Young people in the Western Australian justice system are benefiting from an innovative and collaborative solution involving the not-for-profit sector, the public sector, and commercial partners.
Old and unused mobile phones are being refurbished by charity organisation Hello Initiative and redistributed to young Western Australians in the justice system. Through the charity’s Mobile Support Project, young people who are sentenced or awaiting sentencing on community-based supervision can meet their obligations to report into their assigned youth justice officers.
Since 2019, Hello Initiative has provided more than 450 young people with access to recycled and refurbished smartphone devices and mobile credit. Financial donations from commercial partners like Kinetic IT contribute to Hello Initiative’s efforts, ensuring young people stay connected.
“With a phone and credit, young people can be better supported and prepared to meet reporting requirements of community supervision, whilst having greater access to legal support and more holistic services such as counselling, crisis accommodation and food relief,” Founder and CEO Ashleigh Dickson says.
Unused smartphones are taken for secure data destruction before being donated to Hello Initiative. According to the e-waste industry, there are potentially 8 million unused yet working mobile devices in Australian homes. Hello Initiative aims to tap into this resource pool through working with public sector and commercial sponsors.
Through these connections and approaches, phones destined for landfill are repurposed, with devices redeployed to young people who need them. This outcome could not be achieved without the co-ordination of the Hello Initiative which is able to broker agreements between agencies and organisations, and provide expertise to get the devices where they need to go.
“Working in collaboration with the not-for-profit and public sector means we are able to achieve significant and meaningful outcomes for these young people,” Kinetic IT Group Executive for Government, Wayne Berriman, says.
The not-for-profit and its model were held up as a great innovative solution during discussions at last month’s FSTGov Future of WA Government Summit.
“The summit was a great forum to talk with the public sector about digital inclusion and the WA Blueprint – how government can ensure citizens stay connected to the services they need in an increasingly digital world.”
Hello Initiative, Wayne says, is a shining example of a creative and innovative solution to a real-world problem.
“Innovation and innovative solutions will be essential to ensuring the success of this vision, so it was a fantastic opportunity to sit down with government departments to work through, and understand, the barriers that might prevent innovation thriving.”
Hello Initiative’s Mobile Support Project is now a statewide service in Western Australia, and remains a cutting-edge program in addressing the needs of young people in the justice system in our digital age. Find out more.
Kinetic IT is proud to support the not-for-profit sector, including Hello Initiative, through partnering to foster greater technology access and inclusion. Uniquely Australian, Kinetic IT is a privately owned and operated IT solutions provider, trusted by government and large organisations to streamline operations and deliver exceptional outcomes. Find out more about Kinetic IT’s solutions for government.