New research shows nearly half of Australian Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) decision makers say community investment is a core ESG pillar, but almost a quarter struggle to find the right initiatives to support
Australia Post has awarded almost $500,000 in grants to 251 grassroots community organisations across the country through its 2026 People of Post program; supporting initiatives focused on mental health, disaster support, literacy and the environment.
New research, commissioned by Australia Post, reveals that community investment is a growing priority for Australian organisations, with almost half of ESG decision makers identifying it as a core pillar of their ESG strategy and almost two-thirds revealing their organisation has increased community investment over the past three years.
The research, which explored Australian ESG decision makers' community investment strategies and priorities, found that Australian businesses are prioritising investment in environment or sustainability (65%), mental health (64%) and community connection (57%). Australia Post has a similar focus, with more than half of this year's People of Post nominations supporting mental health initiatives.
The People of Post program is an employee-led initiative empowering its 64,000 team members to nominate local community groups for a grant of up to $2,000. Since launching nine years ago, the program has delivered more than $2.4 million in grants to over 2,400 not-for-profit community organisations nationwide.
This year, 251 grants were awarded across Australia, with 140 in metro, 98 in rural and 13 in remote communities.
Australia Post General Manager of Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Nicky Tracey, said the program demonstrates the power of employee-led giving.
"What makes People of Post grants so impactful is that it enables our team members to support local organisations that are making a real difference in their community. Our research shows employee-led giving strengthens workplace culture and engagement, while delivering meaningful outcomes for communities, which is something we see reflected across our own team members," said Ms Tracey.
Sydney-based Australia Post team member Clare Loney nominated local grant recipient OzED, which supports people living with Ectodermal Dysplasia, a rare genetic disorder.
"I chose to support OzED because of the vital role they play in empowering people living with this condition to feel seen, supported and connected.
"It's a small organisation making a big difference, raising awareness of a condition that impacts so many aspects of daily life - from hair, skin and teeth to eyes and glands. Through Australia Post's People of Post grants, I'm proud to champion an organisation that is changing lives, building understanding and ensuring no one navigating this disorder has to do so alone," Ms Loney said.
The research also revealed when it comes to the business outcomes most associated with strong community investment; brand trust and reputation, customer loyalty, and employee engagement identified as the top impacts. However, for a quarter of organisations, identifying the right initiatives remains a key barrier alongside budget constraints, highlighting the importance of a clear and focused community strategy.
"Our community strategy gives us clarity about where we can have the greatest impact, and that's brought to life by our people. It's fantastic to see our team members champion causes that matter to them while helping build a genuine culture of community support and giving," Ms Tracey added.
The full list of Australia Post's 2026 People of Post Grants recipients, listed by state/territory, and more information is available at auspost.com.au/popgrants.
Research methodology: This research was conducted in April 2026 and engaged 121 ESG decision makers across Australia. The survey was conducted through global data and insights company, Pureprofile.
