Project WeNet

Team Name

Team Black Box

Team Members

Project Description

Project WeNet

Objective:
The primary objective of the WeNet project is to utilize public datasets to assist local councils and charities in pinpointing vulnerable communities that require support. By identifying these groups, organizations can deploy bilingual volunteers or workers to conduct targeted outreach efforts, such as setting up information booths at local shopping malls in key suburbs. This strategic approach ensures that those who need help are effectively reached and guided in becoming active participants in the WeNet app. The platform then empowers users to engage deeply with their community through access to local news, essential services, and interactive events, with a real-time translation feature to facilitate inclusive participation across language barriers.

WeNet App's Goal Statement:
WeNet app will empower users to connect with their local communities and government, regardless of language barriers. Users can easily access and participate in local governance by voicing their concerns, participating in surveys, and engaging in community events, all through a multilingual interface. The app will measure effectiveness through increased user participation rates in local activities and improved user satisfaction with community services.

Weblink to the mockup of WeNet App:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAGPgHGQKfY/nzNmwVKZGYEbMfHvZwnfeA/view?utm_content=DAGPgHGQKfY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor#3

Key Features:
1. Local News: Keeps users informed with the latest happenings in their neighborhoods.
2. Access to Local Services: Provides detailed map-based information about local businesses and essential services.
3. Events: Users can discover, register, and engage with local cultural and community events.
4. Voice: A space for users to express their views and participate in local decision-making processes.
5. Profile: Users can manage their personal information, preferences, skills, and interests for volunteering, and seek assistance with tax, housing, employment, or cost of living issues.
6. Translation Chat to Live Agent: Offers real-time language translation during interactions with live agents from Australian Taxation Office and other government service agencies, breaking down language barriers in accessing support.

Impact:
- Enhanced Tax Inclusion: Help vulnerable groups (struggle with English, recent immigrants, relatively low education level, low income and occupations like laborers) understand and navigate the complexities of tax systems, ensuring they receive all entitled benefits and services.
-Strengthened Local Democracy: Empower users to actively participate in local governance through informed voting and policy feedback.
- Improved Access to Services: Make essential local business and service information readily accessible, improving daily life quality for non-English speakers.

Key Features:
1. Instant-Translation App Mechanism: The app's instant translation feature facilitates seamless communication across different languages and enhancing accessibility for all users. This feature integrates into various app elements, enabling users to interact confidently with live agents, participate in community discussions, and access local news and services without language constraints.
2. Local Council Data Integration: Enables local councils to utilize the data collected via the app to better understand community needs and to plan language and cultural exchange activities.
3. Event and Volunteer Opportunities: Users can discover and sign up for community events and volunteering opportunities, promoting active civic engagement.
4. Rewards System: Incorporates a gamification approach where users earn Civic Coins for their participation, which can be redeemed for various rewards, encouraging continuous engagement.

Target Users:
- Non-English speaking residents facing integration challenges.
- all other community residents
- Local councils and service providers looking to improve engagement with multicultural communities.

Outcome Measurement:
- User participation rates in local elections and community feedback forums.
- Usage metrics for tax support and local service inquiries.
- User satisfaction surveys to evaluate the impact on community integration and service accessibility.

Data Story

The WeNet project uses a sophisticated local intelligence dashboard to identify communities in need and bridge them to essential services. This tool is critical for local governments and charities to conduct targeted offline outreach and integrate these communities into the WeNet platform.

Data Sources and Visualization:
Analyzing 2021 Census data, WeNet's dashboard highlights areas by the proportion of residents who do not speak English well, their languages, educational attainment up to Year 10, and median personal income. This approach pinpoints communities that would benefit most from WeNet’s resources.

Interactive Mapping:
At the SA3 level, an interactive map visually and dynamically displays these statistics. Users can interact with the map, accessing detailed data on demographics and needs by hovering over specific areas, which enhances the understanding of each community’s challenges.

Enhanced Detail and Future Aspirations:
The current focus on SA3 areas could extend to SA2 and LGAs to refine outreach efforts. Additional data on recent immigrants would further tailor these efforts, addressing newcomers' unique needs.

Occupational Data Integration:
Incorporating ATO data from 2014-15, the dashboard categorizes populations by occupation within each postcode. This coloring reflects predominant employment sectors, indicating specific needs like tax assistance, making WeNet a practical tool for service allocation.

This integration of comprehensive public datasets into WeNet's dashboard allows for precise identification and support of vulnerable populations, facilitating effective local interventions and promoting extensive community engagement.

We display these statistics at SA3 level. If time had permitted, it would have included SA2 and LGA level as well. We also would have added the proportion of residents who had moved to Australia in the 10 years before the census.

We also used the data from the ATO showing the numbers in each broad occupation class, listing the numbers and colouring in the map according to the most common one in each postcode. This data set is from 2014-15, so it's bit old. The dominant occupation class, like labourers, may indicate the kind of help people may need in completing tax returns.