Telstra in the Community Report 2009 (PDF, 2.1MB)
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TELSTRA IN THE COMMUNITY CONTENTS 02 Connecting the disconnected 08 Building stronger communities 12 Snapshot 2008/09 14 Supporting local economies 20 Backing our employees 26 Measuring community investment Contact us Community investment is a component of Telstra's broader corporate responsibility commitment. For more information please visit www.telstra.com.au/cr. For more information on our community initiatives and to join the conversation please visit www.telstra.com/ideasforgood. Your feedback on this publication is welcome. Please email Julia Hellyer at [email protected]. Telstra has a proud tradition of enabling Australians to communicate with each other and participating in local communities all around the country. Telstra touches nearly every Australian in some way – be they customers, shareholders or employees. We are active in virtually every local community around the nation. This is about who Telstra is as a company and demonstrates the commitment we have to this nation. We invest in communities with our networks, products and services as well as the time and skills of our people. We help to connect the disconnected and we work to build and strengthen local economies. We also support our own people in the community initiatives that matter most to them. We are proud of Telstra’s community activities, some of which are highlighted in this report, and of the important work we do in helping to contribute to the wellbeing of all Australians. David Thodey Chief Executive Officer February 2010 CONNEctING THE DISCONNECTED Telstra invests in services and programs that connect people with their families, friends and communities, and help to overcome barriers of distance and disadvantage through the use of information and communication technologies. Telstra in the Community | Page 2 numbers, but one main and important 500,000+ feature is that this phone is particularly AccESS FOR GOOD REASONS useful for people with hearing aids,” EvERYONE MADE said Liz Evans, President of Cochlear FOR HEARING AID Implant Club and Advisory Association POSSIBLE COMPATIBLE (CICADA) Queensland, former board “Staying in touch goes to the very core member of Deafness Forum, and a of our existence. Irrespective of your PHONES long time enthusiastic advocate for income or financial position, you should For 20 years, Telstra has been people with hearing impairment. be able to stay in touch with your family, engaging the community in a Telstra Manager Disability Services, friends and community.” consumer consultation program Bert Ciavarra, said that Australians Chris Dodds, Australian Council of Social which has led to many improvements with hearing impairment need mobile Service, Chairman of the Low Income and innovations in our products phones that are interference free. Measures Assessment Committee and services. “We’ve always promised the Next These include making mobile G™ network would be better than the Most people take their access to handsets more accessible to the more previous mobile networks – with less modern, affordable communications than 500,000 Australians with hearing interference and greater coverage – services for granted. However, there aids. While mobile handsets on the and this commitment extends to the are many who struggle to afford the Telstra Next G™ mobile network do specific needs of the people in our basics and in Australia there are over not generally cause interference with community with hearing impairment,” 1.6 million households with a very hearing aids, members of the Deafness he said. low disposable income who are at Forum and Better Hearing Australia, risk of isolation. both represented on the Telstra Through our Access for Everyone Disability Forum, told us they wanted Did you know? programs, Telstra provides a better hearing aid compatibility in our In 1996 we formalised our commitment comprehensive package of products mobile phones. to enhancing telecommunications and services to assist people on a low And we listened. The specifications for people with disability by becoming income or in financial hardship to for the EasyTouch Discovery 1 and 2 one of the first major Australian stay in touch. mobile phones, launched in late 2008 corporations to lodge a Disability “The programs are based on the and 2009 respectively, included an Action Plan with the Human Rights belief that a sense of connectedness Australian-first requirement for an and Equal Opportunity Commission. is fundamentally important to excellent rating (based on a US In 2010, following an independent individual, family and community rating system) for hearing aid review of performance against actions wellbeing for all Australians. This compatibility in both microphone in our Fourth Disability Action Plan includes older people, job-seekers, and telecoil settings, which was to 2007–09, we will be preparing our Indigenous communities, as well as be laboratory tested and verified. Fifth Disability Action Plan 