Connecting Up Annual Report 2017 - 18

2017 - 18
ANNUAL
REPORT
WWW.CONNECTINGUP.ORG

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF COUNTRY
Connecting Up acknowledges and pays our respects to the Kaurna
people, the traditional custodians of the ancestral lands upon which
Connecting Up is located.
We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship
of the Kaurna people to country and we respect and value their past,
present and ongoing connection to the land and cultural beliefs. We
pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
DEDICATION
ANNUAL REPORT This annual report is dedicated to the staff at Connecting
Up who provide the inspiration for this document.
It is a tribute to and a celebration of the work they do
with our clients and partners day in, day out.
A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.
2
Connecting Up Annual Report 2017-18

CHAIRPERSON
REPORT
1. A strong NFP sector in Australia
and NZ that has access to Connecting
Up and TechSoup NZ services
We increased the range of product and
service offerings to the NFP and charitable
sectors with $52 million dollars (Fair Market
Value)worthof donated technology andcloud
services to Australian and New Zealand
NFPs in the 2017/2018 Financial Year.
Weare workingwithpartners torefine the
discounted and donatedtechnology offerings
available, including CloudTools andServices,
Fundraising CRM/DatabaseManagement
Programs, Security Software, Governance
Software, Disability CareManagement Soft-
ware,Accountingand Reporting Programs,
critical Hardware and Networking Equipment.
So far in 2018, Connecting Up and TechSoup
NZ members have obtained more than
25.2 tonnes of refurbished equipment.
We improved the reach and capabilities of
organisations with access to our products
and services, with 2,262 newly qualified
organisations in Australia and 618 newly
qualified organisations in New Zealand.
2. An NFP sector that is using
technology to its fullest capacity
We increased the depth of education with
a focus on technology, with 2,335 people
attending events in Australia and New
Zealand. 1732 people registered for
Connecting Up and TechSoup New
Zealand training courses in 2017-18.
3. Digital information and events
and training that enables a more
digitally inclusive society
This year’s Australian conference was our
most successful yet, with more than 450
people attending three days of activities
in Brisbane. We also introduced a new
Best Digital Storytelling by an Indigenous
Australian category at our Australian
Not-for-Profit Technology Awards, which
brought a whole new dimension.
The conference was opened by World
Vision Chair Tim Costello, one of the most
inspirational figures in the non-profit sector,
and received rave reviews from participants
and sponsors.
During the 2017-18 financial year,
Connecting Up also sent over 80 digital
newsletters which were opened more than
300,000 times.
The Directory of Services in
South Australia and our Volunteers
Another special part of our work is the
Directory of Services in South Australia,
which is used extensively by public libraries,
government entities and community
organisations. This is only made possible
by our dedicated volunteers.
Connecting Up has a dual goal in this area –
to keep the directory up to date and to
provide workplace experience for volunteers
that may evolve into employment.
Over the last Financial Year, Connecting
Up hosted 35 volunteers, with a core group
of 13, who responded to 3,993 website
comments, sent 2,066 responses and
updated 4,913 records. They contributed
2,876 hours of time, worth approximately
$62,000, to Connecting Up.
Four were students rom UniSA on their
Masters of Information Technology Student
placement; one was from TAFESA on a
library studies placement; one was from
Volunteering SA&NT’s Headspace
Laneways to Vocation Volunteer Placement;
three were from a partnership with Tea Tree
Gully Council; and two were from the City
of Prospect Council.
12 volunteers transitioned into full-time
work and one into full-time contract work,
two into part-time work and one moved into
part time work and further study.
4. A strong, innovative organisation
that is capable of supporting the
NFP sector to thrive
We have a dedicated staff who, though
small in number, work tirelessly and with
great commitment. Their contribution is
appreciated by the Board.
One of our board members, Lisa Harvey,
left as her time on the board had expired.
Lisa’s contribution over many years of
service was highly valued.
Our CEOs
As Connecting Up grew, it was served by
two very thoughtful and energetic Chief
Executive Officers. Doug Jacquier was the
first, followed by Anne Gawen. After many
years in the position, Anne resigned and
left us in May 2018. Anne continued the
growth trajectory started by Doug and both
worked hard to build new partners and
services and to maintain the very important
relationship with Techsoup Global.
We were fortunate that Anne had recruited
Sandra Vallance before she left, who was
appointed Acting CEO whilst the Board
considered how to build the future of
services to the Community Sector.
Pankaj Chhalotre was elevated to work with
Sandra onbuilding our service model and we
are grateful for their knowledge and
leadership at the time of change.
Connecting Up has had another remarkable year and it is my pleasure as the Chair
of the Board to present the 2017/2018 Annual Report. Connecting Up continues to
deliver a range of capacity building programs and services to the not-for-profit (NFP)
sector, listening to its highly valued customers and partners.
We have four strategic goals and we progressed each one.
3
Stronger Communities Through Technology

