Data^#3 Announces Innovative Partnership to Support Student Mental Health Needs

Brisbane, Australia: Leading Australian technology services and solutions provider, Data^#3, today announced a ground-breaking partnership with Gaggle, a US-based technology provider delivering solutions designed to enhance student safety and wellbeing.

Designed to support the rising mental health needs of primary and secondary school students, Data^#3 has exclusive rights to provide the Gaggle solution to the Australian market.

Since 1999, Gaggle has helped schools manage student safety across school-provided technology and devices. Using a combination of artificial intelligence and trained safety experts, the safety solution proactively assists schools in the prevention of student suicide, bullying, inappropriate behaviours, school violence, and other harmful situations. During the 2019–20 academic year, Gaggle reported 64,000 references to suicide or self-harm in students’ online activity and helped US school districts save the lives of 927 students planning or attempting suicide.

A 2015 Australian Federal Government report on Child Mental Health found that one in ten 12-17 year-old students reported having ever self-harmed. One in thirteen reported seriously considering suicide in the previous 12 months¹.

In 2020, Australian mental health experts examined the impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health, wellbeing and rates of suicide, with modelling by the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney and the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence suggesting up to a 25% increase in suicides².

“As the largest provider of Microsoft solutions within Australian schools, we found that our education customers are increasingly concerned about student wellbeing, given the rapid move to remote and hybrid learning,” said David Wain, National Practice Manager – Education Sector for Data^#3.

“Gaggle has a proven reputation in the US. With the platform’s API integration to Microsoft Office 365, we can offer an additional level of control and oversight on how the platform is being used,” Wain continued.

“We’re pleased to welcome Data^#3 as Gaggle’s Australian/APAC partner,” said Gaggle’s Vice President of Sales, Bill McCullough. “Data^#3’s initiative in delivering student safety tools to their education partners is a proactive step to supporting student mental health needs.”

Data^#3 Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Laurence Baynham, commented, “At Data^#3, our vision is to harness the power of people and technology for a better future. Our alliance with Gaggle furthers Data^#3’s differentiation to our education customers and enhances our leadership position in the sector. In addition, this solution is aligned to our Corporate Social Responsibility mission and community goals: to make a meaningful difference in the communities we support. Supporting student mental health needs is vital, now more so than ever before. We look forward to delivering this solution to the Australian market and further supporting our customers and their students.”

ENDS

1. The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Report on the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, August 2015
2. Australian Medical Association, 2020

About Data^#3

Leading Australian IT services and solutions provider, Data^#3 Limited (DTL), is focused on helping customers solve complex business challenges using innovative technology solutions.
Built on a foundation of over 40 years’ experience, combined with world-leading vendor technologies, Data^#3 delivers an integrated array of solutions spanning cloud, modern workplace, security, data & analytics and connectivity. These technology solutions are delivered by combining Data^#3’s services across consulting, project services and managed services.
Listed on the ASX in 1997, Data^#3 reported revenues of $1.6 billion in the 2020 financial year and has more than 1,200 employees. Headquartered in Brisbane, it has facilities across 12 locations in Australia and Fiji.

More information about Data^#3 and its solution and service offerings is available at www.data3.com.au.

About Gaggle

Since 1999, Gaggle has been the leader in helping K-12 districts manage student safety on school-provided technology. Using a powerful combination of artificial intelligence and trained safety experts, the safety solution proactively assists districts 24/7/365 in the prevention of student suicide, bullying, inappropriate behaviors, school violence, and other harmful situations. Most importantly, Gaggle continues to help hundreds of districts avoid tragedies and save lives, while also protecting their liability. During the 2019–20 academic year, Gaggle helped districts save the lives of 927 students who were planning or actually attempting suicide. For more information, visit www.gaggle.net and follow Gaggle on Twitter at @Gaggle_K12.

For additional information:

Eva Rothwell
Marketing Communications Manager, Data^#3 Limited
Email: eva_rothwell@data3.com.au | Mobile: 0490 233 759

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