Laptop Launchpad: Finder and Good360 partner to bridge the digital divide
Global fintech Finder has partnered with not-for-profit Good360 Australia to redistribute 1 million business laptops to Australians in need.
The 2021 Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) found that 1 in 4 Australians are digitally excluded, which means over 6 million Australians are at risk of being left behind in an increasingly digital society. The problem is particularly acute in low-income households, regional Australia and remote First Nations communities.
After learning the extent of the digital divide in Australia, Finder's founder Fred Schebesta set forward on a mission to close the gap.
"I recently received a message on TikTok from an 18-year-old in regional NSW who needed a laptop. After hearing his story and finding out that millions of people in Australia are living without digital access, I knew I had to help.
"When I was 18, my mother bought me my first computer, which I used until there were keys missing and it no longer worked. With that same computer, I built a website for my first client and it sparked my passion for building online businesses. I've experienced first-hand how digital access can transform your life. I want to give more people that opportunity to create and innovate through computers and the internet," said Fred.
Through the Laptop Launchpad initiative, Fred has joined forces with Good360 Australia to call on Australian businesses to donate their laptops that are no longer in use to a worthy cause. The goal of the campaign is to have 1 million laptops pledged by Australian businesses and to raise $10 million to cover refurbishment costs by the end of 2025.
Finder is kicking off the campaign by pledging to donate 200 laptops as well as making a $20,000 donation for refurbishment costs.
Good360's network of over 3,000 charities and disadvantaged schools include the Salvation Army, Vinnies, Save The Children, Drought Angels and Rural Aid Australia.
Alison Covington AM, Founder and Managing Director of Good360 Australia, said the digital divide is a big issue that needs to be solved at scale.
"Our network of charities are crying out for the technology and tools to bridge the digital divide in their communities. We know that the biggest impact we can have is by reducing affordability barriers. That's why we're particularly excited to be partnering with Finder to help us connect with businesses that can donate laptops in bulk."
The initiative will also help tackle Australia's growing e-waste problem. A recent UN report found that Australia creates more than 500,000 tonnes of e-waste each year making it the fifth worst offender in the world on a per-person basis.
You can find out more about the initiative, pledge your business laptops or make a donation here: https://www.finder.com.au/about-us/laptop-launchpad
About Finder
Finder is a global fintech and Australia's most visited comparison platform on a mission to help people save money and make money. Through our thousands of free online guides, we support Australians to make financial decisions that change their lives for the better. As a web-based business, we recognise the difference that reliable access to a computer can make in someone's life.
About Good360 Australia
Good360 is a not-for-profit organisation that connects charities, schools and society's most vulnerable with businesses willing to donate unsold or surplus goods, services and disaster recovery essentials. The result is a Circle of Good that reduces need and waste in our communities at the same time so everyone benefits – from people to the planet.
