Several of Australia’s most prominent names across technology, innovation and social change have joined forces to form the judging panel for Optus’ Future Makers program. Each panellist will judge 11 Future Makers finalists’ innovative ideas that address the challenges faced by vulnerable young Australians, before selecting just six to share 300,000AUD in funding to make their ideas a reality.
Future Makers is a program to foster digital innovation and bring to life bold ideas that have the ability to change the social landscape. It supports entrepreneurs, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations with innovative technological ideas that help address the challenges faced by vulnerable young Australians across employability, education, cyber education & safety and wellbeing.
Nearly 200 digital innovators from across Australia submitted their enterprising ideas, with 11 shortlisted to pitch their final ideas to the panel on Tuesday 19 July in a bid to land one of six 50,000AUD funding grants. Each successful candidate will use the money to progress their idea and bring it to life.
The 11 candidates are:
- Colin Jowell, Parramatta – ‘Guide Dots’ enables young people with a vision impairment to independently discover the world around them and to engage with their social environment just like their sighted friends and peers.
- Brian Collyer, Brisbane – The ‘Wellbeing Coach’ app/web portal gives young people’s access to information and resources and uses technology to enhance communication in the counsellor-client relationship.
- Penny Harnett, Newcastle – ‘iWareness’ App will provide information to young people from both genders to help them recognise, respond to and change attitudes towards domestic violence.
- Vidya Nallamad, Brisbane – ‘NetHealthData’ uses tele-monitoring software so young people, especially those with chronic conditions, can manage their health in remote areas where access to medical care is limited.
- Nishan David, Sydney – ‘Mobilise’ is a platform that connects young refugees in Western Sydney with volunteer mentors. It helps non-profit teams recruit mentors, organise pop-up education workshops, conduct hackathons and host camps.
- Kags Garrard, Sydney – ‘Working Wheels’ is an outline training program to provide education and employment for young people with a physically limiting neuromuscular condition.
- Marita Cheng, Melbourne – ‘Teleport’ an affordable and beautiful telepresence robot which allows young people with a spinal cord injury to attend school or participate in the workforce by working remotely.
- Rhianon Vichta, Brisbane – ‘New Futures for Young People’ is an accessible and integrated online platform that promotes and measures beneficial wellbeing outcomes for vulnerable young people.
- Marina Paronetto, Melbourne – ‘Biz’ is a peer to peer mobile app designed to give teenage girls – of all backgrounds – an equal opportunity to learn about business and enhance their confidence, skill set and employability
- Dr Magenta Simmons, Melbourne – ‘Right Choice, Right Time’ is developing a number of online tools to support young people to make decisions about their treatment for mental health.
- Dr Rowan Tulloch, Sydney – ‘The Game Change’ software helps university and school teachers gamify their classrooms to better engage and motivate students. It also assists students who are marginalised by traditional teaching practices.
The judging panel comprises of:
- Daniel Flynn – Group Co-founder of Thank You, a social enterprise that uses 100% of the profits made from water, food and body care products to fund safe water, food and hygiene and sanitation services around the world
- Geoff Gourley – Social enterprise entrepreneur, investor and Founder of One10, a Melbourne accelerator and incubator dedicated to social enterprise startups
- Jan Owen – CEO, Foundation for Young Australians, a non-profit organisation committed to improving the learning outcomes and life opportunities of young Australians.
- Paul O’Sullivan – Optus Chairman
