these unused devices can be securely refurbished and redistributed to people experiencing digital exclusion, including school-aged children and young people. Importantly, this process includes secure data wiping and quality assurance, as well as links to digital skills support, ensuring that access leads to effective use rather than frustration.
Filling the gaps that programs can’t always reach
At TasNetworks, we have seen the value of this approach firsthand. In Tasmania, refurbished laptops provided by TasNetworks were allocated to TAFE students through WorkVentures’ Tech4Kids program who required access to complete their studies but did not meet the eligibility criteria of existing programs. For these students, access to a device meant continued participation in training, completion of assessments and progress towards qualifications aligned with industry needs.
This type of targeted, gap-filling support reflects the broader role energy and utility businesses play within their communities. As providers of essential services, we operate across diverse regions and socio-economic contexts. We understand that resilient infrastructure depends on resilient communities, and that capability development begins well before individuals enter the workforce.
Our shared responsibility
Importantly, addressing digital exclusion is not about positioning businesses as sole solution providers. It is about recognising digital inclusion as a shared responsibility. Government, schools, community organisations and industry all have roles to play.
For energy and utility businesses, donating unused devices is a practical, scalable contribution that leverages existing assets. It delivers immediate benefit, aligns with existing corporate governance and sustainability objectives, and supports broader workforce and community outcomes without the need for promotional activity.
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Preparing the next generation to power Australia’s energy future
From an industry perspective, the link to future workforce capability is clear. The transition to a cleaner, smarter and more decentralised energy system will require a workforce that is digitally capable, adaptable and confident in technology-enabled environments. Ensuring young people have access to the tools required to build these skills is a foundational step.
Digital access is no longer optional. It is a fundamental requirement for participation in modern education and, increasingly, in the modern economy. Just as previous generations invested in physical infrastructure to support opportunity and growth, this generation must invest in digital access for future success.
The opportunity is both achievable and immediate. Energy and utility businesses across Australia can make a tangible impact by donating still-viable devices to the National Device Bank, which are then redistributed through community organisations to those who really need them. These devices give thousands of young people access to learning, skills development, and future career pathways.
Australia’s energy sector is focused on powering the future. Helping to close the digital divide is one way we can ensure the next generation is equipped to help build it.
