OPTUS GRANT CONNECTS PERTH YOUTH WITH TECHNOLOGY

Anglicare WA’s Street Connect program will showcase its new technology on their mobile resource bus, this Thursday 16 May, thanks to $8,200 in funding from the ‘yes’ Optus Community Grants program.

Anglicare WA’s ‘Street Connect’ program assists homeless and ‘at-risk’ young people in the Perth inner city area. Youth workers provide a daily outreach presence via the Mobile Youth Resource Centre (‘the bus’) and meet with young people on the streets, forming positive working relationships and assisting them through provision of informal counselling, referral to services, advocacy, crisis intervention and follow-up support.

Philippa Boldy, General Manager, Youth Services at Anglicare WA said, “The expansion of our ‘Street Connect’ program, thanks to Optus, includes a laptop, two tablet computers, WI-FI connection ports and Wi-Fi connectivity. This gives young people access to online resources, information, the ability to connect with family and social support.”

Helen Maisano, Associate Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Optus said, “Technology is regarded as a necessity by so many of us, yet there are some that just don’t have the opportunity to access to this technology. The ‘yes’ Optus Community Grants focuses on engaging disadvantaged youth and Anglicare’s ‘Street Connect’ program does this well, so we’re pleased to be supporting them.”

The annual ‘yes’ Optus Community Grants program awards funding of up to $10,000 to not-for-profit organisations that help build social inclusion and reconnect disengaged youth in communities. Since 2008, Optus has awarded $880,000 in grants to 165 community organisations across Australia.

Philippa Boldy, General Manager, Youth Services at Anglicare WA and the Street Connect team will be showcasing the expanded educational and job-searching program this Thursday.

PHOTOCALL OPPORTUNITY:
WHEN: Thursday 16 May, 10-11am
WHERE: Street Connect bus, located corner of William and Hay Street, outside the front of the Wesley Uniting Church
WHY: See the benefits of the program and interview Philippa Boldy about how the young people are using the technology
ATTENDING: Philippa Boldy, General Manager, Youth Services at Anglicare WA and Jonathan Conway, Optus

About Optus in the Community: For more information on the ‘yes’ Optus Community Grants program please visit https://www.optus.com.au/shop/aboutoptus/communitygrants.

Media contact:
Julia Clarke
Fuel Communications
(02) 8217 6505