CONNECTING UP
AT A GLANCE
4

CEO’S
MESSAGE
2017-18 has been a year of major change for Connecting Up. After 5 years, CEO
Anne Gawen announced her resignation early in 2018. We take this opportunity to
thank her for her leadership and hard work. Initially joining in January 2018 as Chief
Operating Officer, I took on the role of Acting CEO in May 2018.
This is a year in which Connecting Up has had to face major
structural changes with one of its significant corporate partners,
Microsoft, which is influencing how we shape the business going
forward for both our growing Australian and New Zealand
communities. Microsoft continues to be a strong supporter of the
not-for-profit sector through the provision of cloud services and
on-premise products which provide many benefits to the sector.
However, as more software products move to the cloud, there is a
de-emphasis on on-premise products which have provided funding
for the basis of many of Connecting Up and Techsoup NZ’s
products and services. While this is a challenge, there are also
many opportunities for Connecting Up and Techsoup NZ to serve
the not-for-profit sector with new innovative offerings.
With a change in leadership and the challenges ahead, together
the team agreed to move to more agile workplace principles.
Agile working is about bringing people, processes, connectivity and
technology, time and place together to find the most appropriate
and effective way of working to carry out a particular task. It is
working within guidelines (of the task) but without boundaries
(of how you achieve it).
Aligned with creating a culture of experimenting with new ways of
producing value for our not-for-profit community, we moved
away from the traditional organisation structure to self-managed
and customer focused multi-disciplinary squads focusing on
accelerating profitable growth. Each squad self organises and has
a monthly sprint, sharing achievements, lessons learnt and how
customers were involved.
Innovations that have been introduced this year include affordable
cohort consulting programs to micro, small and medium
not-for-profits to develop Digital Transformation / IT Strategies.
Based on industry-proven methodologies we are able to work with
groups of not-for-profits to create organisation-specific strategies
to drive future investment in IT matching to business requirements
and ambitions.
Our growing membership program in Australia and New
Zealand is being improved with a range of new offerings,
including online learning and free access to our growing and
innovative events program.
In preparation for known changes, Connecting Up and TechSoup
NZ has continued to successfully grow the Discounts Program
introducing new offerings to support the not-for-profit sector.
In 2018, successful conferences were held in both Australia and
New Zealand.  Both were well supported by our partners and
broke attendance records in the master classes and conference.
The positive feedback from sponsors, attendees and speakers
was appreciated and has provided great inspiration for next
year’s program.
Connecting Up has also been engaged in two exciting projects
to support the Disability Sector.  One has been through a
partnership withBendigo Bank toassist withcreating and supporting
the Bcause disability e-marketplace (www.bcause.com.au).
The other partnership has been with 4Thought to create shared
services for disability providers transitioning to the NDIS
(www.cusponline.com.au).  Both of these start-up projects have
come to fruition and are positioned for great success going forward.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Board for their
wisdom and good governance.  Great thanks also goes to the
not-for-profit community in both Australia and New Zealand
who innovate on a daily basis with both technology and service
innovation to strengthen their communities.
The not-for-profit communities we work with inform our direction
on a daily basis.  My biggest thanks go to our staff for their talent,
ideas, resilience, great ideas, good humour and organisation building
behaviours and support. Without them, we couldn’t respond to the
needs of the not-for-profit sector.
Sandra Vallance
Acting CEO, Connecting Up
5

OUR VALUED
PARTNERS
6

DONATIONS
& DISCOUNTS
Connecting Up continuesto support NFPand charitableorganisations
in Australia and New Zealand to reduce their technology costs and
to improve organisational efficiency through technology.
In Financial Year 17/18, the fair market value of donated products
acquired through Connecting Up totalled AU$46 million in
Australia and AU$6 million in New Zealand. Connecting Up
continues to also supply discounted technology in Australia and
New Zealand, providing hardware and software solutions to
supplement the donated offerings.
Discounted refurbished technology success
Of particular note in Financial Year 17/18 was the refurbished
hardware program (provided through Reboot IT).
During the Financial Year, non-profits and charities acquired
22.7 tonnes of refurbished hardware in Australia and 2.5 tonnes
in New Zealand – that’s over 25 tonnes of equipment that didn’t
end up in landfill.
In Financial Year 17/18, Connecting Up saw continued growth
in both the Technology Donations and Technology Discounts
programs, with new partners including Zoom.
New technology discount partners
The Zoom discount program at Connecting Up provides video and
web conferencing as well as webinar and room connector
software to eligible non-profits, charities, or libraries throughout
Australia and New Zealand. Zoom’s products are used to
communicate with colleagues, partners, donors, volunteers and
constituents in meetings and webinars.
Another new partner is RAA , who provide a range of motor, home
and travel products and services that keep their members safe,
secure and mobile.
Through Connecting Up, RAA offers a discount for eligible
not-for-profit organisations on the monitoring costs of their
SafeZone Lone Worker App
RAA’s SafeZone Lone Worker App provides personal monitored
security for workers who need to go into threatening situations or
isolated areas.
Targus, which specialises in manufacturing accessories for mobile
computing, also joined. They provide a discount on their laptop,
tablet and iPad cases, along with discounts on docking stations,
power adaptors, USB hubs, stands and other accessories.
The program was also joined by Synology. Synology creates
network-attached storage (NAS), IP surveillance solutions, and
network equipment that transform the way users manage data,
conduct surveillance, and manage network in the cloud era.
The Connecting Up Synology program includes discounts on a
range of their NAS products, suitable for non-profits of any size.
$52 million in donated technology product (FMV) to NFP organisations in
Australia and New Zealand in Financial Year 17/18
25.2 tonnes of refurbished hardware
provided in Australia and New Zealand
7

