An exciting new project aims to bridge the digital divide for some of Queensland’s most disadvantaged young people.

The See I.T. Be I.T. Project is a collaboration between a number of stake-holders including the Australian Computer Society (ACS), Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation (QATSIF), Substation33, P&Cs Qld and LiteHaus International.

This project was named See I.T. Be I.T. as it aims to make sure that disadvantaged students see an I.T. device in the first place (ie. See I.T.) and after crossing this digital divide, perhaps even consider a career in the I.T. or other related industries (ie. Be I.T.).

Businesses, schools, government departments and other organisations are encouraged to donate their near new working laptops, desktops or tablets to this project when they are changing them over to brand new devices.

Substation33 (Kingston) and LiteHaus International (Townsville) securely wipe the data from these devices and set them up with Office and Wi-Fi capabilities ready for students to use.

P&Cs Qld and QATSIF are working with schools to identify the students and families who otherwise could not afford to access an IT device.  The devices are delivered through schools so that they get directly into each student’s hands.

In 2021, the See I.T. Be I.T. Project began with a trial in SE Queensland which initially supplied 133 laptops and desktop computers to disadvantaged students and families from 40 schools. 

In term 1 2022, the See I.T. Be I.T. Project will deliver 200 devices to students between Charters Towers and Mount Isa and another 123 laptops to disadvantaged students in Logan, Brisbane and Ipswich.

As this project develops, we will be expanding our reach to cover as much of Queensland as possible.

If your workplace would like to get involved and donate devices to this vital project, you can contact any of our partner organisations to arrange your donation:

Holly Bretherton State Manager, ACS Queensland, Holly.Bretherton@acs.org.au                         
  

Tony Sharp Founder, Substation33, tonys@yfs.org.au

Mike Nayler, Secretariat Director, QATSIFmichael.nayler@qatsif.org.au              

Scott Wiseman, Chief Executive Officer, P&Cs Queensland, scottwiseman@pandcsqld.com.au

Rob Birnie, Digital Inclusion Program Lead, LiteHaus International, rob.birnie@litehausinternational.org