Datacom group gathered

Our communities

Making a valuable contribution to the communities where we live and work is important to Datacom.

Our team live and work in communities across Australia and New Zealand, and we contribute to these communities in hundreds of different ways – big and small.

Our commitment to community starts with our own people — we want everyone to feel empowered to bring their whole self to work and to know they will be valued for their unique, diverse perspectives.

For Datacom, being committed to our communities is also about helping to create and connect people with new opportunities. We also believe we have a responsibility to the communities where we live and work to find ways to support greater equity in the tech sector — both through greater access to technology and education, and by creating more pathways into a career in tech.

We have developed a range of career development initiatives such as our early careers programme, TalentX, Connect Academy, free courses available via a virtual work experience platform, and we are a partner for many other training and mentoring programmes including providing mentoring and internships for First Foundation, Tuputoa, Take2, Mission Ready, the Kokiri accelerator, AWS re/Start, #10kWahine, North & South Metro TAFE, RMIT, UNSW, Indigenous Development Employment Programme and MEGT.

We are committed to supporting our communities and responding where we see a need and the Datacom Foundation is an example of this commitment.

Another way we support our communities is to lend our support to not-for-profits and to get in behind fundraising campaigns and initiatives each year including Lifewise, Homeless Connect, the PJ Project, ThinkUKnow and STEPtember.

What steps is Datacom taking to help people thrive and shape their own futures?

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    Building connections

    We work to build meaningful connections and foster a greater understanding of the cultures, history and aspirations of the communities and countries we work and live in.
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    Creating tech pathways

    We provide training and mentoring opportunities, through a range of programmes and partnerships, to help people grow tech skills and creating new pathways into the tech sector.
  • People icon

    Supporting our communities

    We look for opportunities to respond to the needs of our communities and get involved in local volunteering and fundraising activities. We understand that small actions can have a big impact.

Scholarships build strong foundations for the future

Datacom has joined forces with First Foundation as a partner and has welcomed its five sponsored 2022 scholars – Ryley Gray (Tainui, Tākawira Dargaville), Brady Wilson (Ngai Tahu, Ōtautahi Christchurch), Emily Roxburgh (Papatoetoe), Deago Tataurangi (Rangitane, Papatoetoe), and Arno Stil (Pōneke Wellington) – as they embark on their work experience placements across the business. 

It has also recently welcomed its two 2023 scholars, Grace Fa’ave (Māngere) and Taranaki Te Hauora (Porirua), at the annual First Foundation awards ceremony for scholarship recipients.  

For Datacom, joining forces with First Foundation made perfect sense, says Technology Services Managing Director Justin Gray.  

“We were really impressed by First Foundation’s proven track record, and we want to be part of creating really meaningful opportunities that will have a lasting impact on these young people and their communities,” says Justin. “Offering four years of holistic support, the First Foundation model is not just a one-off – this is a programme creating real, lasting change in people’s lives.” 

Timoti Wharewaka and Farnoosh Farahi welcome 2023 scholars Grace and Taranaki at the 2023 First Foundation scholarship awards

Creating safer spaces for children online with ThinkUKnow

Online safety programme ThinkUKnow helps protect children from exploitation while online, and is reaching thousands of students, families and educators every year.

Datacom has been a critical ThinkUKnow partner for a decade, providing both volunteers to facilitate the programme and technical support and capability.

Datacom promotes opportunities to deliver ThinkUKnow presentations among its staff, and sets annual targets for volunteer numbers and presentation-training attendance to ensure a consistent number of volunteers. Since the inception of ThinkUKnow, the programme has doubled its number of registered volunteers enabling it to grow its reach.

Greg Furlong, Datacom’s General Manager, PSG Innovation and Growth Practices, is among those who have put up their hand to deliver ThinkUKnow presentations.

“That first-hand experience has made me really passionate about getting involved, and preventing this from happening to other people. I believe encouraging conversations between parents and their children, or teachers and students, that prevent children from experiencing nasty cyber behaviours like grooming is really worthwhile work.”

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Graduates from AWS re/Start join Datacom

More than ten interns from the first cohort of Amazon Web Services (AWS) re/Start cloud computing course have now finished their internships with Datacom with many receiving full-time job offers.