CAPABILITY
BUILDING
In 2017-18 Connecting Up had a major impact on increasing capability in the Australian
not-for-proﬁt sector through a number of new initiatives. The most innovative new initiative
was the new group consulting in an education framework delivered through the inaugural IT
Strategy on a Plate program.
Group consultancy a big hit
This 12-week program walks a cohort of NFPs through the process
of how to compose an IT Strategy, leaving them with a completed
IT Strategy at the end of the 12 weeks.
The approach drew incredibly positive responses from participants,
who rated the program highly on all counts.
Excitingly, Connecting Up’s own staff delivered this consulting
program directly, which means we are hearing directly from
participating not-for-proﬁts allowing us to gather insights to further
improve our offering and identify new opportunities for the future.
Expanded webinars program
This year also saw further expansion of our high performing
webinars training calendar, which saw almost 2000 registrants
attend courses ranging from “Introduction to Microsoft SharePoint”
to “National Disability Insurance Scheme: Marketing Insights”.
1732 people registered for Connecting Up and TechSoup New
Zealand training courses in 2017-18.
We increased the depth of education with a focus on technology,
with 2,335 people attending events in Australia and New Zealand.
The most highly attended webinars were related to digital and social
media, as well as fundraising.
2017-18 also saw Connecting Up begin a member-focused
redevelopment of our Premium Membership Program.
New Premium Membership
The new Premium Membership Program that resulted was a
sector and member-centric program, offering more than $6000 in
value and increased affordability through a tiered fee structure.
8

MS AUCKLAND IT
STRATEGY DELIVERS
CASE STUDY
Multiple Sclerosis Auckland Business Manager Mark Blackie
doesn’t mince his words when asked how useful he found
Connecting Up and TechSoup New Zealand’s new IT Strategy
on a Plate group consultancy program.
“The facilitator, Sandra, was amazing and went
above and beyond what we could ever have
expected from a private consultant,” he says.
“The big difference now is that we actually
have a plan and are moving forward with it.
Long term this will mean greater efficiencies
and services and overall better support for
people with Multiple Sclerosis.”
Mr Blackie is far from unusual in describing IT
issues within his not-for-profit organisation.
In fact, recent research by Connecting Up,
TechSoup New Zealand and Infoxchange
shows that the majority of New Zealand and
Australian not-for-profits suffer a number of
inefficiencies because they lack an IT strategy.
That’s not thecase anymorefor his organisation,
thanks to the innovative, low cost program
which has saved MS Auckland thousands of
dollars - and which Mr Blackie became aware
of at just the right time.
“The timing of the IT Strategy on a Plate
program was perfect,” says Mr Blackie. “We
have two databases – one for clients and one
for donors and events - that don’t always work
particularly well together and that is one of the
issues I wanted to solve.
“We’d been looking at possible fixes and
investigating solutions but hadn’t come up
with one until the IT Strategy on a Plate
framework began to give us some ideas. It’s a
vehicle for moving forward.”
“Before the group consulting program, we
didn’t know the way to proceed. We can do the
research in house, of course, but presenting it
in a way that works for a board or committee
and which shows the process so they can
understand and approve is difficult without
expert guidance.”
Sowhat werethekey take-awaysfor Mr Blackie,
and what made taking the group consulting
program with Connecting Up and TechSoup
New Zealand so special?
“Identifying our IT structure and applications
and creating heat maps of our IT infrastructure
gave a really good vehicle to see where the
organisation is at,” he says. “I would never have
done those heat maps on my own and they
were fantastic.”
One of the other advantages of working with
Connecting Up and TechSoup New Zealand,
according to Mr Blackie, is the unique
position they hold as IT specialists that are
also not-for-profits.
“This makes a huge difference for other
not-for-profits,” he says. “Connecting Up
and TechSoup New Zealand fill a key gap in the
market, and being a not-for-profit they also
understand the sector.
“It’s great to be able to purchase software and
hardware through them because we get the
benefit of Connecting Up and TechSoup
expertise, as well as the donated and
discounted products they offer.”
That impact is only possible because of the
donations and discounts provided by major
technology companies like Microsoft, Adobe,
Cisco, BitDefender, and more.
MS Auckland receives a number of these
donated and discounted products, and
Mr Blackie acknowledges the difference
these organisations make to the sector.
“This is really important, and I think all big
corporations should help charities as part
of their corporate responsibility,” he says.
“Technology is vital for us to connect with the
people we support but also to get work done
in the office. If there is a power cut people end
up going home. It’s that simple.
“Having a database that our staff can access
remotely is critical, for example. We’ve been
using Microsoft Office and Exchange. And
when we had our terminal server installed
we also came to TechSoup New Zealand.
“I’m really impressed with how we receive
expert, impartial advice from people who also
understand the not-for-profit sector. It makes
a big difference.”
“I would highly recommend any charity
doing an IT strategy to get in touch with
Connecting Up and TechSoup New
Zealand. We had been looking at band
aids and were struggling to find a
long-term solution to our IT problems,
but In a year’s time we will be in a totally
different position.”
9

