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A major telecommunications company is allowing Australians to donate their unused data to help children in need bridge a gap that's been labelled the "newest frontier of poverty".
One of the children in need was Amy Chen, who felt left behind in a digital world.
Chen didn't have a laptop or internet outside of school, which became a major issue when learning moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"I didn't have data on my phone, it was just to minimise any cost to my family. I couldn't access internet outside of school," she said.
That's when she signed up to a program from Optus.
The telco allows customers to offload their leftover data at the end of every month to help a student in need.
"They get access to a sim card which gives them calls, SMS and access to data gives them access to school websites to do their homework and research," Optus' customer solutions managing director Anthony Shiner told 9News.
The children who benefit are selected by charities.
"The digital divide is a significant challenge – in a way, it's the newest frontier of poverty," Smith Family chief executive Doug Taylor said.
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Taylor said 2500 families were surveyed through the donate-your-data program and 98 per cent reported an uplift in technology skills.
"This program has been remarkably successful," he said.
"In addition, we've been able to provide 10,000 laptops to the families we're supporting."
Since 2019, the program has benefited 50,000 Australians and the telco hopes more customers will give the gift of connection this Christmas.
With 61 per cent of Australians wanting to donate this festive season, 50 per cent feel constrained by financial pressures.
Optus sees its program as a win-win.
"At this time Australians are giving people, we're making it really simple by them not having to hand over cash," Shiner said.
"Our goal is to get to 7 million gigabytes of data donated by the end of the year."
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Being connected has helped Chen achieve her dream of studying cybercrime at university.
"It made a really big difference to study having access to the internet. I was able to work on assessments on the way to classes," she said.
"I am extremely grateful, without it I wouldn't be where I am today."
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