In order to enhance student safety and well-being in Australia, Gaggle has partnered with Data#3, a leading Australian technology services and solutions provider. This groundbreaking partnership is designed to support the rising mental health needs of primary and secondary school students in Australia, giving Data#3 exclusive rights to provide the Gaggle solution to the Australian market.
“At Data#3, our vision is to harness the power of people and technology for a better future,” said Data#3’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Laurence Baynham. “Our alliance with Gaggle furthers Data#3’s differentiation to our education customers and enhances our leadership position in the sector.”
The need for a solution like Gaggle in this region is clear. A 2015 Australian Federal Government report on Child Mental Health found that one in 10 students ages 12–17 reported having self-harmed and one in 13 students reported seriously considering suicide in the previous 12 months. Earlier this year, Australian mental health experts examined the impact of the pandemic on mental health, well-being, and rates of suicide. Modelling by the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney and the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence suggested up to a 25% increase in suicides overall, with about 30% of those among young people.
We are excited to welcome Data#3 as our Australian/APAC partner. Their initiative in delivering student safety tools to their education partners is a proactive step in supporting student mental health needs in this region. By helping to expand Gaggle’s reach to this part of the world, Data#3 is offering Australian educators a new way to proactively identify struggling students and enhance the safety and well-being of their students and schools.
During the 2019–20 academic year, Gaggle reported 64,000 references to suicide and self-harm in students’ online activity and helped school districts across the United States save the lives of 927 students who were planning or attempting suicide. By joining forces in partnership with Data#3, Gaggle will be able to offer the same support and peace of mind to Australia’s students and educators.
“Supporting student mental health needs is vital, now more so than ever before,” said Baynham. “We look forward to delivering this solution to the Australian market and further supporting our customers and their students.”