DIGITAL FLIGHTPATHS CONFERENCE
A SOARING SUCCESS
IN BRISBANE
Connecting Up celebrated its most successful conference, expo and Not-for-Profit
Technology Awards to date, with almost 500 attendees and 30 exhibitors providing
overwhelmingly positive feedback following three days of events in Brisbane from 3-5 May.
Our three-day Digital Flightpathsevent saw Master Classes inCloud
Computing, Social Media, Grant Writing and Sponsorship; plenaries
and streampresentations from pre-eminent not-for-profit figures
including World VisionAustralia’sTim Costello; and the 2018
Australian Not-for-Profit Technology Awards.
The Conference is a major investment by Connecting Up in
supporting the Australian Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector, with a
significant number of delegates only able to attend by accessing
Connecting Up scholarships covering a portion of their costs.
Thanks to the support of key partners including Xtreme Productivity,
Frontstream, Microsoft Australia, Infoxchange, Reboot IT and
Blackbaud and many others, the conference once again achieved
its aim of empowering not-for-profit organisations to discover new
solutions to further engage their communities and improve
organisational practices through the use of technology.
KEYNOTES,
WORKSHOPS
AND MASTER
CLASSES
INCLUDED:
• Opening keynote by Tim Costello,
World Vision Australia
• Understanding Digital Civil Society
by Lucy Bernholz, Stanford Center
on Philanthropy and Civil Society
• Rethinking Marketing in the Digital Age
by Yvette Adams, The Creative Collective
• Showing Leadership in a Changing World
by Brett Lightfoot, Microsoft Australia
• Creating Stories in Community and Sharing
them with Indigenous Australians in other Remote
Communities by Indigenous Community Television
• Cloud Masterclass by Infoxchange
• Social Media Masterclass
by Kate VanderVoort, Social Mediology
• Grants Masterclass by Strategic Grants
• Office 365 tips by Matt Walton, Infoxchange
• Google Adwords/SEO by Digital Cause
• Finance tools & tricks by Tim James, MYOB
• Grant Research strategies
by Jo Garner, Strategic Grants
10

DIGITAL FLIGHTPATHS CONFERENCE
MicrosoftAustralia’ssupportincluded
aplenarybyMicrosoftQueensland
StateDirectorBrettLightfoot,
sponsorshipof theAustralian
Not-for-ProfitTechnologyawardsand
anexclusive‘MicrosoftTechnology
Experience’coordinatedbyMicrosoft
InnovationCentreManagerGeorgina
Siggins and hostedbyalmostadozen
MicrosoftStaff.
Theconferenceexhibitionwasthe
biggesteverheldbyConnectingUp
andfeaturedalmost30exhibitors,
fillingtheentiretyoflevelfourofthe
BrisbaneHilton.Thankstoa
professionalexhibitionset-upby
MoretonHire,exhibitorsreported
alargenumberofleadsandgreat
satisfactionwiththeirexperience,with
manyindicatinginterestinsigningup
forthe2019conference.
Oneofthe key highlightshisyearwas
anewpartnershipwithIndigenous
CommunityTelevision(ICTV),which
sawanew‘BestDigitalStorytelling
byanIndigenousAustralian’award
inauguratedattheAustralian
Not-for-ProfitTechnologyAwards.
Thenewawardwasjustonepartof
an extensive partnership with ICTV
that saw a TV advertising campaign
for the conference run for several
weeks on Indigenous television.
ICTV also brought two keynote
speakers, Neil Turner and
Henry Augustine, to the
conference, while ICTV
Business Development Manag-
er Joy Taylor manned an ICTV
exhibition stand on Thursday
and Friday 4-5 May.
Once again, thanks go to our key partners and supporters
for making the conference such a great success.
THE AWARDS
SAW SEVEN WINNERS
RECOGNISED IN THE
CATEGORIES OF:
1 Technology Volunteer of the Year - Ian McEwan, Fremantle Sea Rescue
2 Best Social Media Campaign of the Year - MAF Australia
3 Using Technology to Connect to the Community –
Best Small/Medium Enterprise (SME) - Keeping Culture Pty Ltd
4 Not-For-Profit Technology Lifetime Service Award -
Dr Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say
5 Technology Innovator of the Year - The Song Room
6 Best Digital Storytelling by an Indigenous Australia -
Dean Foley, Barayamal
11

