Huawei and Community Sector Banking partner to host National Digital Inclusion Summit

Partnership to act on key recommendation from ‘Connecting Communities’ White Paper

Australia, 3 February, 2011: Huawei and Community Sector Banking will partner to host a National Digital Inclusion Summit with the aim of increasing private sector and community engagement to ensure no one is left behind in the digital economy. The two organisations forged the partnership to act on one of the key recommendations of the new White Paper Connecting Communities: The impact of broadband on communities in the UK and its implications for Australia.

“I congratulate Huawei and Community Sector Banking on this initiative to promote inclusion in the digital economy,” said Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy. “Industry and community sector support will play a pivotal role in ensuring the full advantages of the digital economy enabled by the National Broadband Network are available to all Australians.”

Huawei and Community Sector Banking will host the event to gather examples of best-practices where private sector and community organisations have used broadband to promote digital inclusion. The Summit aims to increase digital engagement for rural and remote communities, the elderly, indigenous communities, migrant communities, and many others who would benefit from increased inclusion in the digital economy.

“A key finding of the report is that Australia must not just build the infrastructure of a broadband network, but we must also build a networked society,” said Huawei Government and Public Affairs Director Jeremy Mitchell. “Connecting Communities has drawn on the experience of the UK’s broadband rollout and listed key recommendations for Australia – by taking the first step in partnering with Community Sector Banking, we’re hopeful that other community and private sector organisations will join us in a move to promote digital inclusion.”

Commissioned by Huawei Australia, the White Paper was independently researched and complied by renowned community regeneration expert Dr Tim Williams. The White Paper makes a list of recommendations for Australia as the National Broadband Network is rolled out, including: National and state summits of third sector organisations to share best-practice on digital inclusion and up-skilling and agree a program or plan of action in their organisation and area of operation.

“We congratulate Huawei Australia on taking the initiative to generate this report and we are delighted to participate in instigating one of the recommendations, which we believe will contribute to the community sector’s capacity to develop social inclusion,” said Peter Quarmby, Executive Director Strategic Development, Community Sector Banking.