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Optus is expanding its popular Donate Your DataTM program to help close the digital divide for Australians even further, extending their support to young people in need, their families and people experiencing crisis.
The telco has received over three million donations from customers since launching its Donate Your DataTM program in late 2019, which has enabled thousands of young Australians in need to access the internet, connecting them to opportunities to learn, look for work and continue with vital services such as telehealth.
Donate Your DataTM is currently supporting over 25,000 young people on the program. Due to the overwhelming customer support, the expansion of the program could see this number increase up to 100,000 by 2025.
Optus is working with charities and organisations that support Australians in need – across a range of areas including education, employment and hardship – such as The Smith Family, Mission Australia, Good360, ABCN, KARI Foundation, yourtown, The Story Factor, and Sydney Children’s Hospital.
The program has allowed Mission Australia to safely stay connected with the people they serve and engage with, according to James Toomey, Mission Australia CEO.
"At such a challenging time, the generosity of Optus customers is helping people in need to stay connected with the support, services, education, employment and housing they need, as well as friends, family and their communities," Toomey said.
For the Donate Your DataTM program expansion, the telco will now provide help in areas including homelessness, foster care for families and crisis support including family and domestic violence.
According to Matt Williams, Optus managing director for marketing and revenue, the positive impact Donate Your DataTM has had so far is one of the reasons the telco aims to continue expanding the program.
“We are very proud to see the positive impact that Donate Your DataTM is having on the lives of the over 25,000 young Australians that are part of the program, especially during the additional stress and pressure caused by COVID-19."
“We look forward to continuing to grow the program with the help of our fantastic community and charity partners who help us ensure that the data donated by customers makes its way to Australians that need it most,” Williams said.
With the Donate Your DataTM program, people in need receive a prepaid Optus SIM with data plus unlimited calls and text every 42 days. Every month, Optus customers’ data donations are pooled and then distributed as an added data boost to help power Australia's potential.
Mission Australia is proud to partner with Optus through the Donate Your DataTM program Toomey added, noting that the national charity is delighted to offer the program right across the country to people they serve that need access to data and the internet.
“Through the Donate Your Data TM program, we are enabling those in need to access the internet and opening the door for people and families right across Australia to learn, create and connect in a way that wasn’t previously possible."
"It is enhancing connectivity and addressing the digital divide for many people Mission Australia helps, including those who are homeless and disadvantaged, children and families in need, women escaping domestic and family violence, young people in crisis, people with mental health concerns and disability, people living in social and affordable homes and much more,” Toomey concluded.
Optus postpaid and prepaid mobile customers on eligible plans can start donating data today.
For more information, visit Optus' donate your data page or check out the My Optus app.
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Nastasha is a Journalist at Momentum Media, she reports extensively across veterans affairs, cyber security and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific. She is a co-author of a book titled The Stories Women Journalists Tell, published by Penguin Random House. Previously, she was a Content Producer at Verizon Media, a Digital Producer for Yahoo! and Channel 7, a Digital Journalist at Sky News Australia, as well as a Website Manager and Digital Producer at SBS Australia. Nastasha started her career in media as a Video Producer and Digital News Presenter at News Corp Australia.
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