Depression NFP Wins App Competition

Depression Not for Profit, beyondblue, has received more than $40,000 to help develop a new mobile application as part of the Vodafone Foundation’s App Aid 2013 competition.

beyondblue’s app will link young Australians concerned about a friend going through a difficult time to the support they may need. The app is set to be released next year.

“One of the challenges young people face when they are concerned about a friend’s mental health is not knowing the right thing to say or do. Mobiles are by their nature very personal and private, so it’s the perfect platform to supply useful information discreetly,” beyondblue’s CEO Kate Carnell said.

beyondblue won the challenge by securing the most backers – 776 – through crowd-funding platform Pozible, with supporters pledging  more than $16,600 toward the app’s development. The app is being developed by Two Bulls with help from Seamus Byrne from CNET.

Vodafone Foundation and Vodafone provided $120,000 in seed funding – including matched donations and a $10,000 winner’s donation – to help the participating charities develop their app ideas and get them closer to bringing the apps to life.

Alyssa Jones, Head of Vodafone Foundation, said programmes such as App Aid prove mobile technology provides a huge opportunity for charitable organisations.

“This is a really exciting concept and builds on what came out of last year’s challenge with St John Ambulance and its Responder app, which gives that organisation’s volunteers instant access to tips, checklists and treatment guides to help in emergency treatment,” Jones said.

“All the charities, with their app developer partners, discovered ways in which mobile technology could be used to assist the communities they serve. Vodafone Foundation is proud to have helped provide the seed funding to bring these apps a step closer to reality.”

Five charities were part of App Aid 2013. After selection, they were partnered with developers and business mentors that helped develop app prototypes and a crowd-funding campaign using Pozible to secure public backing.

The other charities and developers were:

• McGrath Foundation and Garoo Games;

• Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Wave Digital;

• Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia and Leaf Cutter;

• Taronga Foundation and Crazy Dog Apps.