The Australian Council of Social Service has welcomed the announcement of their successful application, in partnership with Infoxchange, to roll out a Digital Business Kit for the not-for-profit sector across Australia.
The aim of the program is to assist community sector organisations to use the NBN enabled platforms in order to deliver more reliable and accessible options to disadvantaged and socially excluded people in Australia.
“Having worked across the community sector for over 50 years, we are well placed to assist community organisations to take full advantage of these new improvements to information and communications technology,” said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.
“The expansion of the National Broadband Network is an ideal time to increase the community sector’s capability to reach – and provide services for – greater numbers of people living across Australia who may not have the ability to contact services face-to-face.
“Infoxchange has the experience working within the not-for-profit sector to help them improve their capabilities and increase their knowledge and understanding of the opportunities the NBN will bring to their service for staff, clients and communication between organisations,” Dr Goldie said.
Infoxchange CEO Peter Walton said, “The NBN provides significant opportunities to improve the productivity, reach and impact of the work done by community organisations, allowing them to assist more people in more places, more efficiently.”
“We are pleased to be working with ACOSS to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of community organisations that assist the most disadvantaged members of our community.
The ACOSS bid, which was also supported by the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), recognises the important contribution the not-for-profit sector makes to Australia’s economy and national prosperity.
AIIA CEO Suzanne Campbell said, “Australia’s positioning as a globally competitive digital economy requires that all sectors, all businesses, organisations and citizens develop the capability to effectively participate in a dynamic digitally driven environment. AIIA is pleased to support ACOSS in the development of its Digital Business Kit.”
The project will run over the next four years, working across small and medium organisations in both regional and metropolitan locations. Further research and identification of needs will be initially undertaken to ensure the most effect information and communication technology information can be provided to support organisations well into the future.
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