Everyone Connected through Telstra community grants

One hundred community groups across Australia have each been awarded $10,000 from Telstra’s Everyone Connected program to help them better access technology.

Speaking at a launch event in Darwin, Telstra Chief Executive Officer David Thodey said grant recipients included groups focused on education, indigenous development through technology, connecting members of the community with a disability and cyber safety. Many of the groups were working with disadvantaged communities.

“Some members of our community don’t have access to modern communications technologies and the enormous social and economic benefits and opportunities they bring, opportunities that most of us now take for granted.

“As people increasingly go online for both business and social purposes, the consequences of not being connected become much more profound. Telstra’s view is that access is fundamental and as an organisation we are determined to help people develop the skills and capability to go online and stay safe and protected while they are doing so – that’s what these grants are all about.”

One hundred organisations in every Australian state and territory are among grant recipients including the Darwin-based Mungoorbada Aboriginal Corporation, the Geeveston Community Centre south of Hobart, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance north of Sydney and Youth Futures WA near Perth.

“These organisations are working in communities that each have different needs and face different technology challenges. The Mungoorbada Aboriginal Corporation will use the grant to provide technology that will allow the Literacy & Numeracy trainer to regularly visit remote outstations to familiarise residents and young people with a computer. The Cerebal Palsy Alliance in Sydney will use the grant to engage young people with Cerebal Palsy to create an online community to increase connectedness, independence and confidence,” Mr Thodey added.

Mr Thodey said each of the  Everyone Connected grant recipients had been endorsed by a Telstra employee.

“Telstra team members are involved in many of our community development and sustainability programs including Telstra’s Kids Fund, matched payroll giving and employee volunteering,” Mr Thodey said.

Over the past 10 years, the Telstra Foundation has committed $40 million to almost 7000 projects. In August this year, also as part of the Everyone Connected program, the Telstra Foundation announced an $8 million multiyear partnership with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation to develop and deliver eSmart Libraries across Australia.

For more information, visit www.telstrafoundation.com.