NEW ZEALAND REPORT
CONTINUING TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
TechSoup New Zealand continues to provide outstanding support for the charitable
and non-profit sector in New Zealand through the Technology Donations and
Discounts program.
Some of the most exciting news for the program in Financial Year
17/18 was the expansion of the program to allow for income tax
exempt non-profits and donee organisations (as approved by the
IRD) to qualify for Technology Donations and Discounts. Previously,
the program was only open to charities on the New Zealand
Charities Register and this change is a crucial step forward in
supporting as much of the non-profit sector as possible.
Financial Year 17/18 also saw more expansion on both the
Technology Discounts and Technology Donations program.
Amazon Web Services
The Amazon Web Services credit has now become available in
New Zealand. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Credits
Program for Non-profits provides credits for cloud services to
eligible nonprofits and public libraries throughout New Zealand.
The AWS cloud platform offers access to high-powered computing,
storage, data warehousing, development, analytics, content
delivery, and other services to help non-profits scale up without
investing in physical infrastructure.
As mentioned earlier in the report, the Zoom discount program is
also available in TechSoup New Zealand.
The refurbished hardware program also saw significant growth
this year, with the introduction of a full range of hardware from
TechSoup New Zealand’s Australian refurbisher. In addition to
desktops, laptops and monitors, the program now includes
smartphones, tablets, accessories, printers and server equipment.
With a wider range available, charities and non-profits in New
Zealand can source more mission critical equipment at a non-profit
price, while preventing more landfill!
Things aren’t slowing down either. So far this year, Lenovo have come
on board to provide discounts across their products as the first
TechSoup New Zealand partner to provide brand new hardware.
TechSoup New Zealand looks forward to supporting more charities
and non-profits this financial year with the technology they need.
12

THE GRAEME DINGLE
FOUNDATION
TECHSOUP NZ — CASE STUDY
Graeme Dingle Foundation Head of Operational Strategy and
Relationships John Holley cuts straight to the chase when asked
about the importance of technology for not-for-profits.
“Some people think it’s a choice between
helping peopleor using technology. It’s not one
or the other, it has to be both,” he says.
“The right technology makes us robust and
efficient and the solutions we receive through
TechSoup New Zealand mean we can spend
more on programs with a transformational
impact on young New Zealanders,”
Holley’s IT expertise shows through as he
describes how donated and discounted
technology through TechSoup New Zealand
helps the Dingle Foundation change the lives
of thousands of disadvantaged Kiwis.
The Graeme Dingle Foundation accesses
Microsoft, Adobe and Google products
through TechSoup New Zealand, and uses
them to great effect across the country.
“We use donated Microsoft licences across
our 12 regions, which is a big win for us,” says
John. “And we use Adobe products across all
of our marketing and communications activities.
Before TechSoup New Zealand we had one
Adobe licence, which limited our capability,
whereas now we have multiple licences so that
all the staff who need it have access.
“For small organisations like ourselves this
means we are not reliant on one person and
can be more efficient, which is only possible
when we can have personalised content for
all regions. We want to look professional, but
not at a high cost, and we do that through
TechSoup New Zealand.”
Of course donated and discounted technology
doesn’t happen without donors, and Holley
is quick to recognise the difference made by
the large organisations such as Microsoft
who provide millions of dollars’ worth of
technology every year to the New Zealand
not-for-profit sector.
“If large organisations like Microsoft, Adobe
and Google weren’t donating or providing
these solutions at a low price then things
would be much more challenging for the
not-for-profit sector,” says Holley.
“It’s already challenging to deliver our programs,
so any technology solution we are able to
access is a win. These large organisations
deserve kudos for making this contribution.
“People often look at the cost and think they
can’t justify it but they miss how effective and
efficient technology makes them. The Graeme
Dingle Foundation is able to do more work and
focus more on the people we help precisely
because of technology.
“Then there is the issue of the quality of
communication with other stakeholders, such
as government and funding bodies, whoexpect
a certain level of quality. This consistent quality
is also made possible through technology.”
TechSoup New Zealand’s Acting CEO Sandra
Vallance says her organisation feels privileged
to be able to support the Graeme Dingle
Foundation’s work.
“Our mission is connecting not-for-profits
with the right tools and capabilities they need
to fulfil their missions, and this is exactly what
John is describing at the Graeme Dingle
Foundation,” says Sandra.
“It’s a bit like health and safety. If you don’t invest in it
then it will hurt you more in the long run.”
13

