Throughout 2024 Datacom has supported a full programme of early career opportunities, internships, mentoring and scholarships; strengthening our commitment to diversity and inclusion and helping grow tech talent that benefits Datacom teams and the tech industry.
Datacom’s Virtual Learning Platform continued to go from strength to strength. This year saw a high uptake with 2297 enrolments across ANZ, contributing to more than 22,000 participants globally who expressed an interest in being part of the Datacom team. Participants contributed to 17% of graduate hires in New Zealand, with 45 graduates joining the team across Australasia and a wider total of 125 new starters in our early careers pathways.
The Datacom scholarship with Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand for a second-year student in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or Software Engineering was awarded to Mia Willis who came onboard in November and will be here until late February. As a scholarship partner to First Foundation, we continued to provide work experience opportunities for talented secondary school students and helped the Foundation increase its impact. This year we chose to sponsor Eva Scott who is in Year 12, New Plymouth Girl’s High School and Aliannah Thompson from Hurunui, North Canterbury, both of whom intend to do tertiary study in the future.
We also renewed our three-year partnership with TupuToa, hosting interns to give professional opportunities to Māori and Pacific in corporate, government and community organisations.
“The partnership between TupuToa and Datacom symbolises our shared commitment in creating an environment that nurtures the growth and development of individuals within our Māori and Pacific communities. Together, we are making a meaningful impact,” says TupuToa CEO Aroha Armstrong.
Our Melbourne office welcomed Year 4 students from Mount Waverley Heights Primary School as part of the Datacom Beacon School Industry Immersion programme.
Datacom team members shared their experiences and insights into technology and students learned about some of the core transferable skills they will need in the workplace, enjoyed a live video tour of Datacom's Integration and Warehouse facility in South Australia and visited the HP Customer Welcome Centre.
In Hamilton, New Zealand, 13 enterprising students visited as part of TechWomen NZ ‘s ShadowTech24 programme, which helps young women in secondary school explore career pathways at a leading tech company. Datacom also took part in the Dare to Dream event in South Australia, inspiring more than 200 Year 9 and 10 girls to explore STEM careers.
Working with Microsoft, our Auckland office welcomed more than 100 rangatahi (youth) from Kura Kaupapa (full immersion in Māori language and customs) schools on New Zealand’s East Coast.
In Australia we continued to build meaningful relationships with First Nations Peoples and shared our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) - a comprehensive document outlining our strategic initiatives and commitment to reconciliation.
It represents Datacom’s responsibility to contribute positively to this important process, and our dedication to create an inclusive workplace, promote Indigenous-led initiatives and engage in respectful and collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities and businesses in our day-to-day operations including traineeships, employment, cultural awareness education and procurement practices.
In July, Sydney staff celebrated NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) week recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Datacom also co-sponsored a table with APC by Schneider Networks at the GO Foundation’s ‘Big Lunch’ in Sydney to raise funds for indigenous education.
As 2024 draws to a close, our local teams have been playing an important part in making a difference within our communities. To help those struggling to put food on the table, teams in SA, NSW, ACT, WA and NZ came together to donate, pack and deliver food hampers and gifts for Oz Harvest, Karinya House, Mission Australia, Communicare, Auckland City Mission, Wellington City Mission and food banks across New Zealand.
We also provided resources to Backpacks 4 Kids Modbury, which contributes to the care, safety and wellbeing of children during periods of dislocation from home; TLC for kids VIC, helping sick kids and their families cope with the challenges of everyday life with illness; the Achievers Club in WA to help students from low socio-economic backgrounds set and achieve their academic goals; the Children's Hospital Foundation QLD, providing patients and families access to programmes and services from financial support to free meals; Empower, donating gifts to vulnerable children and teenagers and also in QLD we took part in the Daylight to Darkness run, raising money to highlight domestic violence, and finally
We also supported the Autism Society Philippines and the National Autism Society of Malaysia.
