Queensland families are embracing the Albanese Government's School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) with more than 3,800 households connected to the National Broadband Network for free.
The Commonwealth is investing $8.8 million to connect up to 30,000 families nationwide without internet at home to free broadband to help ease cost-of-living pressures and support digital inclusion.
Since its launch in February 2023, the SSBI has:
- Connected more than 15,000 eligible families to a free NBN service, with more than a third living in rural and regional areas;
- Saved 15,000 families thousands of dollars, by connecting them to a free NBN service until the end of 2025, and;
- Benefitted students and families across a range of situations, including single parents and domestic and family violence victim-survivors.
The Queensland Department of Education has played an important role connecting families to the SSBI as a nominating organisation and referring people to the National Referral Centre.
A tremendous example is the connection of 11 families at Camooweal State School, facilitated by the Queensland Department of Education, which demonstrates the transformative impact broadband access can have in small communities.
To be eligible, a family must:
- Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school;
- Have no active broadband service over the NBN network;
- Live in a premise where they can access a standard NBN service;
- Have not had an active NBN service during the previous 14 days.
The Albanese Government is considering options to continue to support participating families at the end of 2025, including asking the NBN Low-Income and Digital Inclusion Forum to examine discounted products.
To see if they are eligible, families can contact the National Referral Centre - run by Anglicare Victoria - on 1800 954 610 (Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm AEDT), or visit: www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
"Queensland families know that reliable, quality, high speed internet is not a luxury or a nice-to-have - it's essential, including for our young people and school students.
"This program is helping to connect Queensland kids with vital educational materials and removing pressure from parents that are unable to afford the internet.
"I look forward to more Queensland families with school children taking up this important cost of living initiative."
Quotes attributable to Queensland Education Minister, the Hon Di Farmer MP:
"Queensland is one of the most geographically diverse education systems in the world.
"Having access to reliable internet is crucial for students to remain engaged in education to meet their full potential, particularly students living and learning in rural and remote communities.
"The Queensland Government is working closely with the Australian Government to support eligible Queensland families to access this initiative.
"It complements the work the Queensland Government is doing to upgrade internet bandwidth in Queensland schools, and support schools to upgrade their internal ICT infrastructure."