TECHSOUP NEW ZEALAND
CONFERENCE &
AWARDS
The TechSoup New Zealand Conference in Auckland from 22-23 March took members on a
two-day journey to discover the power of technology and use it to its full potential.
The conference saw Master Classes in Grant Writing, Marketing
and Fundraising, with an opening plenary from one of the Canada’s
leading philanthropy experts, Michael Farrell; streams from
Infoxchange, Blackbaud and Strategic Grants; and a strong exhibition
providing lots of tailored advice for delegates at the Waipuna Hotel.
The Conference is a signiﬁcant investment by Connecting Up in
supporting the New Zealand Charitable Sector, with a signiﬁcant
number of delegates only able to attend by accessing Connecting
Up/TechSoup New Zealand scholarships.
Critical support for the event came from partners including Xtreme
Productivity, Frontstream, Microsoft Australia, Infoxchange,
Blackbaud and Strategic Grants, with Microsoft providing a holo
lens display.
KEYNOTES,
WORKSHOPS
AND MASTER
CLASSES
INCLUDED:
• Opening keynote by Michael Farrell
• Creativity workshop by Eddy Royal, Curative
• Global Trends in the Technology Age
by Andrew Cairns, Community Sector Banking
• Digital Marketing by Yvette Adams
from the Creative Collective
14

Yvette Adams’ presentation was
particularly well received thanks to
her status as one of New Zealand’s
most successful marketing exports.
Yvette became an award winning
businesswoman in Brisbane after
migrating to Australia.
She returned home to deliver an
inspirational conference closing
address that received rave reviews
in our post-conference survey.
The New Zealand Charities
Technology Awards on the evening
of the first day of the conference
were the most successful to date,
with a packed room of more than
100 people coming together to
see the finest uses of technology
in New Zealand’s non-profit sector
recognised.
TECHSOUP NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE & AWARDS
Once again, the awards were only made possible thanks to our individual awards
sponsors Xtreme Productivity, Blackbaud, Attentively, Strategic Grants and Microsoft,
who presented awards on the night.
A PACKED ROOM SAW OUTSTANDING
NEW ZEALAND TECHNOLOGY EXAMPLES
AND VOLUNTEERS RECOGNISED AND
REWARDED IN THE FOLLOWING FIVE
CATEGORIES.
1 Technology Volunteer of the Year -
Jeff Law, United Seafarers’ Mission Tauranga
2 Best Social Media Campaign of the Year - Presbyterian Support Otago
3 Using Technology to Connect to the Community - Best Small to
Medium Enterprise - Tuhi Tuhi Communications and RemarkIT
4 Technology Service in the Charitable Sector Lifetime Service Award -
Di Daniels, Digital Wings
5 Technology Innovator of the Year - Safe Surfer
15

