GovHack

How non-tech roles support #hackathon success. Hackathons are more than coding sprints. While developers are essential, hackathons thrive when individuals from all backgrounds bring their unique insights and skills. This year, at GovHack we made an effort to amplify this message and have successfully increased the number of non-coder participants. However, we still have a long way to go 😱 Our task is to evangelise the agile mindset and to instill confidence in non-coders to believe in themselves and know that their contributions are not only valuable but crucial to product success. What are these non-coder roles? 1. Idea People💡 Creative problem-solvers bring fresh perspectives and can uncover connections others miss. #Hackathons are not only about execution, but brainstorming for success. Ideas people drive the team to think outside the box to find truly unique solutions. 2. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)🧠 #GovHack challenges are real-world challenges posed by Government agency and corporate sponsors. For example, when the Australian Taxation Office posed a challenge tackling tax inclusion for vulnerable groups, team members with experience in taxation helped their teams understand key concepts, ensuring solutions were both innovative and feasible. SMEs transform projects from high-level concepts to practical, impactful solutions. 3. Project Managers 🧭 Hackathons are high-energy and time-bound, and it’s easy to get lost in details. Project managers are vital for organising priorities, assigning tasks, and ensuring everyone is on track. 4. UX/UI Designers 🎨 There comes a time when your product hits the market, that's when UX becomes crucial... AND when you have to present your hackathon project 😱 UX/UI designers turn rough prototypes into user-friendly solutions, with sketches and mockups that effectively evangelise your solution. 5. Business Strategists 💼 By providing critical insights into markets, revenue streams, and feasibility, business strategists make your solution sustainable. Strategists position projects for real-world success and even help transform hackathon prototypes into sustainable startups. 6. Writers and Storytellers 📝 A memorable pitch can set a project apart, and that’s where writers and storytellers shine. Storytellers turn technical solutions into engaging, relatable ideas that leave a lasting impression. 7. Data Experts 📊 Last but not least, and absolutely critical for our Government open data hackathon are data experts. Data experts help our teams make sense of the open data sources GovHackers work with. -- Over the years, many of our participants have highlighted #collaboration as the highlight of their GovHack project: Every skill counts. Considering joining a hackathon? Remember, you don’t have to be a coder to contribute meaningfully. 🙌 We welcome every type of expertise, because everyone has a role to play. #GovHackAU #GovHackNZ #Innovation #DiversityInTech

Proud to share my team, and I got Honorable Mention at GovHack NT for 2 of our projects! An amazing experience with late nights, big ideas, and teamwork. We put our hearts into it and were thrilled to be recognized. Big thanks to my teammates! #GovHackNT

Thrilled to announce Team CoCo’s journey as finalists in #GovHack2024! GovHack is Australia’s leading open data hackathon, where diverse teams come together to address real-world challenges using government data. This year, we embraced the challenge of Tax Inclusion for Vulnerable Groups, focusing on how we can leverage open government data to identify at-risk populations and design digital solutions that help them navigating the complexities of the Australian tax and superannuation systems. Our project, #EquitaxAI, specifically addresses the barriers faced by migrants and individuals with disabilities. By utilising insights from diverse datasets, we aimed to create an accessible platform that empowers these groups to understand and meet their tax obligations while maximising their entitlements. We are excited to contribute to the ATO's mission of going digital by 2030 and to be part of this significant transformation in making tax compliance more equitable. We extend our gratitude to the GovHack team for organising such an impactful event that fosters creativity and collaboration. A special thanks to Kaplan Business School and Kasia Wojtaszek, MBA for introducing us to this initiative and encouraging participation. For further details on Equitax AI and our project journey, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gvGJ3akt It has been a privilege to work alongside my talented teammates: Vouchnea Ke, Sonlyly Thach, Pooja Tamang, Swikar Adhikari, and Sorabh Sharma. Together, we have acquired invaluable insights and skills that we are eager to leverage in future projects and hackathons. We will proudly represent #TeamCoCo at the GovHack Red Carpet Awards in Canberra. I am particularly excited about the Meet the Makers exhibition, where we will connect with winners in a trade show-style setting, as well as the opportunity for networking with sponsors and industry leaders, including #ATO. I can’t wait to share our project and engage with fellow innovators! 🚀 #GovHack2024 #TeamCoCo #OpenData #TaxInclusivity #Digitalby2030

Hi GovHack Community 👋, we are looking for Event team volunteers for our Red Carpet Ceremony on 30th November in #Canberra. If you'd like to join us and help, feel free to jump on the link in the comment section. And be part of something awesome 😎 Anshul G. #GovHack #GovHackAU #GovHackNZ #hackathon #opendata #RCA2024 #RedCarpetCeremony #awardsnight #awards

Happy Diwali to all!

We’re pleased to share that Haven, our GovHack 2024 project, has made it to the national finals! This November, we (team URL: Ujjavala Singh, Renee Glass Lillian Jiang) from Service NSW, will be heading to Canberra for the Red Carpet Awards. Created over a single weekend, Haven is designed to connect and protect communities, businesses, and individuals during bushfire emergencies. We aim to empower communities to unite and support those most in need. More than just an app, Haven integrates data, predictive analytics, and AI to give government agencies valuable insights for timely, informed decisions on resource deployment and recovery efforts. Our vision is to strengthen community readiness for natural disasters and security challenges. For more details, visit https://lnkd.in/g7YqKReE A big thank you to GovHack and the sponsors for this wonderful opportunity! #GovHackAU #WomenInTech #DigitalTransformation #GovernmentServices #GenAI #Innovation #Design #DataScience #AI #OpenData #DigitalAtlas #womenindata #genai —— National Emergency Management Agency Women in STEMM Australia Science & Technology Australia Digital Transformation Agency

We’re pleased to share that Haven, our GovHack 2024 project, has made it to the finals! This November, our team from Service NSW (Renee Glass, Ujjavala Singh and I) will be heading to Canberra for the Red Carpet Awards. Created over a single weekend, Haven is designed to connect and protect communities, businesses, and individuals during bushfire emergencies. Our aim is to empower communities to come together and support those most in need. More than just an app, Haven integrates data, predictive analytics, and AI to give government agencies valuable insights for timely, informed decisions on resource deployment and recovery efforts. Our vision is to strengthen community readiness for natural disasters and security challenges. For more details, visit https://lnkd.in/g7tyD7yS. A big thank you to GovHack and the sponsors for this wonderful opportunity! #GovHack #WomenInTech #DigitalTransformation #GovernmentServices #StrongerAustralia #Innovation #Design #DataScience #AI #OpenData #DigitalAtlas National Emergency Management Agency Digital Transformation Agency

May you all have a happy Diwali! ~ #GovHack #GovHackAU #GovHackNZ #Diwali

You have done an amazing job, Vinod, Scott, Justin, and Nicholas! And we are eagerly awaiting your go-live 👩🚀

I’m very happy to share that our team has made it to the finals of GovHack hackathon 2024! We are excited to bring our best to the finish line! 🚀 Our challenge was to use open government data to identify and support vulnerable groups in Australia who face barriers in meeting their tax obligations. Noticing that the current Australian Taxation Office website didn’t fully address these groups' unique needs, we came up with a solution - developing an alternative, user-friendly site to bridge this gap. As the frontend web developer on the team, I had the chance to bring our vision to life, making the platform more accessible and impactful. It’s been an amazing journey, and we’re looking forward to showcasing our solution! Abhinav Kashyap and I will join our team lead, Rohan Batra, to represent our incredible  team—including  Eliza Chan and Kevin Law—at the Red Carpet Awards in Canberra.