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PHOTO: Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Tony Garvey at the Technology for Social Justice Conference at Telstra Melbourne, 1 May 2024

This #FridayFlashback is inspired by the annual Australian Not-for-Profit Technology Awards which were announced this week by Infoxchange.

A key highlight of this year's Technology for Social Justice Conference, showcased exceptional initiatives where technology serves as a pivotal tool in solving complex social challenges. The event brought together innovators, thought leaders, and community organizations, highlighting the critical role of digital solutions in fostering societal well-being.

It’s the time each year we remember our collective commitment to harness technology for social good. Digital inclusion and support for the community sector are essential to the mission of the Digital Innovation Futures initiative, which aims to build an inclusive digital economy for all Victorians.

NFP Tech Award winners making a difference Justice Connect and VACCHO were highlighted for their innovative approaches to service delivery. Justice Connect’s AI model democratizes legal support by simplifying communication, and VACCHO’s Wominjeka ecosystem tailors health and justice services to Indigenous communities’ needs.

Other awardees included Jaron Green, recognized for his transformative role in IT at St Patrick's Community Support Centre, and Brian Hibben, who enhanced digital accessibility at Artworks Community Studio. The Smith Family and Calxa were also honored for their contributions to educational equality and nonprofit resource management, respectively.

Recognition for the community impact of DIF In 2020, the Victorian Government's DIF Festival received the Technology for Community Impact Award – Best Government Agency.

This accolade acknowledged our efforts to expand the festival's reach to include regional Victoria and to strengthen burgeoning startup and coworking networks.

It also recognized the continuity the platform provided the DIF community during challenging times. The swift transition to an online format in response to global challenges meant that monthly calls and the entire two-week DIF 2020 Festival went online.

Little did we know that 2021 would follow suit, but this adaptive move to a virtual delivery model created new ways to connect and learn. Innovation is often born amid challenging circumstances, and the DIF community of entrepreneurs, technologists, and magicians certainly made a difference when we needed it most.

There was one missing element when it comes to online award ceremonies in 2020: the trophy. Marking the first in-person gathering of the DIF community since November 2019, we created our own celebratory moment at the 2021 awards night. The DIF team are holding a borrowed trophy for their own moment in the spotlight

The 2021 NFP Tech Awards was one of the last events before the onset of lockdown restrictions. It was also one of the first major conferences in the post-COVID era at MCEC in May 2022.

This photo captures the collective spirit and reconnection of our DIF community for a moment. Left to Right: Marion Mundana, Phil Ore, Kelly Hutchinson, Darryl Rogan and Jessica Reesby.

Evolution of digital innovation events 2023 marked the final year for the DIF Festival and Connecting Up Conference, reflecting a significant evolution in the tech event landscape to better meet the needs of the community. The conference has been pivotal in the transformation that DIF has played in advocating for an inclusive digital economy since 2018.

Our approach to DIF this year builds on the recognition we received in 2020. The award reminded us that our core mission is to showcase and connect Victorian innovators, inspiring us to continue evolving.

In our last year, instead of hosting a single two-week festival, we have amplified our tech community. This evolution allows us to support new events such as the inaugural Technology for Social Justice Conference, the Festival of AI and Robotics, and Cremorne Tech Week.

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