Code for Australia is a nationwide civic technology organisation founded in 2014 by Alvaro Maz, Jacob Lindsay and Daniel Groch. They partner with government and not-for-profit organisations to support them with expert technical advice, digital capability, and the development of digital solutions that are accessible, inclusive, sustainable and effective. Code for Australia began as part of a global network of like-minded organisations called “Code for All” and is well known for its Fellowship program for early-mid career technologists.
As part of the arrangement, Portable will support the operations of Code for Australia going forward, with CfA Managing Director Matt Sawkill joining the Portable team and Alvaro Maz joining Portable’s advisory board. Under the arrangement, Code for Australia’s mission and vision will remain unchanged, with Portable helping to support its programs whilst also assisting to deliver technology, design and consulting services to its clients.
Alvaro Maz, co-founder of Code for Australia, says that this new evolution with Portable’s involvement provides an exciting new foundation for Code for Australia’s mission going forward.
“Over the past decade we’ve been really proud with what we've been able to achieve with Code for Australia. In particular, our Fellowship program showed the immense opportunity for talented people to work on issues that matter - and for public servants to get recognition and support for creating the change they seek. Going into the next decade, given Portable’s commitment to civic tech and justice, I believe we’ll be able to continue to shape that change.”
Over its history, the Code for Australia fellowship program and advisory service has produced around 100 Fellows and Advisors. The community members swelled over 10,000 and there have been more than 100 project partners.
Matt Sawkill, Managing Director of Code for Australia will be joining the Portable team as a lead technologist and will continue to support and drive Code for Australia’s mission.
“Working with Code for Australia has been incredibly meaningful for me and I'm excited to continue our mission backed by the Portable team.”
Portable is a technology and design company dedicated to social justice and civic technology. Co-founded by Andrew Apostola and Simon Goodrich in 2005, the company has 55 staff members across the country and is well known for its innovative work in mental health, justice, education and government. In 2024 the company received an Anthem Award (the global body that runs the Webby Awards, but for social issues) for its product www.amica.gov.au which is a world leading and unique platform to help couples to separate, using AI.
Andrew Apostola, Portable’s CEO says that the new relationship with Code for Australia is an opportunity to bring together two organisations that share a vision for the world, where technology and design are instruments for good outcomes for government and for citizens.
“When we look at the type of organisation and culture that Portable has created over the past twenty years, we see such a strong opportunity for us to bring together the incredible community that Code for Australia has developed and provide broader applications across government, the not for profit sector and with communities. I couldn’t think of a better partnership to really push for the type of outcomes we’re trying to see for people working in technology across the public and NFP sector.”
As part of the new arrangement, Code for Australia will be distributing a survey and forums to understand the needs of the community to see how it can shape some of its programs to better suit the current needs of fellows, alumni and people entering the civic tech landscape.
“I think that over the past decade, when Code for Australia started, it provided a range of services that the sector really needed. With the growth of capability, particularly in governments across the country, we think that these needs have shifted, so we want to find out how we can better serve and connect” says Apostola.
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