2010–2012. people with disability,” said Robert To ensure the end user experience Morsillo, Telstra Group Manager was consistent with the lab test findings, For more information visit Consumer Affairs. we tested the prototypes with people www.telstra.com.au/disability Access for Everyone programs with hearing aids at the 2009 Better include lower-cost telephone services, Hearing Australia Annual Conference. Sadly, Better Hearing Australia National discounts for eligible pensioners, The results confirmed the lab test President and Telstra Disability Forum emergency relief options such as findings and all participants who member Alan Keir passed away on 20 assistance paying Telstra bills and tested the EasyTouch Discovery 2 said August 2009, after a long battle with provision of phone cards, as well as they would recommend the handset cancer. “Alan worked tirelessly and pre-paid mobile handsets and starter to other people with hearing aids. Their effectively to improve the lives of people kits for people who are homeless. feedback included comments like: with hearing impairment and will be The success of the programs “The first mobile I can use!” remembered as a knowledgeable, depends largely on our partnerships “As clear and useable as any fixed passionate and compassionate with around 4,000 community agencies line phone. Perhaps better!” advocate,” said Bert Ciavarra, a long across Australia, who make use of “Very surprising result. Clear, no time collaborator and friend. Telstra the services provided by Telstra for buzzing, noise or interference.” is grateful for the opportunity to have their clients. “The Telstra Easy Touch Discovery worked with Alan over a long period “The real benefit is gained through mobile phone not only includes many to help drive change and improve our the use of telecommunications for useful features for people to use in a products and services for Australians social, personal and family wellbeing,” simple manner including large print with hearing impairment. said Sue McAleer, Access For Everyone Project Manager. Did you know? In 2008/09, we provided assistance to more than one million low-income customers to connect or maintain their communication services. The total benefit provided exceeded $180 million. Since 2002, we have provided over $1 billion in concessions and benefits. For more information visit www.telstra.com.au/accessforeveryone Telstra in the Community | Page 3 Anne Baldwin is one of many older Leeton Shire residents who have been getting tips on how to get the most out of their mobile phones, thanks to a grant from Telstra and a program delivered by the CWA; caption and image courtesy of The Irrigator, Leeton NSW, 31/03/09 with Hanwood, Griffith to come Thinking young only TELSTRA followed by session throughout way to stay in touch CONNEctED the Murrumbidgee Lachlan Group, Terry McCarthy isn’t ashamed to admit including Hillston and Goolgowi. his eight-year-old granddaughter SENIORS® Telstra has provided resources and knows a fair bit more about today’s Telstra Connected Seniors® is a Mrs Bailey will aim to complete 15 to technology than he does. tailored program created to help 20 sessions by the end of April. She From sending a text-message, to older Australians learn how to make said most seniors have mobile phones using the internet, the Maryborough the most of new technology. It and just need someone to show them resident, in his early 70s, has never felt supports seniors’ community groups the “ins and outs” of the technology. the need to keep up to speed – until with grants ranging from $5,000 to “What I’m really pleased about is doing now, that is. $50,000 to run educational workshops pre-emptive text when SMSing and I “It was starting to feel like on using mobile phones and the know so many younger people who everything was going past me,” he internet in a fun, friendly peer don’t do it,” Mrs Bailey said. said. “I wanted to learn how to use a environment. Here is how the “We are taking and sending photos computer to stay in touch with my program is making a difference and generally getting the most out of kids and grandkids.” to older people across Australia. the technology. I try and group people up So Mr McCarthy, a member of the so they can send each other messages.” Maryborough Probus Club, decided Joining the techno revolution Courtesy of The Irrigator, Leeton to join club members in Telstra’s Country Women’s Association (CWA) NSW, 31/03/09 Introduction to the Internet workshop members will be able to SMS with the for seniors last Friday. “I’m going away best of the best of the youth across the Workshops help make with much more than I came with,” he region thanks to a program of learning seniors text savvy said. “So far, it’s been of great benefit.” sessions. With grants from Telstra, the Territory seniors now have the chance Mr McCarthy said one of the CWA will be teaching seniors across to keep up to date with the latest hardest parts to grasp was internet and the district all about their mobile mobile communications technology.