What’s Happening?
Queensland energy company CS Energy is giving retired laptops a new purpose through a partnership with LiteHaus International, supporting education and digital access across rural and regional Queensland.
The Queensland-based charity will distribute the refurbished devices to schools, which will then provide them to students. Among the recipients is the Woorabinda Indigenous community in Central Queensland, where the equipment could support learning, training and future employment opportunities.
Why It Matters
Access to technology is essential for education, employment and everyday services, particularly in regional communities where digital barriers can limit opportunities. By repurposing equipment that no longer meets business requirements, the partnership will help students access resources while extending the devices’ useful life.
nternational Head of Programs Rob Birnie said the donation demonstrated how businesses could support communities by making better use of existing equipment.
“Technology is no longer a luxury. It’s an essential tool for education, employment, training, and staying digitally connected,” Mr Birnie said. “These laptops will help create opportunities for people in the rural and regional Queensland communities and provide access to resources and services that many Australians rely on every day. What excites us about partnerships like this is that they create benefits on multiple levels. A company can extend the life of valuable equipment, while communities gain access to tools that can help support learning, skills development, and future employment opportunities.
“We thank CS Energy for recognising the value these devices still hold and for choosing to invest in people and communities through this donation.”
Local Impact
For Woorabinda, the donation builds on an existing relationship with CS Energy through its social investment program, which has previously supported local sporting and educational activities. The latest initiative extends that community involvement by providing technology that could help residents develop digital skills and access educational resources.
CS Energy Indigenous Engagement Advisor Nev Hoehne said the donation showed that meaningful community support could go beyond financial contributions, particularly when existing resources could benefit regional and Indigenous communities.
“We often talk about community support in terms of sponsorships and financial contributions, but sometimes the most meaningful support comes from thinking differently about the resources we already have,” Mr Hoehne said. “Access to technology plays an important role in education, training, employment and staying connected, particularly in regional and Indigenous communities. These laptops have the potential to create opportunities for people, support learning, and help build skills that can make a lasting difference.
“It’s great to see equipment that is no longer needed being repurposed in a way that delivers genuine benefits for people.”
By the Numbers
The initiative combines a substantial equipment donation with CS Energy’s established involvement in Central Queensland communities.
- More than 300 refurbished laptops will be distributed through LiteHaus International to support students across rural and regional Queensland.
- About 150 kilometres separates Woorabinda from CS Energy’s Callide Power Station, connecting the donation with a community near its operations.
- 2019 and 2023 marked previous support for Woorabinda, including back-to-school activities in 2019 and sponsorship of the International Legends of League Carnival in 2023.
Zoom In
The initiative was led by CS Energy’s Digital & Technology team, which identified an opportunity to repurpose laptops that had reached the end of their business use. Rather than leaving the equipment unused, the team worked with LiteHaus International to arrange its donation, with staff across Brisbane, Callide and Kogan Creek power stations contributing to the effort.
CS Energy Chief Information Officer Johnny Serrano said his previous experience with the charity helped him recognise how the retired equipment could benefit communities.
“I’d worked with LiteHaus previously and had seen firsthand the impact they can have by getting technology into the hands of people who need it,” Mr Serrano said. “When it became clear we had a large number of laptops that had reached the end of their useful life for CS Energy, I saw an opportunity for our team and our business to give something back to the community. What I’m most proud of is the way our people embraced the idea. Team members across Brisbane, and Callide and Kogan Creek power stations got behind the initiative and helped make it happen.
“These laptops may no longer meet our business requirements, but they still have plenty of life left in them. Knowing they’ll now be used to support education, training, and community connection makes this a great outcome for everyone involved.”
Zoom Out
LiteHaus International works across the Asia-Pacific region to reduce barriers to education, with access to technology forming part of its work. Its partnership with CS Energy demonstrates how organisations can redirect retired business equipment towards educational needs rather than allowing usable devices to go to waste.
The approach also connects equipment reuse with community investment, allowing businesses to support educational access without relying solely on financial contributions.
What To Look For Next?
LiteHaus International will distribute the refurbished laptops through participating schools, allowing students in Woorabinda and other regional communities to benefit from the donation. As the devices reach their recipients, they could help improve access to digital learning, develop practical skills and support future employment opportunities.
