Greenbox, a leader in ICT lifecycle management, has joined forces with the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council to support the Department of Youth Justice's Transition to Success (T2S) program and Queensland Health's Youth Advisory Group in bridging the digital divide and empowering young people in Cherbourg.
Greenbox's commitment to social and environmental responsibility, championed by founder Shane Mulholland, aligns perfectly with the goals of T2S. By providing recycled laptops (cased in extraordinary artwork of Danielle Leedie Gray) and internet dongles, Greenbox is enhancing digital inclusion for First Nations people, contributing to Closing the Gap Target 17. This target seeks to ensure equal levels of digital inclusion for First Nations people by 2026.
Cherbourg T2S community leaders Tanya Alberts and Gordon Wragge said IT literacy skills and access to quality internet in often taken for granted in Australia.
"Internet connectivity is not a given in communities like ours," said Tanya, explaining that Greenbox's strategies are "a welcome addition to our toolkit to get these young people up to speed".
The collaboration goes beyond providing technology. Greenbox and Cherbourg are working together, using the Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) approach to solve community-specific problems. This method focuses on creating solutions that matter most to the community, ensuring sustainable and effective outcomes.
"We're privileged to be partnering with the Cherbourg community," said Greenbox CEO Ross Thompson.
"Advancing reconciliation and addressing the digital divide in a sustainable way is critical. We are here for the long term, committed to learning and working together."
This initiative is a shining example of how corporate-community partnerships can drive real change. By combining resources, expertise and a shared vision, we are making strides towards a more inclusive and empowered future for all.
Digital inclusion is a critical enabler for a vast array of other benefits, including health, education and social connectedness, as well as making sure First Nations people have access to the information, they need to make decisions for themselves and their families. (First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group, Initial Report).
Last updated 11 July 2024
