Techfugees Australia Hackathon with Young People

HACKERS, HUSTLERS, HIPSTERS AND HUMANITARIANS COMING TOGETHER TO BUILD SOLUTIONS WITH YOUNG REFUGEES 

Saturday/Sunday, 5-6 November 2016

Techfugees Australia is the tech community's response to the current refugee crisis involving a network of concerned individuals who want to help refugees settle happily and more quickly into the Australian community.

We’re part of a global movement that started in late 2015 with dozens of events now held around the world. In Australia, we’ve held two events, the first in Sydney (November 2015) and then in Melbourne (April 2016). Many of the solutions developed are now operating as tech start-ups in their own right.

Our next Hackathon will focus specifically on hacking the challenges faced by young people (~16 to 24). Of course if you’re older than that we’re still keen for you to participate!

Once again, we will bring together developers, designers, entrepreneurs and community members to develop creative tech solutions. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been to a Hackathon everyone is welcome and you’ll have tons of fun while learning new skills and meeting lots of great people.

Hacker Teams will develop tech solutions for young refugee settlement challenges articulated by our partners including Settlement Services International (SSI) the largest not-for-profit humanitarian settlement organisation in Australia.

Themes for the Hack will include: *safety and well-being * learning the language * community connections * recognition for prior qualifications * employment * identity and belonging * knowledge of support services. These are very serious and important topics and to ensure we have lots of fun, we will also award a prize for the Hack that makes Sydney more Awesome for Young Refugees, thanks to support from the Awesome Foundation Sydney.

Refugees especially young refugees who have already settled in Australia will participate in the event to help teams deeply understand problems and challenges faced by new arrivals. Those who participated in our first events know that hearing from and working alongside refugees was an absolute highlight of our previous Hackathons.

Leaders from the Tech Community will mentor teams through the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, teams will pitch their solutions to a Judging Panel of Tech and Community Leaders.

The event is supported by City of Parramatta Council and will be in Parramatta, Western Sydney because this is where most refugees settle. There is no cost to participate and wonderful food and snacks will be available all weekend.

We are planning to award sensational prizes that help teams complete and launch their solutions including a place at Catalysr, a refugee and migrant incubator, a cash prize from the Awesome Foundation Sydney and a whole bunch of awesome stuff from Academy Xi who provide tech courses for UX, UI, Virtual Reality and more. Stay tuned for more info on prizes! 

Come make a difference, have some fun, learn a lot and help to welcome young refugees to the Australian community.  

HACKATHON PROGRAM

DATES

Saturday to Sunday 5-6 November, 9 to 6pm both days. Pitches Sunday Afternoon from around 4pm

VENUE

ICE - Information + Cultural Exchange

Street Address: 8 Victoria Rd Parramatta (Corner Villiers St)

10 minutes walk from train station or Ferry. Free Shuttle Bus from Parramatta Station – Darcy Street Exit

CONNECT WITH US!

Twitter: @TechfugeesAust1  #hack4refugees

Facebook: facebook.com/techfugeesaustralia

Web: Techfugees.com (for the global movement)

For questions about the event including media enquiries please email Nicole Williamson at techfugeesaustralia@gmail.com.

We are also looking for sponsors to cover provide in-kind support for the event.