Boost for Queensland families as free NBN opportunity delivered

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

More Queensland families with school aged students without broadband at home will soon have access to a free NBN connection for 12 months as part of the Albanese Government’s ongoing roll-out of the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI).

Funded through the October 2022-23 Budget to narrow the digital divide, promote greater inclusion for disadvantaged families, and support the education of children, the SSBI identifies eligible families through approved nominating organisations who work with vulnerable communities.

The Queensland Department of Education has now joined as a nominating organisation, and is playing a key role in rolling out the SSBI to its students without broadband at home.

The Department is also working with The Smith Family to reach additional families who may benefit.

NBN Co is leading the implementation of the initiative. To be eligible, a family must:

• Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school in 2023.
• Be referred by a nominating organisation.
• Have no active broadband service over the NBN network
• Live in a premises where they can access a standard NBN service.

Once a family is found eligible for the SSBI, they will be issued with a unique voucher, which they can redeem with one of the participating internet providers. The one-year of free home internet begins from the day the service is activated.

The SSBI is supporting up to 30,000 families across the country and has now connected over 2,500 families. For more information on SSBI visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/SSBI

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

“Reliable, quality, high speed internet is not a luxury or a nice-to-have. It is essential 21^st century infrastructure and that will only become more important as young Queenslanders grow up.

“The SSBI continues the Albanese Government’s commitment to narrowing the digital divide by reducing the affordability barriers families may face to boosting their ability to access an increasingly online world.

“I welcome this partnership with the Palaszczuk Government and believe this will help make a meaningful difference to students in Queensland”.

Quotes attributable to the Queensland Minister for Education, the Hon Grace Grace MP:

“This is a great initiative from the Albanese Government and we are delighted to play our part in it to ensure eligible Queensland families receive the benefits.

“I am proud we are helping families with cost of living and ensuring equitable access to digital connectivity, narrowing the digital divide.

“This initiative will provide more Queenslanders with access to broadband at home, enhancing their ability to learn and complementing our $190 million partnership with Telstra to make internet speeds 200 times faster in schools.

“It is crucial that we don’t leave the next generation behind due to a lack of connectivity and I look forward to seeing the benefits this new partnership will bring.”

ENDS

Media contacts:

Adam Boidin (Minister Rowland) - 0406 009 019

Kate Talbot (Minister Grace) - 0439 803 211