Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips is delighted that disadvantaged students on the South Coast will now be supported with free broadband.

The Albanese Government will provide up to 30,000 Australian families with no internet at home free broadband for one year, as part of our plan for a better National Broadband Network (NBN). Many students in our region will be eligible for the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI).

The School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) will provide the opportunity for eligible school students to benefit from fast internet at home to support their education. More than 1,000 Australian families have already benefitted from home broadband connections set up under the initiative.

NBN Co is implementing this target affordability initiative with the support of a $4.5 million commitment in the October 2022-23 Federal Budget.

The one-year of free services begins from the day the service is activated.

The SSBI is part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to narrow the digital divide, including by making full-fibre NBN access available to an additional 1.5 million premises – 660,000 of which will be in regional areas – and working to support First Nations Australians digital inclusion through the formation of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group.

How to apply:

To be eligible for the program it must be demonstrated that the applicant:

• Has school aged children in the home who are enrolled in an Australian school in 2023.
• Does not have a current NBN connection in the home.
• Lives in a home that is eligible for connection to the NBN.
• The applicant must provide consent to provide their family contact information and address to NBN.

Those working closest with families and students, including State and Territory education bodies, selected charities and community organisations, will be able to identify families and support them to access the free service.

The office of Fiona Phillips MP can also refer people to the program. Anyone with questions about the program is encouraged to contact the office of Fiona Phillips on 02 4423 1782 or [email protected]

For more information on the SSBI, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/ssbi

Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

“The Albanese Government is committed to narrowing the digital divide – including in our classrooms.

“The Government’s School Student Broadband Initiative will provide up to 30,000 families and their children a free home broadband connection so they can reach their full potential.

“Whilst many students can access the internet through school Wi-Fi, connecting the internet at home to support remote learning and homework is a serious affordability issue for some families. This initiative will relieve some of the barriers to students fully participating in educational opportunities”.

“I am confident we can deliver real outcomes for so many students and give them the tools they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips MP:

“The pandemic demonstrated how important it is for students in our region to be connected to quality internet at home.”

“Not having internet at home shouldn’t be a barrier to a quality education. I want to see our kids reach their full potential and having an internet connection at home can play a big part in that.”

“Reliable internet is so important for people who live in regions like ours. I’m proud to be part of a government that takes digital inclusion so seriously.”

“I strongly encourage locals who think they might qualify for this program to contact my office so we can help connect you to the program”.