AWS re/Start is a free, skills development and job training programme that prepares learners for cloud computing careers, and globally connects more than 90% of graduates with job opportunities. The programme is part of Amazon’s commitment to bring free cloud computing skills training to communities around the world.

For Datacom, AWS re/Start is providing a pathway to connect more Pacific and Māori people to the exciting world of technology and to showcase the rich career opportunities on offer.

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Stepping up to make a difference

STEPtember 2022 saw the formation of a 760-strong transtasman Datacom team who clocked up more than 140 million steps in their efforts to raise money to support people living with cerebral palsy.

Pre and post-work team walks and “mobile meetings” became a regular occurrence, and taking a selfie while walking was definitely on trend.

Datacom Connect MD Stacey Tomasoni led “Pace with Stace” sessions throughout September, which drew together team members from different countries and as many as 20 different cities and towns.

“Raising money for life-changing research and support services for cerebral palsy was a great source of motivation for the team and people went above and beyond to squeeze thousands of extra steps into their week.”

The team’s final fundraising total for STEPtember was more than $70,000, including a $20,000 contribution from Datacom. The plan for 2023 is to beat these numbers!

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Opening doors to Take2 graduates

The first graduates from a unique programme teaching a small group of prisoners how to code will soon be ready to apply their skills in the real world — and Datacom is one of the companies offering internships.

During the 12-month pilot programme, the participants have been learning intermediate web and app development through a handful of programming languages.

Managing Director Justin Gray says two students from the original cohort will intern with Datacom, and the focus will be on providing a supportive and nurturing environment where they can apply and grow their skills.

Take2 founder and CEO Cameron Smith says it is about ensuring people are not going back to the outside world without any skills or any opportunity. 

“What we’re doing is providing them hope. It’s about allowing them to improve their quality of life.”

Collaborative work Software engineers website developer technologies or programmer working coding on startup ai application project on screen with partner in coworking space office company

Our values

  • People on Maori Wakas looking up at the starry night sky

    Exceed customer expectations

    Our customers' success drives what we do. We walk in their shoes, deliver on our promise and find ways to go above and beyond to help achieve their goals.
  • A hand reaching out over waves at a southern cross constellation

    Look beyond today

    Our curiosity drives our continuous evolution. We will encourage freedom to explore, discover and learn. Together, we can create an exciting future.
  • A group of three Maori Wakas floating in a bay

    Thrive together

    We actively collaborate and think long-term for our customers, our partners and our people.
  • A full Maori Waka with people padding together

    Everyone has a part

    We commit to respectfully see the world through other peoples' eyes and encourage their contribution to a better place.
  • A Maori Waka carrying 3 people traversing ocean waves

    It’s the people

    We are caring and humble and foster an environment where we can bring our best selves to work. Our people make the difference.
  • A Maori Waka battling large waves

    Courage to act

    We are bold with our customers, partners and each other. We show strength and have confidence to speak up and take action.

Frequently asked questions

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Creating a pathway for healing and opportunity with education

A special foundation established in the wake of the devastating Christchurch mosque attacks is helping connect the children and families of victims with education and new opportunities.

Working with local community leaders, we have established the Datacom Foundation – Iqra Salam Te Aroha, meaning read/learn, and peace in Arabic, and love in Māori.

These children will receive financial support to attend tertiary education and other support needed to fulfil their potential, over and above government agency support.

The charitable foundation will also provide counselling, rehabilitation and other support services for the children who lost parents or had parents injured in the attack.

The Foundation, which is designed to run for decades to come, is governed by a Board of Trustees and chaired by Husain Al-Badry, Datacom’s Head of Foundry.

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How to apply for the Datacom Foundation

We know how important education is to the families who have been impacted as a result of that terrible day. As part of New Zealand’s business community, we felt it was best to find ways to support the future of the children who were affected in the wake of the attack. 

Download an application form if you’re planning to study at any tertiary institution in New Zealand. This includes any accredited university, polytechnic, and vocational training establishment, and for courses of any length of time.

Once you've completed your form, send your completed application forms back to us.