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Online auction sees the industry’s finest coaching talent up for bids

Never one to shy away from a challenge, REA Director of Industry Relations and Digital Live founder Steve Carroll has upped the ante in his efforts to raise funds for disadvantaged children, with his eye now firmly fixed on a $100,000 fundraising target that will go to the charity Hands Across the Water.

Last year, Steve joined forces with some of the finest experts in the digital sphere to host the second year of Digital Live. Not only did the initiative see 200 real estate agents learn the skills and techniques they need to navigate social media and the digital age, it also raised $25,000 in much-needed funds to support the digital education of children living in orphanages in Thailand.

This year, Steve’s taking the efforts one step further as he looks to quadruple the charitable coffers with a fundraising bike ride through Thailand that runs from late April to early May.

The ride will see around 30 real estate professionals complete a 500km ride over just five days. Each rider pays their own travel and accommodation costs, but to qualify they need to raise $5000 to take part. 100 per cent of the funds raised then go to directly to the children in Thailand.

Now, everyone in the industry has the opportunity to support the endeavour, courtesy of an online auction that will run for four weeks from March 11.

With an extensive line-up of experiences and items on offer, it’s proving an enticing opportunity for agents looking to donate to a truly worthy cause.

The 16 items available for bidding range from irresistible sporting memorabilia to invaluable coaching from some of the finest mentors in the real estate industry.

In addition to items like a cricket bat signed by Steve Waugh, a shirt signed by the Ashes team, and a private yacht cruise on Sydney Harbour, 12 x 60-minute coaching sessions with some of the biggest names in real estate sales are also on offer, along with 12 x 60-minute sessions with the finest property management experts.

There is also a half day’s coaching with REA inventor Nigel Dalton up for grabs, and a full day of one-to-one coaching from legendary agent Mat Steinwede.

Steve notes the coaching packages were designed to offer agents real value for money and business opportunities that were second to none.

“We’ve assembled some of the best mentors in the industry in both the sales and property management space,” he said.

“Ultimately they allow a principal to tap into some of the finest available talent and deliver it directly to their business.”

Proceeds raised through the online auction go directly towards the digital education and welfare of disadvantaged children in Thailand as part of the charitable initiative that is Hands Across the Water.

Hands Across the Water was initiated in response to the devastating Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004. The social enterprise currently provides homes and education to over 350 abandoned and at-risk children in Thailand.  

Steve anticipates the $100,000 raised through both Digital Live and the upcoming Ride to Provide will go towards funding tech-enabled classrooms.

“This is a place where children can go, be educated and experience the technology we take for granted, such as iPads. Because we know when children are digitally literate a wealth of job opportunities open up and we can break the poverty cycle.”

Agents looking to bid on the upcoming auction can learn more about the ride here or text DLauction to 0429 272 009 to find out more. The auction runs online from March 11 to April 10.

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Cassandra Charlesworth

Cassandra Charlesworth is a features writer for Elite Agent Magazine with over 15 years’ journalism experience in metropolitan and regional newsrooms. She has a specialist interest in real estate, tech disruption and a good old-fashioned “yarn”.