Apple Marks 40-Years in Australia with Educational, Environmental, and Social Justice Initiatives

Apple marks 40 years in Australia with new commitments to help advance renewable energy use, increase coding pathways, and support Indigenous communities.

12 AUGUST 2022 - This week marks 40-years of Apple in Australia. The Cupertino-company issued a press release Thursday marking the anniversary, and talking about initiatives down under - nothin’ kinky (as far as we know). Barely addressing the past, Apple CEO Tim Cook was quoted as saying:

We’re proud to celebrate Apple’s long history in Australia, and to deepen our shared commitment to protecting the planet and creating opportunity in people’s lives… We’re fortunate to have so many great partners, colleagues, and customers across this country, and we’ll continue working together to make the world a more equitable and just place for all.

Not unlike that quote, most of Apple’s press release addressed things to come. According to that:

Projects include developing new sources of renewable energy, expanding coding education programs, and forging partnerships with Indigenous-led nonprofits advancing equity and opportunity.

The power play involves buying energy from a wind farm set to go live in 2026. The release says “Apple’s investment in clean energy” from Upper Burdekin Wind Farm “will support [Australia’s] transition to renewables, and provide the equivalent energy to power 80,000 homes.”

On the coding side, the Cupertino-crew “announced an expanded partnership with leading Australian universities (…) that will bring coding education to even more students across the country.” That’ll come in the form of:

…two new Apple Foundation Programs that will provide four-week courses on the fundamentals of app development with Swift. In the period of one month, students will gain the skills to design and prototype their own apps and learn introductory coding skills.

Enrollment for those starts later this year. Courses will get underway in early 2023.

Finally, Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative makes the trip to the southern hemisphere. Quick reminder, that initiative is:

…Apple’s companywide effort to address systemic racism and expand opportunities for communities of color, focused on advancing racial equity in education, the economy, and the criminal justice system.

Alisha Johnson, Apple’s director of the program, is quoted in the release, saying:

Extending the company’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative to Australia is part of a long-term commitment from Apple to help support Australia’s Indigenous community by collaborating with organizations driving meaningful change.

The release goes on to say:

Apple’s initial funding grants will support organizations advancing equity through education, economic empowerment, and criminal justice reform…

Programs benefiting include [the Indigenous-led or Indigenous-involved groups] Deadly Connections, ID. Know Yourself, First Australians Capital, Art Gallery of NSW, and Original Power.