Bridging the digital divide: Australia’s edtech future
As schools strive to provide the best possible learning experiences, they are turning increasingly to edtech to streamline processes, enhance collaboration and improve student outcomes.
However, true digital transformation goes beyond just implementing new software. It requires a strategic approach that considers the needs of teachers, students and admin staff to ensure that no one is left behind.
In this article, we’ll look at the key causes of the digital divide in Australian schools and explore ways in which you can tackle this challenge in your own school.
Understanding the digital divide
Our recent State of tech in Australian education 2026 survey and report uncovered what the biggest challenges faced by schools are. When asked to rank the barriers preventing schools from increasing digital tools usage, they said:
- Cost
- Time
- Staff digital literacy
- Data privacy concerns
- Lack of training/support
- Unclear return on investment
- Other
While “cost” was rated as a primary barrier, “staff digital literacy” coming in at number three points to a deeper systemic issue – the ability gap. This digital divide occurs when there is access to tools, but limited ability or confidence to use them effectively.
In Australian schools this means that teachers are lacking the skills and knowledge to deliver real educational benefits from the tools available to them.
The report also found that Australian schools use on average 6-7 different digital tools. This tells us that the intent is there, but the combination of these challenging factors is standing in the way of greater progress. When disparate platforms are not integrated, the time barrier is exacerbated as staff must navigate multiple logins and manual transfer of data.
These findings also correlate with the Australian Digital Inclusion Index data which shows that while access to technology is increasing, digital ability and confidence remain a major barrier.
For a deep dive into the number one challenge of cost, read our article, Budgeting for tech in 2026: a guide for schools.
Pathways to digital transformation
Digital transformation is about more than simply purchasing software licenses. It’s about communicating a “rich change story”. This level of strategic leadership is crucial to gaining the buy-in of your school community.
Data cited in Digital transformation in education: Critical components for leaders of system change showed that 80% of high-level leaders across industries are operating in a “reactive state” when it comes to technology.
What is required is a move to a forward-looking “visionary state”; one that maps software and digital tools to pedagogical outcomes, not budget cycles.
The three key areas schools should focus on are:
- Info centralisation: Using a reputable School Management System (SMS), like Tes Synergetic, that connects all of your school’s data in one central location, from finance to operations, family relationships and more.
- Inclusive education: Introduce built-for-purpose digital tools, such as Tes Learning Pathways, to effectively manage Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) and provide suitable scaling and personalisation for every learner.
- Interoperability: Finding providers that enable you to integrate into a whole software ecosystem so that your school timetable, school management system and other edtech tools all “talk” to each other.
Increasing edtech adoption and confidence
Change can be scary for a lot of people. But just like death and taxes, it is an inevitability in life. Having a plan for the rollout of any new edtech is essential, especially if you have any staff members who are resistant to new digital tools.
This is where a robust training plan is essential. Our State of tech in Australian education 2026 report found that 66% of schools train fewer than half of their staff in digital tools annually.
When you consider how time-poor teachers already are, it’s not surprising that finding the time to practice and embed new skills is limited. But this is short-sighted.
We recommend nominating a “champion” for your edtech tools to help you demonstrate the benefits to other staff. Your chosen champion should act not just as a troubleshooter but as a peer mentor.
It’s also important that you lead by example and model the behaviours you wish to see. This is widely considered to be a key ingredient to successful change, particularly when your faced with some staff who may be more reluctant to embrace new digital solutions.
Ideally, work with an edtech provider that collaborates with you on the preparation and implementation of new tools. This should be a partnership, going beyond a one-page PDF document outlining the most basic steps. This will likely include videos, webinars and an on-demand knowledge base answering FAQs.
The training you provide should also be ongoing. We all know that technology is rapidly changing. It's important that once you get everyone up to speed, you don’t let your team’s skills and knowledge stagnate.
Rather, continuously providing professional development for your staff will help ensure you get the most out of your investment.
Managing data compliance
As reflected in the Tes state of tech in Australian education 2026 report, data privacy and security concerns are a major factor when considering any edtech solution. Mitigating risk and protecting information about students is naturally a high priority for school communities.
With Australia seeing an 11% increase in cyber incidents, schools must be vigilant against data breaches. School leaders must seek out software providers that comply with legal requirements and standards including the Safer Technology 4 Schools initiative.
Say goodbye to your digital divide
As you continue on your journey of digital transformation, keep in mind that it’s about more than individual pieces of technology. It’s about building a culture of innovation and continuous improvement that benefits everyone in your school community.
Rather than making more isolated purchases, the next step for school leaders is to identify where fragmentation and data silos are causing friction. Then, work towards an integrated ecosystem that works for your school.
The digital divide is not insurmountable; with visionary leadership and the right edtech in place, it can be closed.
To unlock more actionable insights, download your free copy of the Tes state of tech in Australian education 2026 report.