New England businesses are being asked to donate unused devices to help kids learn as new data reveals a growing number of young Australians are returning to the classroom without access to a computer at home.
The Smith Family says digital access has become one of the most pressing issues facing families experiencing disadvantage. Its flagship Learning for Life program provides tailored assistance to students from low income families, including financial help for school essentials, access to learning resources, and ongoing personal support to keep students engaged with their education from primary school through to secondary and beyond.
In the New England, 570 students are supported through the Learning for Life program, with The Smith Family partnering with around 10 local schools to provide ongoing educational assistance.
The Smith Family CEO Doug Taylor said access to digital devices is now fundamental to a child’s ability to succeed at school.
“Every young person should have access to the devices necessary to fully participate in their education,” he said.
“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.”
Mr Taylor said the scale of digital exclusion among disadvantaged students was significant.
“Currently, 44 per cent of students on our Learning for Life program do not have a digitally connected laptop at home,” he said.
The concerns raised by The Smith Family are reflected in new national data showing that 1.42 million young Australians do not have access to a laptop or desktop computer at home. The proportion of young people without a device has increased from 19 per cent in 2024 to 23 per cent in 2025.
Among them are 523,000 young Australians aged 14 and above for whom access to a computer is essential for learning and daily tasks. Even when access through schools, libraries, and other shared locations is included, 14 per cent of young people aged from 8 to 25, around 864,000 people, still have no access to a learning device, up from 10 per cent last year.
Not-for-profit organisation WorkVentures, in partnership with Good Things Australia, is urging businesses and government agencies to help close the digital divide by donating unused devices to the National Device Bank. Devices are refurbished and redistributed for free to people who are digitally excluded, alongside access to digital skills support.
WorkVentures CEO Caroline McDaid said donating unused technology could make a tangible difference for students.
“This week, students across Australia return to the classroom, yet 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.
“If Australian businesses and government divert even just a portion of their still valuable devices to the National Device Bank, we can help close the digital divide and ensure Australia’s economy thrives by repurposing devices and making them accessible to those within our communities currently excluded from the digital world.”
Businesses and government agencies can find out how to donate laptops, tablets, and mobile phones through the National Device Bank website. Parents can also register to find out how to access devices on that website.
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