The initiative, Google Impact Challenge Australia, is focused on fostering the development of socially beneficially technology projects to better the community and the transform lives. Previously this initiative has been run in India, Brazil, UK and the US – this year is the first that it will be run in Australia.

Four winners will be selected and will receive mentoring and support from Google employees and $500,000 grant funding to help bring their project to life.

“From conceiving the Hills Hoist to inventing the bionic ear and WiFi, Australia has a rich history of innovation, fuelled by a desire to tackle tough problems with creative solutions,” says Maile Carnegie, Managing Director, Google Australia.

“We believe technology can help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges, and we’re eager to back Australian innovators in the NFP sector who are using technology to make an impact.”

The Google Impact Challenge Australia judging panel is made up of cricketer Glenn McGrath, media executive Kim Williams, and photographer Anne Geddes, who all have a long association with charity work and philanthropy in Australia. Representing Google are Maile Carnegie and Jacquelline Fuller who runs Google.org. The judging panel will select three awardees and the fourth will be decided based on online votes from the public.

Applications are open to all not-for-profits with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status.

Applications close on July 29 and finalists will be announced in October.