INFORMATION SERVICES AND
SA COMMUNITY
Connecting Up has delivered SAcommunity since 1981. The free online directory continues to
provide comprehensive and accessible community service information for South Australians.
The SA Community directory is provided in collaboration with
an extensive stakeholder network of people, service providers,
libraries, councils and government departments, who contribute to,
maintain and utilise community service data.
The service assists partners by providing a platform to conserve and
maximise the resources that would otherwise be used in generating,
maintaining and promoting the same data between and within
councils and libraries for assistance, connections and networking.
Directory Management and Continuous Improvement
SAcommunity has more than 14,500 listings, with content
continuously updated as listings are created, edited or closed.
Currently, 94% of listings have been actively managed and
maintained within 3 years. Traffic to the SAcommunity website
in the last financial year remains significant, with 1,734,428 page
views, 881,506 sessions and 627,694 users.
Volunteers are critical to updating the SAcommunity database.
They search for organisations, contact services and update
challenging records, as well as responding to a range of emails
generated from website comments, including updates and
assistance queries from the public.
Over 2017-2018, volunteers responded to 3,993 website
comments, sent 2,066 responses and updated more than 4,913
records - some several times as services and contacts changed,
merged and divided.
Volunteer and Student Placement Management
Over the 2017-2018 Financial Year, Connecting Up hosted a total
of 35 volunteers in the Community Information Team. Volunteers
contributed more than 2,876 hours to Connecting Up over this
period, providing an approximate value of $62,065 ($21.58 per
hour) to the organisation over this time.
Volunteers have been expanding their digital skills, information and
internet literacy and building up their technical skills and software
tools-use to expand their role and undertake the increasingly
complex tasks needed at Connecting Up and in today’s digital world
for success in work and life.
Over this time, 12 volunteers transitioned into full-time work, one into
full-time contract work, two current volunteers obtained part-time
work, and one moved into part-time work and further study.
In addition, Connecting Up’s Volunteer and Student Placement
program hosted four students from UniSA on their Masters of
Information Technology Student Placement; one from TAFESA
on their Library Studies placement; one from Volunteering
SA&NT/Headspace Laneways to Vocation Volunteer Placement;
with three volunteers from Tea Tree Gully Council and two
volunteers from the City of Prospect as part of the SAcommunity
council partnership.
Volunteers supporting Connecting Up
Volunteers represented Connecting Up in many ways over the
financial year, by maintaining both SAcommunity and Connecting
Up customer databases through applying information search and
retrieval strategies, interpreting and responding to emails, updates
and assistance requests.
Volunteers used their training in customer service skills
and telephone answering techniques when contacting community
services to confirm their details, and also utilised these skills to
assist in promoting the conference and other events to clients.
In addition, volunteers have been interviewing and writing
articles on community services or on volunteer activities, assisting
in-person with promotional events and functions, as well as creating
and editing films for SAcommunity online training materials and
volunteer peer-recruitment.
14,000
community listings
700,000
users
1.9 million
page views
16

FINANCIALS
Revenues from ordinary earnings $5,501,841
Expenses $(5,472,624)
Total comprehensive income for the year/(loss) $29,217
FOR YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 2018
Fair Market Value of donated products in 2017/18
in Australia and New Zealand
$52,000,000
17

AUSTRALIAN
KAREN FOUNDATION
CASE STUDIES
Every year on the Thai-Myanmar border
eighty nervous young scholars gather for
one of the world’s most inspiring graduation
ceremonies.
As they wait quietly to take the stage, watched
by emotional, moist-eyed parents who
comprehend the enormity of their
achievement more than they will for some
years to come, the group of young Karen
refugees could be any class, anywhere.
But their graduation ceremony, in the Mae La
refugee camp in Thailand, is one of the
greatest examples of the triumph of the
human spirit you are every likely to witness.
As they accept their certificates, this special
group of graduands are a beacon of hope for
more than 45,000 of their fellow refugees; a
shining example of what can be achieved even
by stateless young people who have never
known life beyond a refugee camp.
Back in their classrooms, near a steep hill
overlooking the camp, some fairly innocuous
refurbished computers await the arrival of the
next group of young people.
Sourced by the Australian Karen Foundation
through technology partners of Connecting
Up and TechSoup New Zealand over the
past 12 months because they were theonly
machines they could afford; thesehumble
computers have become the dream makers at
the heart of an amazing story.
It’s a story of how a trickle of technology can
create a flood of hope, of how determined
young refugees can overcome obstacles that
most of us could never imagine, and of how
even a small group of like-minded people with
the right technology can change the world.
Back in Melbourne, Andrew Flint, Co-Founder
of the Australian Karen Foundation, speaks
softly as he explains the transformational
impact of discounted computers and donated
software more than 8,000 kilometres away.
Asked to describe the Mae La refugee camp,
he talks of hustle and bustle, of sweat and
tears, of hope and despair … and of a school
with an open playground, and a basketball ring
at one end that is an oasis to the camp. “No,
not an oasis … a beacon”, he corrects.
Faced with a speculative query about whether
the school might still achieve great things
without the help a few discounted computers,
Mr Flint, who delivered the most recent batch of
technology to the camp in July, is unequivocal.
“No, without computers the school wouldn’t
exist. They are absolutely essential.
“Every year we have a graduation and I hear
about the skills giving graduates an edge. They
are able to learn how to use software and
learn skills, allowing many to become teachers
or teaching assistants themselves.”
Mr Flint describes how one graduate, in spite
of being stateless, managed to get a passport
and is now teaching in Hong Kong.
“It’s the most astounding story,” e says. “She
says if it was not for the school she couldn’t
have done it. Soon, she will return to the camp
to teach there.”
After 12 years, Mr Flint and his colleagues
at the Australian Karen Foundation could be
forgiven for taking a step back from their
enormous commitment, but they are firmly
fixed on future projects.
And with 5,000 Karen refugees settled in
Australia and the continuing need in the Mae
La camp, there is much still to be done.
One initiative will see the Australian Karen
Foundation use the increased internet
bandwidth available in the camp to give the
camp’s population access to the huge number of
free courses available throughthe philanthropic
Khan Academy.
Another will see Mr Flint and his colleagues
use the internet to connect volunteer English
language conversationalists in Australia with
students in Mae La.
As the interview nears its end, Mr Flint is
keen to talk about the importance of his
organisation’s partnership with Connecting
Up, and of the impact of Connecting Up
and TechSoup New Zealand’s donated and
discounted technology partners.
Refurbished computer discounts partner
RebootIT and software donor Microsoft merit
special mention as he describes the importance
of re-using technology, and even more
importantly, of fostering a continued culture
of giving in society.
“I’d really like this to be a success story for
Connecting Up,” he adds. “We couldn’t have
done this without you. I mean where else could
you get highly spec’d computer for $250?”
In spite of his organisation’s success, Mr Flint
confides that their time commitment has come
at the cost of the Australian Karen Foundation’s
own website. That’s something he would now
like to address, with the help of an expert
volunteer.
“We’ve been so focused on helping others we
haven’t managed to work on our own website,”
he says. “We have the content, we just need
someone with the expertise to volunteer. If
anyone can help, we’d love to hear from them.”
18

