More than 1.4 million young Australians cannot access a computer at home, highlighting a growing digital divide and prompting renewed calls for businesses and government to donate unused devices to support students experiencing disadvantage.
New data shows 23 per cent of young people lacked access to a laptop or desktop at home in 2025, up from 19 per cent the previous year. Among them are 523,000 young Australians aged 14 and above, a critical age for learning and daily tasks.
Even when access at schools or libraries is considered, 14 per cent of young people aged eight to 25 – about 864,000 individuals – have no access to a learning device, rising from 10 per cent last year.
The Smith Family, which works with more than 186,000 children and young people through partnerships with 781 schools, says the figures reflect the challenges many families face in keeping up with the cost of technology.
CEO Mr Doug Taylor said access to a suitable device was now essential for students to fully participate in their education.
“Families we work with are telling us they’re concerned about affording the digital devices that are now crucial for a child to succeed at school,” he said.
“Currently 44 per cent of students on our Learning for Life program do not have a digitally connected laptop at home.”
Mr Taylor said partnerships with organisations such as WorkVentures and corporate donors were critical to ensuring students did not miss out.
“Working with organisations like WorkVentures and Westpac means we can continue our mission of ensuring all young people in Australia are digitally connected and no one will miss out on their education simply due to circumstance,” he said.
The call comes as not-for-profit WorkVentures urges businesses and government agencies to donate unused technology to the National Device Bank, a collaboration with Good Things Australia. The devices are refurbished and redistributed free to people who are digitally excluded.
WorkVentures CEO Ms Caroline McDaid said the return to school highlighted the urgency of the issue.
“As students across Australia return to the classroom, a lack of access to devices that are crucial for learning means 1.42 million young people are at risk of getting left behind,” she said.
Data also shows one-third of young people without a learning device do not use artificial intelligence, more than double the rate of those with access, who are also more likely to demonstrate fact-checking habits.
Despite the gap, four in five Australians agree digital skills are essential for future careers, an increase on the previous year.
The National Device Bank has secured thousands of devices since launching late last year, but demand far exceeds current commitments. The initiative aims to secure pledges for one million devices by 2030.
