Digital Capability Frameworks for the Australian Workforce

Rapidly developing digital technologies are changing the nature of essential skills required in the workforce. A person’s capacity to use digital technology has become essential to participation in work and education. It is therefore critical for employers and educators to be able to identify and improve digital capability across different industries and occupations.

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The Australian Government recognises the following international frameworks as preferred guides for digital skills and training activities:

DigComp (Digital Competence Framework for Citizens)

DigComp 2.2 identifies the key components of digital competence for citizens across five focus areas, 21 specific competences and 8 proficiency levels. DigComp is maintained by the European Commission (EC) in consultation with member states. In Australia, industry-owned and led Jobs and Skills Councils are considering opportunities to support their industry sectors to use and apply DigComp to help industry, learners and workers to understand and develop digital capabilities. The EC is planning a major update to DigComp 3.0 for release in late 2025.

Queries regarding the use of DigComp can be referred to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations at JSC-FinanceTechBusiness@dewr.gov.au.

DigComp Framework

SFIA (Skills Framework for the Information Age)

SFIA is aimed at digital professionals and defines the skills and competencies required by digital/data/cyber/AI and related specialists. Individuals and public sector and private sector organisations can use SFIA for free through the Australian Government’s whole of country licence.

Queries regarding the use of SFIA can be referred to the Australian Public Service Commission at SFIA@apsc.gov.au.

Skills Framework for the Information Age

Other Frameworks

The draft Digital Literacy Skills Framework (DLSF) (developed to support the Foundation Skills for your Future Program) is another framework relevant to foundational digital literacy skills.

The Australian Digital Capability Framework (ADCF) describes the broad digital capabilities required by the workforce. The ADCF is a translation of DigComp 2.1 for the Australian context and follows the same structure. Further detail on the development of the ADCF is provided in the Digital Capability for Workforce Skills Final - Report 2022. While the ADCF will continue to be a relevant digital capability framework, it has not been updated since its development.

Queries regarding the use of the ADCF can be referred to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations at JSC-FinanceTechBusiness@dewr.gov.au.