ORANGE SKY
AUSTRALIA
CASE STUDIES
Nic Marchesi’s answer to the question of what Orange Sky
Australia would look like without technology reveals two
profound truths about technology and Australian not-for-profits.
Thefirst is that ‘people-centric’and ‘technology-
centric’ are not mutually exclusive - even at an
organisation that offers a service as personally
impactful as a free mobile laundry and shower
service for people experiencing homelessness.
The second is that the Young Australian of
the Year 2016 can’t even conceive of how
his organisation’s 1200 volunteers and 27
services could achieve what they do without
the technology that underpins every aspect
of their work.
“We use technology across every part of our
organisation,” he adds. “It has enabled us to
work more efficiently in every area, from
our administration, to telling people about
what we do, to ensuring the safety of our
volunteers, to getting more donors on board.
It’s everywhere.”
And there’s something else remarkable
about the life-changing technology that
has helped Orange Sky spend more than
100,000 hours helping and talking with
people experiencing homelessness - much
of it has been donated by organisations
including global tech giant Microsoft.
While most Australians would be unaware
of such donations, their impact on Australian
not-for-profits like Orange Sky, and the
colossal individual and community benefits
that flow on, are beyond measure.
As well as an SQL Server and Office 365 from
Microsoft, Orange Sky also receives donated
products including Adobe’s Creative Cloud
and Bitdefender anti-virus that provide critical
functions and protection for their org and the
people it serves.
“Without these donations it’s very likely that
we could never have afforded to use the
technology that is so critical for our work,
so it’s really important for us,” says Marchesi.
Orange Sky is one of thousands oforganisations
receiving donated and discounted technology
through Australian not-for-profit technology
provider Connecting Up. The relationship is
strong, with Marchesi recently presenting at
Connecting Up’s annual conference.
He says being able to get technology from a
trusted, fellow not-for-profit is the icing on
the cake.
“That we can get these products through
another amazing not-for-profit like Connecting
Up that shares our values is really important for
Orange Sky,” he adds. “We’ve been registered
with Connecting up for three years now and
it’s made a big difference for us.”
“Being able to assist organisations like Orange
Sky and hear the impact is music to our ears at
Connecting Up,” says Acting Chief Executive
Officer Sandra Vallance. “We are passionate
about achieving our organisation’s mission
to increase the capability and impact of the
Australian not-for-profit sector.
“Orange Sky do incredible work that has such a
direct impact on individuals in the communities
they operate in, and we’re so grateful to be
able to contribute in making that possible.
“Nic is absolutely right about the importance
of great technology assisting the most
people-centred organisations and maximising
their impact. The right balance of technology
with human-centred design has the potential
to maximise many for purpose not-for-profit
potential and impact.
“Through donated and discounted technology
like the Microsoft, Adobe and Bitdefender
products he mentions, supported by good
IT strategy and decision-making, this all
becomes possible. Connecting Up is able to
provide access to a great many discounted
and donated products and services to support
most aspects of any IT strategy.
“Those are all things we can, and want to, help
with at Connecting Up – this is our impact.
“We hope Orange Sky’s story inspires more
organisations to get in touch so that we can
assist them to achieve the most appropriate
human-centred technology support for them
too.”
“I can’t imagine technology not being a
key part of our organisation. We’ve used
lots of tech right from the start because
we quickly realised the more we used it
the more people we helped.”
19

STRONGER COMMUNITIES
THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Level 1, 25 Leigh Street
Adelaide, South Australia 5000
Postal Address
GPO Box 11017
Adelaide, South Australia 5001
Phone: 1300 731 844
From outside Australia please call:
+61 8 8212 8555
Fax: +61 8 821 22788
Contact Connecting Up

Connecting Up Annual Report 2017 - 18

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