NFPs Set to Benefit From $1M of Free Tech Expertise

Australian not for profits using technology to address community challenges are set to receive more than $1 million in free IT and tech expertise.

Global IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has revealed the 12 recipients of its annual TCS Community Innovation Program.

The program, which delivers in-kind services valued collectively at more than $1 million, covers areas such as application and website development, IT consulting and technology optimisation.

TCS Australia and NZ vice president Anil Snehi said sharing their tech expertise could make a tangible difference.

“Technology can play an enormous role in helping to address health, social, and environmental challenges,” Snehi said.

“Enabling not for profits to leverage our global IT expertise will make a tangible and measurable difference to these organisations, their clients and the Australian community.”

This year’s recipients ranged from medical charities to social enterprises as well as four organisations that aim to improve the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians.

First Australians Capital CEO Jocelyn King said the support would help their organisation develop a virtual Indigenous business incubator to help Indigenous people start up and grow businesses.

“The support of TCS will enable us to develop a national digital platform to support Indigenous entrepreneurs to bring over 60,000 years of Indigenous innovation to the modern marketplace connecting Indigenous entrepreneurs with capital, support, education and practical business tools that will drive a new economy for all Australians,” King said.

Children’s cancer charity, Camp Quality also received assistance to improve its Kids’ Guide to Cancer app which was created in 2015 and is free to download.

Camp Quality national partnerships manager Jane Hutchison said the award-winning app was a world first.

“The opportunity to work with TCS to enhance this app will help those children across Australia impacted by cancer,” Hutchison said.

Heart Foundation Victoria chain of survival program manager Catuscia Biuso said the partnership would help them develop an interactive website that pulls together resources, technologies and information to enable communities to recognise and take action in a cardiac emergency.

“A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time. The actions taken by a bystander during the first few minutes are critical to survival,” Biuso said.

“This partnership between TCS and the Heart Foundation will create an online resource to help address barriers that prevent people from taking prompt action when a cardiac arrest occurs in the community.”

It marks the second year of the program.

In 2016, six Australian not-for-profit organisations collectively shared free IT and technology support from TCS, which was named gold winner in CSR Leadership at the Global CSR Summit and Awards 2017.

TCS head of corporate social responsibility for Australia and New Zealand Karen Iles said they were thrilled to be helping such “outstanding organisations”.

“TCS’s corporate social responsibility programs are about empowering individuals and communities to create positive social and environmental impact,” Iles said.

“We are thrilled to be putting our IT expertise to work to help these outstanding organisations create a positive impact.”

For more information and to see a full list of beneficiaries of the TCS Community Innovation Program 2017 see here.