We’re seeking feedback on the draft grant guidelines for the First Nations Digital Support Hub program and the Network of Digital Mentors program, after revising the approach on these programs.
Why we want your input
We welcome your feedback on the draft Guidelines to ensure they meet the objectives of both programs.How you can voice your opinion
Upload your written submission or email FirstNationsDigitalInclusion@infrastructure.gov.au by 5pm AEST on 28 April 2026.What will be the outcome of this consultation?
Your submissions will help us finalise the guidelines we’ve drafted for both programs, as well as ensure that the objectives of both programs are met.The issue
We are seeking feedback on the draft guidelines for both the First Nations Digital Support Hub and Network of Digital Mentors programs.
The Australian Government has allocated $4 million towards the First Nations Digital Support Hub and $18 million to the Network of Digital Mentors – in total $22 million, over 3 years.
The Digital Support Hub will support First Nations people and communities across Australia, including providing assistance with basic troubleshooting of connectivity issues and helping develop broader digital skills by establishing:
- a website to provide digital literacy and connectivity information in plain English and in First Nations languages
- a call centre to provide advice on the digital options open to communities and connectivity challenges they may face.
The Network of Digital Mentors will provide in community support to help people access online services such as government services, as well as improve digital literacy skills and online safety among First Nations people.
- establishing a ‘train the mentor’ service which involves a central coordinator to deliver training and upskilling to Digital Mentors in remote First Nations communities
- the Digital Mentors will help people living in those communities to develop digital skills, understand connectivity options, and be online safely.
The delivery of the Digital Support Hub and Network of Digital Mentors programs will take a collaborative approach to support alignment of their key objectives.
The draft guidelines for both programs outline the eligibility criteria and activities under each of the programs, the proposed selection criteria and the process for prospective applicants.
We welcome your feedback on the draft guidelines to ensure they meet the objectives of both programs.
More information on First Nations Digital Inclusion programs and initiatives can be found on the department’s website.
Relevant documentation
Participate
20 Apr 2026 10:00 AEST
28 Apr 2026 17:00 AEST
Open
days
remaining 7 of 8
We invite you to tell us your views on this topic.
Please include:
- contact name
- organisation name, if applicable
- contact details, including telephone number, postal and email addresses
- confirmation whether or not your submission can be made public—published—or kept confidential.
All submissions to be made public need to meet the Digital Service Standard for accessibility. Any submission that does not meet this standard may be modified before being made public.
If your submission is to be made public, please ensure you do not include any personal information that you don't want to be published.
If your submission is confidential, please ensure each page of the submission is marked as confidential.
Please click on the 'Have your say now' button below to upload your submission.
Privacy Collection Notice
First Nations Digital Support Hub and Network of Digital Mentors – draft grant opportunity guidelines
Your submission, including any personal information supplied, is being collected by the department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (“the Department”) in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.
Use
The Department may use this information in developing the grant opportunity guidelines for the First Nations Digital Support Hub program and Network of Digital Mentors program (the Guidelines). It may be used by the Department to make further contact with you about both sets of Guidelines.
Disclosure
The Department may publish your submission as explained below. Otherwise your submission will not be disclosed unless authorised or required by law.
Contacting You
The Department may use your contact information to make further contact with you about your submission and the consultation process.
Publication
Unless marked confidential (see below) submissions (including the author’s name) may be published in part or full on the Department’s website or in any public response by the Department. When publishing, the Department will redact any personal contact details of the author.
Confidentiality
Confidential submissions will not be published and will only be disclosed in the following circumstances:
- in response to a request by a Commonwealth Minister;
- where required by a House or a Committee of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia;
- where necessary in the public interest; or
- where authorised or required by law.
Submissions will only be treated as confidential if they are expressly stated to be confidential. Automatically generated confidentiality statements or disclaimers appended to an email do not suffice for this purpose. If you wish you make a confidential submission, you must indicate this by ensuring your submission is clearly marked confidential. Even if a submission is not marked confidential, the Department may choose not to publish it, or any part of it, in the Department’s discretion (for example where it includes personal information or opinions about a third party).
Access
The Department will securely store your personal information and the Department’s privacy policy contains information regarding complaint handling processes and how to access and/or seek correction of personal information held by the Department. Further information is available on our Privacy page.