Research conducted for the National Broadband Network (NBN) has revealed that Australians of all ages are taking advantage of the online learning opportunities the network’s high-speed service makes available.
The findings are the third instalment of the Connecting Australia report commissioned by NBN Co and reveal that older people are showing particular interest.
Minister for Communications, Senator Mitch Fifield said this latest research demonstrated that the NBN was a game changer for education and would open up a wealth of new possibilities.
“Access to fast and reliable broadband, no matter where you live, is the key to unlocking a world of opportunities,” Senator Fifield said.
“It’s great to see that there has already been a strong uptake of online learning courses by Australians of all ages, particularly in NBN active areas.”
Minister for Aged Care and Indigenous Health, Ken Wyatt said the research was a positive indicator of how broadband connectivity could boost digital learning opportunities and provide access to new educational tools.
“This is an exciting new opportunity to extend the capacity for lifelong learning,” Mr Wyatt said.
“The research tells us that Australians aged over 65 are the fastest growing adopters of non-formal education, such as watching tutorials and completing online courses, and the NBN is a key factor.”
He said 79 per cent of users in this demographic with an NBN connection were actively engaged in learning activities online, compared with 52 per cent of non-NBN users.
