💻NSW Digital Inclusion Strategy Tackled at Sydney Hackathon

Sydney played host to the grand finale of the 2025 ANZ Hackathon, an initiative proudly supported by the NSW Telco Authority, held recently at ServiceNow’s office in the city. The event brought together leading innovators from across the tech sector, all focused on developing practical solutions to enhance the inclusivity of government services for residents across New South Wales.

This year's hackathon centred on the NSW Digital Inclusion Strategy, a framework launched in May by the NSW Telco Authority. The strategy aims to ensure all individuals and communities can access and benefit from the digital world, irrespective of their location, background, or personal circumstances.

Over several weeks, participants developed ingenious ideas designed to bridge the digital divide. Concepts included AI-powered emergency connectivity planning, a platform connecting people experiencing homelessness with essential nearby services, and a multilingual voice assistant capable of converting customer queries into service incidents.

Rania Wannous, NSW Telco Authority’s Executive Director of Customer and Emergency Management, served on the judging panel, bringing her extensive experience with Emergency Services Organisations to the evaluation process. Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib, delivered a keynote address at the finale, underscoring the vital importance of embedding inclusion and accessibility into all government digital services.

Minister Dib stated, “The goal is simple: a more inclusive, connected NSW where everyone can participate in a digital society.” He added that the government is committed to making digital services easy to use for everyone, regardless of where they live, their age, ability, or background, highlighting why events like this hackathon are crucial.

The hackathon underscored the value of collaboration between government and the tech industry, and the pivotal role innovation plays in building a more inclusive digital future for NSW residents, including those in Sydney.