Team Name

Team 2918

Team Members

Project Description

🌐 CommHelpr

CommHelpr is an AI-powered civic platform designed to make government and community services more accessible, intuitive, and responsive. Whether accessed via website, mobile app, or physical kiosk, CommHelpr helps residents easily discover, access, and engage with services/community in a safe, scam-free, and user-friendly environment.

CommHelpr is designed to support all residents equally, without judgement, bias, or moral filtering. The platform’s role is to provide clear, accurate, and accessible information, not to decide who is “more deserving” or to make value judgements about personal circumstances.

CommHelpr comprises two main features: LocalLens and LifeSignals, which work together to provide these services.

🗺️ LocalLens

A real-time, AI-curated map of both government and community services available online or via public kiosks. LocalLens turns scattered data into an easy visual guide for residents, helping them navigate daily life and respond quickly in emergencies.

Government Services

• Map view of local offices, service centres, and facilities (libraries, housing offices, waste depots, health clinics).
  
• Live status indicators — instantly shows if a service is open, at capacity, or has a waitlist.
  
• Alert overlays — highlights urgent updates such as road closures, bin collection delays, subsidy deadlines.
  

Community Services

• Community Pins — local clubs, charities, and grassroots events can “pin” themselves to the map, increasing visibility and community engagement.
  
• Civic Pulse Reports — AI clusters resident feedback (e.g., potholes, service requests, or suggestions) into actionable insights for councils.
  
• Emergency Mode — during crises (floods, fires, storms), LocalLens transforms into an emergency-first tool:
  
  • Highlights evacuation routes, relief centres, and shelters.
    
  • Pushes real-time alerts (road closures, service disruptions).
    
  • Auto-prepares recovery support applications for affected residents.
    

🤖 LifeSignals

LifeSignals is the AI agent at the heart of CommHelpr. It acts like a digital civic concierge, giving residents both intelligent notifications (LifeSignals) when they need them and a friendly chat assistant when they want to ask questions.

Smart Suggestions (LifeSignals)

The AI proactively surfaces relevant, timely information, reducing stress and saving time. LifeSignals keeps residents one step ahead, guiding them through everyday tasks, protecting them from scams, and supporting them in emergencies.

Examples:

- “The clinic nearby has no wait right now — would you like me to book?”

- “Your rebate deadline is in 5 days — renew here.”

- “Storm alert tonight — sandbags available at the council depot.”

AI Chat (Ask Anything)

The AI chat makes CommHelpr feel like talking to a helpful local council worker but available 24/7. Residents can type or speak naturally without needing to know department names, forms, or jargon.

Examples:

- “Where do I renew my licence?”

- “Are there free activities for kids this weekend?”

- “Can you check if this message from the ATO is real?”

The agent always replies in a clear, step-by-step format:

- Plain Language Answer — “You can renew your licence at the Logan Service Centre. It is open until 5:30pm.”

- Map Integration — automatically highlights the location on LocalLens, showing directions and opening hours.

- Quick Action Buttons — offers shortcuts like:

- “Book an appointment”

- “Download form”

- “Get Directions”

🎯 Benefits

• For Citizens: One trusted hub, plain-language support, scam protection, and proactive help with navigating complex services.
  
• For Government: Streamlined service delivery, better citizen engagement, and richer “Civic Pulse” insights for planning.
  
• For Communities: Local groups gain visibility, residents discover grassroots initiatives, and civic life becomes more connected.
  

🛡️ Privacy & Security

CommHelpr is built on the principle of trust first, every interaction is designed to be safe, private, and scam-free.

Data Protection & Privacy

• Residents control their own profile and can choose what information to share.
  
• Personal data is only used to deliver services and is never shared with third parties without consent.
  
• All information is stored securely, with encryption in transit and at rest.
  

Scam Protection

• Residents can paste or upload suspicious texts, emails, or links into CommHelpr for instant verification.
  
• The AI compares messages against official government communications and known scam patterns.
  
• Results are explained in plain language, giving residents confidence about what’s real and what’s fake.
  

Community-Wide Scam Alerts

• When multiple reports of the same scam are detected, CommHelpr issues neighbourhood-level alerts.
  
• Residents receive timely warnings about active scams in their area, helping communities stay one step ahead.
  

📈 Scalability & Upgradability

CommHelpr is designed to start simple but grow with the needs of communities and governments.

Scalable Across Councils & States

• Every council or state can plug in their own data feeds (service centres, waste schedules, emergency alerts, community events).
  
• The platform uses a modular design, so new regions can be added without rebuilding the system.
  
• Local branding and services can be customised, while still keeping a consistent, trusted national experience.
  

Upgradable Over Time

CommHelpr begins with a strong, simple web-based platform to ensure accessibility and fast adoption. Future upgrades can add:

- Augmented Reality (AR) overlays — point your phone at a street to see local services or live alerts appear in real time.

- Integration with wearables & smart devices — allowing residents to receive updates through voice assistants, watches, or kiosks in community spaces.

Data Story

Sarah is a single mum living in a regional town. Last month, she received a confusing letter
about a rebate she might lose if she didn’t act quickly. Unsure whether the letter was real or a
scam, she felt overwhelmed.

At the same time, her elderly neighbour, George, was worried about an approaching storm but
didn’t know where the nearest evacuation centre would be if things got worse. Meanwhile, their
local council wanted to understand what the community needed most, but resident feedback
was scattered and inconsistent.

This is where CommHelpr steps in.

Sarah opens the CommHelpr website on her phone. The AI chat agent explains the rebate
letter in plain language and confirms that it’s real. With one click, she renews safely inside the
platform. Later, a LifeSignal notification pops up: “Free dental van available 2km away until
5pm — would you like me to book?”

George uses the public kiosk at the library. He switches the LocalLens map into Emergency
Mode, which shows the closest evacuation centres and safe routes. When storm alerts hit, he
gets an instant update about road closures and relief services nearby.

At the same time, the council receives a Civic Pulse Report generated from resident feedback
on potholes and park facilities. Instead of sorting through hundreds of emails, they now have a
clear, AI-clustered insight into what matters most for their community.

CommHelpr weaves these moments together helping residents navigate government and
community services, protecting them from scams, and keeping them safe during crises.
It’s not just a website or an app. It’s a trusted companion for everyday life, available at home,
on your phone, or in your local library always ready to guide, explain, and support without
judgement.