Tech startup WithYouWithMe (WYWM) has launched a digital initiative that seeks to reinvent the way the federal government responds to a crisis by giving them ready access to needed digital skills. The National Resilience Database (NRDB) will allow Australian citizens with digital skills to register to volunteer their skills to government agencies during disasters and be paid for their contribution. The database has been designed as a new way for agencies to access skilled talent capable of stepping into short-term roles as required, according to WYWM CTO Scarlett McDermott. “When disaster strikes, one of the biggest challenges governments face is being able to mobilise quickly and deploy the digital skills required to effectively respond. We’ve seen this challenge firsthand from working closely with government agencies during the pandemic,” she said. “The NRDB is going to provide government agencies with a real-world solution — turnkey access to skilled digital talent, which is something that hasn’t existed before. While we can’t stop disasters from occurring, we can help make sure that our country is armed with the right resources to allow us to respond in the best way possible.” Australian citizens interested in offering their skills can register for the NRDB and receive free training in areas including data analytics, cybersecurity, digital project management, robotic process automation, and software development.