Five Top Charity Apps

Australia is now around the fifth biggest downloader of Apps (per head) in the world and Caroline McComb from the Telco Together Foundation delivers her list of top innovative Aussie charity Apps.

In a country with 30.2 million mobile phones, or 133 devices per 100 people,[1] Australia is now around the fifth biggest downloader of apps (per head) in the world.[2]

Australian charities are following this trend, with more and more innovative apps emerging every day.  Mobile apps empower everyday smartphone users to help make a difference with just a swipe of their fingers.

Charity apps provide fun and interactive ways to find volunteer opportunities, learn more about causes, access community services, donate time, get involved in fundraising and more.

These top five are all free to download.

Every Day Racism: this cause awareness app challenges the way we think about racism. Truly unique in its approach, Every Day Racism is an immersive game allowing users to take the challenge of experiencing what life can be like for ethnic and cultural minorities in Australia.  This app was created through a partnership with All Together Now, (Australia’s only national charity that has a sole focus of addressing racism), the University of Western Sydney, University of Melbourne and Deakin University.

AskU: provides a simple and free way for anyone to support charities in less than 30 seconds per day. By donating minute portions of time to answer a few market research questions, users earn points that in turn generate donations from corporates – 10cents per question answered – to a variety of worthy causes. This innovative micro-donation platform cleverly aligns the needs of business with community, in an engaging way for app users to amuse themselves in idle times.

Brainy App: is a unique app that helps users rate and track brain health. This educational app has much more than just brain games, enabling users to assess their brain health via a survey and receive personalised recommendations on how to start living a more brain-healthy lifestyle. Brainy App is a helpful tool for those of any age keen to reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The Brainy App was developed by Alzheimer’s Australia and Bupa Health Foundation.

Smiling Mind: a simple mental health tool for young people that provides a free, modern meditation program with exercises that help reduce stress and aid relaxation. The Smiling Mind app is designed to help bring balance to young lives, with an easy to follow program involving the 3 C’s – clarity, calmness and contentment. It also provides a history of progress and reminders to meditate each day.  Smiling Mind is a not for profit project – founded by two business people James Tutton & Jane Martino who were motivated by the experiences of their own young families.

The Sorter: Aimed at young men 17+, The Sorter delivers free, bite-sized pieces of advice, across five areas that young men highlight as causing them most concern. Topics covered include sex & relationships, alcohol & drugs, friends & family and study stress. The Sorter also allows users to determine the depth of advice they are looking for via an interactive sensor.

This app was developed by ReachOut.com – Australia’s most accessed online youth mental health service – who continues to lead the way in enabling the power of technology to improve mental health outcomes for young Australians.

These charity apps were selected by Telco Together as part of its Apps4Change program – aiming to showcase innovative charity apps and promote learning and exploration of mobile technology in the charity space.

Apps4Change offers a series of free webinars for Australian charities wanting to learn more about mobile apps in the charity space.

Register for the next free webinar here: ‘Marketing Your App: Strategies For Maximising Audience Reach’ on Tuesday 16th September, 9:30am featuring the widely respected, Amy Sample Ward – CEO of the US organisation Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN).

Visit www.apps4change.org.au for more charity apps.

Launched in July 2012, Telco Together Foundation is a registered charity that brings together the telecommunications industry in support of Australian communities in need across areas including Indigenous communities, the homeless, mental health and refugees.

Members of the Foundation include Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, NBN Co, M2, iiNet, Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent and 16 other ICT organisations. The Foundation is governed by an Advisory Board that has Executive Officer level representation from members.

[1] Australian Communications & Media Authority (2014). Communications Report 2012-2013, Australia. Retrieved from http://www.acma.gov.au/~/media/Communications%20Analysis/Comms%20Report%202012%2013/PDF/ACMA%20Communications%20report%20201213_WEB%20pdf.pdf

[2] Magna Global (2013). Mobile Internet Access Rises 208% in Three Years–Magna Global. Retrieved from http://mediabrands.com.au/documents/magna_unlocking_mobile.pdf