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The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network’s (ACCAN) Board of Directors has unanimously endorsed the organisation’s support of the Voice to Parliament. A Voice to Parliament aligns with ACCAN’s organisational vision of Communications services that are trusted, inclusive, accessible, and available for all. A Voice to Parliament also aligns strongly with ACCAN’s Reconciliation Action Plan vision of a united Australia that acknowledges its past and values the unique culture and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Board and staff of ACCAN support a successful Referendum that will enshrine a First Peoples Voice to Parliament in our Constitution. A Voice that can provide independent advice to Parliament and Government enables true self-determination by ensuring the diverse First Nations perspectives and aspirations are authentically embedded in decisions affecting their lives. A Voice will also provide new opportunities for community consultation to improve communications, particularly in regional and remote Australia.
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Phone: 02 9288 4000
SMS: 0457 606 600
Media enquiries:
(calls only: no texts please)
Alec Bennetts
Mobile: 0409 966 931
Phone: 02 9288 4000
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For general enquiries email:
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For membership enquiries email:
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For executive meeting requests please email:
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For grants scheme enquiries email:
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Postal address
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Australian Communications Consumer Action Network
PO Box A1158
Sydney South, NSW 1235
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If you are Deaf, or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment, please contact us on 02 9288 4000 through your preferred National Relay Service call number or access point. For more information about the National Relay Service visit the National Relay Service website.
If you want to call us and need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone ACCAN on 02 9288 4000.
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The Australian Communications Consumer Action network (ACCAN) is pleased to announce the 2015 Apps For All Challenge, sponsored by Telstra.
About
Every minute 47,000 apps are downloaded worldwide, but millions of Australians may be missing out on the digital revolution if apps are not accessible.
The Apps For All Challenge is back in 2015 to award the outstanding apps which are accessible to all Australians.
An accessible app is designed with the largest number of people in mind – including people with disability and older Australians. Accessibility is not only crucial for the almost 1 in 5 Australians living with some form of disability, but it also means developers can target millions more customers who were previously locked out of the app market.
In honouring Australia's most accessible apps, the Apps For All Challenge will raise awareness and encourage Australian developers to be world leaders in accessible mobile technology. The winning apps will be announced at the ACCAN National Conference in September 2015.
Winners in each category will receive a cash prize from Telstra and promotion through Telstra social media.
The categories
Nominations will be accepted in the following categories:
- Most accessible mainstream app
- Most innovative app designed for people with disability or older Australians
- Most accessible children's app
- Most accessible game app
What exactly makes an app accessible?
Accessibility means that an app can be used by the most people possible without the need for modification. Many people have, or develop with age, impairments related to vision, hearing, cognition or mobility. Apps which address these needs in their design and operation are more accessible than apps which do not have any consideration for users' differing abilities.
For example, if an app uses video, the video should have captions for people who are Deaf or hearing impaired. For users who are blind or vision impaired, control buttons should include an "alt tag" to alert users of the button's purpose.
Apps incorporating the following features will be reviewed more favourably:
- Ease of use – including ease of download and installation
- Market gap – apps which fill a market gap for one or more user groups
- Value for money – apps which provide good value for money and do not require people with disability to pay more for the same functionality
- Universal design – the app is accessible across all user groups
- Availability – available across multiple operating systems
Accessibility guidelines for developers
- World Wide Web Consortium's mobile accessibility guidelines: http://www.w3.org/WAI/mobile/
- Apple accessibility guidelines: https://developer.apple.com/accessibility/
- Android accessibility guidelines: http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/accessibility/index.html
Things to remember
- Only Australian developed apps are eligible
- An app can only be nominated for one category
- Nominated apps must be designed for one or more of the following mobile operating systems; iOS, Android, Windows
- Existing apps can be nominated
- The nominated apps will be evaluated by an independent panel of Australian accessibility experts. The panel will shortlist the best three apps in each category, with the winning apps announced at the ACCAN National Conference in September 2015
- Nominated apps should conform to ACCAN's values and vision
How to nominate an App
Anyone can nominate an app. Nominations can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call ACCAN on 02 9288 4000 / TTY 02 9281 5322.
Nominations close on 15 June 2015. If you have any questions please email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Download: 
Apps For All Challenge 2015.doc87.5 KB
Download: 
Apps For All Challenge 2015.pdf226.68 KB
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- Broadband
The map was prepared using available data from Telstra (June 2016), nbn (October 2015) and the Department of Communications and Arts (MyBroadband Version 4 2016). It identifies areas, and the reasons, that may be unable to get an ADSL service and when these areas will have services over NBN.
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- Broadband
Consumers who are unable to get a broadband service often face a confusing and frustrating time.
ACCAN's Get Connected resource aims to help consumers understand the issues around why they are unable to get a broadband service and tips on how to get a service.
The mapping tool helps to understand the reasons that prevent a neighbourhood from getting an ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) broadband service. For example, if there are few ports available at the local exchange, if the neighbourhood is too far from an exchange or if the exchange is not ADSL enabled. It also provides consumers with a timeline of how long the neighbourhood may have issues.
The six helpful steps suggest actions that consumers can take to get a broadband service.
ADSL availability map
The map was prepared using available data from Telstra (June 2016), nbn (October 2015) and the Department of Communications and Arts (MyBroadband Version 4 2016). It identifies areas, and the reasons, that may be unable to get an ADSL service and when these areas will have services over NBN.
Six helpful steps if you can’t get a broadband service
Not being able to get an internet service can be extremely frustrating.
ACCAN has put together these options of broadband services for consumers struggling to get an ADSL internet service.
Note:We have assu...
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Home wireless provides internet at one location using a modem/gateway device with a mobile SIM card. It requires power from a socket in your house. A number of people and devices can connect to the internet through the modem/gateway.
It is important to check that the provider offers coverage at your house!
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Join the discussion on our Facebook Broadband Help group to share your experiences and connect with similar consumers.
Contact ACCAN at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are unable to get a service, or if you are a provider who can offer consumers’ services.
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Mobile broadband plans are designed to be used on the go. The SIM card inserts into one device, such as a tablet or phone. For more than one person or device to connect you need to 'hotspot' the device.
It is important to check that provider offers coverage in your house!
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Fixed wireless broadband provides internet using an antenna dish installed on your house.
Here are some that we are aware of:
- Acenet AirStream (NSW Southern Highlands)
- Aussie Broadband (Gippsland, Western Victoria, South Australia)
- Beam Internet (Barossa Valley and Regional SA)
- BITS wireless
- Bitwave Networks (NSW – Parks)
- Clear broadband (Perth, Tasmania, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide)
- Clearstream Broadband (QLD – Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valleys)
- Countrytell (NSW- Hunter, Mid North Coast)
- Dreamtilt (QLD)
- DCSI (West Gippsland)
- Gtelecom (Greater Melbourne area)
- iiNet WiMax (South Australia)
- Just IP (regional NSW and Queensland)
- Lightning Broadband
- Next Gen Wireless (Queensland and Northern Territory)
- Node1 (Geraldton, Walkaway, Dongara and Perth)
- NuSkope (South Australia)
- Red Broadband (Western Australia)
- Red fox (QLD)
- Shoalhaven Internet (NSW - Shoalhaven)
- Speedweb (VIC - Morewell, Traralgon, La Trobe Valley)
- Splash Internet (NSW Eden area)
- Tasmanet (Tasmania)
- The Signal Co (Canberra)
- Wires Broadband (Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Northern New South Wales)
- Wi Sky (regional NSW and Queensland)
- Uniti Wireless (Adelaide)
- YLess4U (ACT)
- Yourhub (Townsville, suburbs and surrounding areas)