Reflecting on TPG Telecom’s recent Hackathon with Guide Dogs Australia, event organiser and Head of the TPG Telecom Foundation Jonathan Kirkham remarks:

“One highlight for me was during Matt Hagan’s presentation (Retail Distribution Strategy, Design & Program Manager) where he said, ‘We came into this session with the goal to become the most accessible store in the telco space’. What a powerful goal!”

Underscored by our commitment to inclusion and belonging, the TPG Telecom Foundation & Guide Dogs Australia Hackathon aimed to address accessibility challenges faced by our people and customers living with low vision or blindness. With over 40 volunteers from across all areas of the business, the event harnessed the innovative spirit of our people to develop actionable plans to enhance accessibility and useability across our organisation.

The Day’s Agenda

The event began with a warm welcome from Guide Dogs Australia. Tamara Searant, General Manager of Social Change, delivered a compelling presentation on the challenges faced by individuals with low vision and blindness.

This was followed by Ben Moxey, Access and Technology Advisor, who shared his personal journey and insights as a vision impaired person, highlighting both the barriers and emerging technologies aiding accessibility.

Participants then divided into groups to identify and solve accessibility issues, engaging in interactive sessions with Guide Dogs staff and enjoying a unique break with the Ambassador Dogs.

Team presentations and a feedback session concluded the day, consolidating the learnings and insights gained by our enthusiastic volunteers.

“It was great to learn about lived experiences from those with low vision and blindness and the challenges they face navigating the digital and physical world,” said Stu Peck, Head of Attack and Respond within our Tech Security department.

“Creating solutions that address accessibility issues is something we are all very passionate about, and this Hackathon allowed everyone to bring their unique expertise to the table and create some fantastic solutions.”

Highlighting Team Efforts

Several teams focused on different aspects of accessibility, each bringing unique perspectives and solutions.

The Vodafone Store Design Team aimed to improve the physical store design to better accommodate those with low vision, focusing on layout adjustments and signage enhancements to create a more navigable environment.

The Operations Team concentrated on training staff in best practices for supporting customers with low vision, enhancing communication methods and ensuring that information is easily accessible.

The Digital and IT Team took on the challenge of enhancing the website's user experience for those with low vision, aiming to simplify navigation and improve accessibility features. Team member Roslyn Zolander, Senior UX/UI Manager, relished the experience, saying:

“Personally, a highlight was working with my incredible team, "Digital Warriors." The synergy was remarkable as we leveraged our role strengths – UX designers, UX copywriters, SEO Specialist, and Brand Manager – to bring our idea to life. Seeing everyone play a part in presenting and collaborating seamlessly was truly inspiring.

Looking forward to seeing these innovative ideas come to fruition and making a positive impact on our community!”

Vision for the Future

Speaking to the significance of the event, Jonathan Kirkham explains,

“According to Guide Dogs, there are well over 600,000 people in Australia (that we know of) who live with low vision or blindness, and navigating spaces, services, and products can be extremely difficult and limiting for them. If we can implement some solutions to make their experience easier and simpler, so they can connect with their family, friends, pay their bills, online shop, or whatever it is they use TPG Telecom’s brands for – we are contributing to make Australia a more accessible and inclusive country for all.”