Marist180 x Optus: Here for creating safer, more connected futures for young people

For more than a century, Marist180 has stood beside young people experiencing some of life’s most difficult moments – from homelessness and out-of-home care to trauma, family breakdown, justice involvement, refugee displacement and cultural disconnection. Across every program and every home, one truth remains: connection is safety, and inclusion is a right and an opportunity.

Today, with over 650 young people supported each year, Marist180’s work happens on the ground – in residential homes, at youth refuges, with First Nations families, in schools, in communities, and with newly arrived refugees seeking belonging and stability. These environments rely on trusted communication systems to help staff respond quickly, coordinate care, and provide young people with the digital tools they need to learn, work, socialise and stay safe.

With Optus as a long-term connectivity partner, Marist180 has strengthened its ability to deliver 24/7 care, maintain continuity across more than 70 homes and programs, and bridge the digital divide for young people who often lack access to basic technology. 

Young people arriving at Marist180 often come with experiences no one their age should have had to navigate – trauma, instability, family breakdown, police or justice involvement, intergenerational disadvantage, or the dislocation of arriving in Australia without family.

For many, a lack of digital access adds even more barriers:  

• No stable internet to complete school work, training or employment tasks 
• No mobile data to access Centrelink, MyGov, or two-factor authentication 
• No way to stay connected to culture, family overseas or kinship networks 
• No technology to engage in daily life skills like online driving tests 
• No safe, private devices to build confidence and independence. 

In First Nations communities and newly arrived refugee children and young people, a single donated laptop or Wi-Fi connection at home often becomes a lifeline – not just for the young person, but for the entire household.

Marist180 staff also work in environments where response time matters. In emergencies or critical incidents, unreliable telecommunications can compromise staff safety, delay escalation pathways, and leave young people without support when they need it most.

Marist180's goal was to ensure every young person in its care, regardless of circumstance, could access the connectivity, technology and support networks needed to stay safe, participate in education and employment, access essential services, and maintain meaningful cultural and community connections. With Optus, Marist180 has built a reliable digital foundation that powers care, safety and opportunity across more than 70 homes and programs.

For nearly a decade, Optus has been more than a telecommunications provider for Marist180, it has been a partner in delivering care.

Across more than 70 homes and services, Optus supports Marist180 with:

• Mobile services, keeping frontline teams connected 24/7 
• Internet and NBN services, enabling schooling, employment preparation and life skills development 
• Donate Your Data SIMs, reducing cost burdens for young people and families 
• Fundraising support, including raffle prizes and Christmas initiatives 
• Dedicated account management, ensuring fast response and continuity across programs.
  

For young people experiencing homelessness, Donate Your Data has been transformative – transformative removing the cost barrier of phone data so they can access essential services.

Optus connectivity also enables Marist180’s Youth Advisory Forum, allowing young people from Sydney, the Hunter and the Central West to connect, be heard, and shape the services designed for them, both in person and online. 

From quick troubleshooting to supporting raffles, to consistently showing up for the organisation, the partnership goes beyond the contract. 

1. Safer environments for young people and staff 
Optus-powered communication helps workers coordinate care, escalate emergencies, debrief after incidents and maintain constant coverage across homes – a necessity in highly complex care settings. 

2. Digital inclusion that unlocks opportunity
Young people can now access schooling, TAFE, job applications, learner driver tests, cultural resources, counselling, and crucial government services. Digital inclusion and connectivity can mean the difference between: 

• Completing Year 12 
• Getting a part-time job 
• Staying connected to family overseas 
• Complying with parole requirements 
• Feeling included in a tech-driven world 

3. Stronger connection for First Nations and refugee young people
Connectivity allows young people to maintain family and cultural connection in ways that are healing, stabilising and identity-affirming. 

4. A more responsive, resilient organisation
With a dedicated Optus account manager, issues are resolved quickly and critical services stay online, allowing Marist180 to focus on what matters most: supporting children and young people. 

5. A community uplift through practical generosity
Fundraising support and device donations help sustain Marist180’s mission and enable small but meaningful moments – like ensuring every young person receives a Christmas gift of their choice. 

As digital participation becomes inseparable from education, employment and social belonging, Marist180 plans to continue expanding programs that rely on stable, safe, and equitable technology access. This includes broadening Donate Your Data, growing digital inclusion initiatives, and continuing to evolve with the needs of young people. 

With Optus as a partner, Marist180 can continue to build a future where young people feel safer, more connected, and supported to make the 180‑degree change that defines the organisation’s mission.