Telstra has launched ‘Codemates’, a new initiative designed to equip children with essential digital skills through coding. Central to the program is an animatronic puppet named Patch, which participants can control using code, making learning interactive and engaging.
Codemates offers tutorials aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies, featuring fun modules like coding musical farts, martial arts moves, and jokes to teach problem-solving skills in a playful way. The initiative aims to inspire creativity while building foundational digital knowledge.
The program addresses a projected shortfall of 131,000 technology workers in Australia by 2030, according to the Future Skills Organisation Workforce Plan 2025. Telstra has a strong history of supporting digital skills education through programs such as Code Club.
The launch coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Moonhack coding competition, with resources from Codemates distributed to thousands of Code Clubs across Australia. Brent Smart, Telstra’s CMO, emphasized focusing on helping more young people directly rather than just promoting past achievements.
With creative direction from Bear Meets Eagle On Fire and production by Nexus Studios, Codemates highlights Telstra’s commitment to digital literacy. By engaging children through playful coding experiences, the initiative seeks to inspire the next generation of digital innovators and make tech learning fun and inclusive.
