Why Catalysing Connections Exists
More than 2.5 million Australians are digitally excluded. Without a phone or internet connection, people miss:
job interviews
housing updates
school communications
telehealth
support services
contact with family, community and Country
Digital exclusion isn’t an inconvenience — it’s a barrier to dignity, safety, opportunity and belonging. Catalysing Connections reinvests 100% of Recover-E profits into free phones, connectivity and community access for people who would otherwise be cut off.
How It Works
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Retired technology → Recover-E
Your old laptops, PCs and devices are collected securely, wiped or destroyed, and refurbished or recycled. -
Value is recoveredAny resale value or recoverable yield is financially returned to TechForGood.
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100% of this profit funds Catalysing ConnectionsWe partner with frontline charities, Indigenous organisations and community groups to deliver phones and connectivity where they create the greatest impact.
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Connection becomes a measurable impact outcomeEvery phone creates approximately 2,640 Human Connections per year — calls, SMS, emails, appointments and critical online interactions.
Our 2025 Beneficiaries
The longer a device stays in use, the lower the environmental impact and total lifetime cost
Fitted for Work (VIC)
Who they are
Fitted for Work helps women experiencing disadvantage to get work, keep work, and navigate work with confidence. Clients include women leaving violence, women over 45, asylum seekers, migrant women and women experiencing homelessness.
What your support enabled
30 women received a smartphone and 12 months’ connectivity. This meant:
- taking job interviews they would have otherwise missed
- completing online courses
- staying connected to support workers
- safe communication with family and services
- managing Centrelink, MyGov and banking
In their words
"A working phone can be the difference between getting the job or missing the call. Your support meant our clients could move out of crisis and into stability.” – Fitted for Work Case Manager
If this support didn’t exist
Women would continue to fall out of the workforce pipeline because the basic digital tools required to secure work simply weren’t there.
The Spiers Centre (WA)
Who they are
A lifeline for families in financial crisis across Perth’s northern corridor. They support people facing family violence, homelessness, food insecurity, mental health challenges and acute financial distress.
What your support enabled
Phones and connectivity ensured families could:
- contact emergency accommodation
- coordinate health and mental health appointments
- receive school notifications
- connect with financial counsellors
- access crisis support in real time
In their words
"For families with literally nothing, a phone restores access and dignity. Your support changed lives.” – Spiers Centre CEO
If this support didn’t exist
Families would remain invisible — unable to access services and unable to break free from crisis cycles.
Broome CIRCLE (NT)
Who they are
Broome CIRCLE supports some of the most remote and isolated families in Australia. They work with Aboriginal communities, young parents, elders, vulnerable families and people experiencing social disadvantage and geographic isolation.
What your support enabled
Phones and connectivity allowed families to:
- reach Centrelink and housing officers
- maintain school attendance communication
- stay connected to extended family
- access health services
- participate actively in their community
In their words
"Our families now have a way to stay in touch with the world. That’s not small — that’s everything.” – Broome CIRCLE Community Worker
If this support didn’t exist
Families would remain disconnected from essential systems, education and social participation — entrenching disadvantage.
Jabalbina Yalanji Rangers (QLD)
Who they are
Indigenous Rangers protecting Eastern Kuku Yalanji Country — rainforest, mangroves, reef, sacred sites and cultural heritage.
What your support enabled
Catalysing Connections funded Starlink satellite connectivity, giving Rangers real-time communication across complex terrain. This improved:
- patrol safety
- environmental monitoring
- cultural heritage management
- emergency response
- field coordination
In their words
"Connectivity means we can work smarter, safer and with more cultural authority.” – Ranger Lead, Jabalbina Yalanji*
If this support didn’t exist
Rangers would continue working with communication blackspots and increased safety risks.
Our Outcomes (FY25)
132,000 Human Connections created
50 smartphones delivered + Starlink connectivity
4 states reached
Impact funded entirely through Recover-E
100% of profit reinvested into communities
Why Your Retired Tech Matters
Every organisation needs to refresh its IT. Recover-E ensures that:
- data is wiped securely
- devices are recycled ethically
- environmental certifications are provided
- AND every device funds digital inclusion
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
Registered charities, Indigenous organisations and community groups.
How is this program funded?
Through TechForGood’s Recover-E service.
Do beneficiaries receive refurbished devices?
No. Catalysing Connections provides new phones and/or connectivity.
How many people can we support?
Most partners receive 10–50 devices per cycle, depending on need and funding.
How do we partner with you commercially?
Organisations can support Catalysing Connections by using Recover-E when retiring IT hardware.
Do beneficiaries keep the phone and number after 12 months?
Yes. The phone is theirs to keep, and our partner Goodtel makes it easy to transfer ownership of the number.
