The Victorian Government is fast-tracking better mobile coverage and broadband across the state through the $550 million Connecting Victoria program. Connecting Victoria will enable more businesses to take advantage of digital opportunities with more reliable, better value broadband and mobile connectivity in more places.
From July to September 2021, the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) reached out to people cross Victoria to get their valuable insights about their ‘lived experience’ of mobile and broadband connectivity. This will help us to identify locations for upgrades and new infrastructure through the Connecting Victoria program in regional Victoria and outer suburban Melbourne.
Telehealth
Victorians told us that attending health appointments in person is challenging for many people who live in regional, rural and remote areas. Access to telehealth and other online services such as mental health and child health therapy sessions helps to overcome this, but Victorians told us that current connectivity speeds and bandwidth don’t always support this. People told us that services such as bush nurses are significantly affected in locations with no coverage, as they need to contact doctors for approval to dispense medication.
This information was extracted from the “Connecting Victoria – Engagement Report” by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions on 02/02/22.
To read the full report, please click here.