Four Foundations established by Westpac Group have awarded over $5 million to more than 85 social enterprises and community organisations.
Westpac, St.George, BankSA and Bank of Melbourne Foundations' grant programs focus on supporting people experiencing disadvantage by partnering with organisations that provide education, wellbeing and employment opportunities.
Westpac Foundation CEO Amy Lyden says 35 per cent of Inclusive Employment and Thrive Community Grant recipients are from rural or regional areas.
"Investing in the regions has always been incredibly important to us. We continue to see disproportionate rates of unemployment outside of major cities and people facing disadvantage are even more likely to be represented in this statistic," she said.
"We hope to form enduring relationships with social enterprises in rural areas to bridge the gap."
Funding across the four grant programs ranges from $50,000 to $300,000, offering both one-off and multi-year grants to organisations supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds including refugees, people with disabilities and those from low socioeconomic status areas as well as other priority groups.
CommUnity Construction, a social enterprise empowering refugees to gain employment in the construction industry is one of the 85 grant recipients.
Founded in 2018 by Westpac Social Change Fellow Hedayat Osyan, CommUnity Construction will use their $50,000 Inclusive Employment grant over two years to fill critical marketing roles, helping to attract new contracts and scale its impact.
"We are absolutely thrilled and deeply grateful to have received an Inclusive Employment Grant, especially during this critical period," said Osyan.
"We understand the immense challenges faced by many disadvantaged individuals who are struggling with living costs and a lack of stable job opportunities. This funding will make a significant difference by enabling us to provide essential training for these vulnerable individuals."
Together the foundations focus on creating jobs and training opportunities for those facing complex barriers to work, and providing education and wellbeing opportunities to help young people thrive.
"We are dedicated to supporting innovative solutions that expand access to education, improve participation, and enhance learning outcomes for children and young people facing the greatest challenges, because we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential," says St.George Foundation CEO Sally-Anne O'Brien.
In addition to funding, all grant recipients can access non-financial support. Initiatives include skilled Westpac employee volunteers, impact measurement support, and peer coaching programs.
Following this latest round of funding, the foundations, along with Westpac Scholars Trust -which awards 100 scholarships annually, have invested more than $100 million over the past decade toward job creation, next generation leaders and young people.
Inspire Grant recipients
- Ganbina Inc
- KidsXpress
- The Y NSW
- Ngutu College
Thrive Community Grant recipients
St.George Foundation
- Australian Children's Music Foundation
- Australian Business and Community Network Scholarship Foundation
- Stepping Stone House
- Dismantle
- Woolloomooloo & Inner City Police Community Scholarship Foundation
- Morris Children's Fund
- The Settlement Neighbourhood Centre
- Milk Crate Theatre
- Swan City Youth Service
- The Warrior Woman Foundation
- Heaps Decent Ltd
- JUTE Theatre Company
- Back Track Youth Works Ltd
- Sydney Youth Orchestras
- Think and Do Tank Foundation
- Happy Paws Happy Heart
- Vulcana Women's Circus
- White Zebra Foundation
- Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative
- Project Rockit Foundation
- Deadly Connections Community and Justice Services Limited
- Traction
- Open Support
- Show Me The Way
- Open Doors Youth Service
- Story Factory
BankSA Foundation
- Taoundi Aboriginal Corporation
- The Gold Foundation
- Operation Flinders
- Restless Dance Theatre
- Lighthouse Youth Projects
- Minus 18 Foundation
- Murrup/Community Spirit Foundation
- Australian Children's Music Foundation
Bank of Melbourne Foundation
- Zoe Support Australia
- Australian Neighbourhood Houses Association
- Gnarly Neighbours
- L2R Dance
- Sustain: The Australian Food Network
- For Change Co
- Solve TAD/Freedom Solutions Australia
- Western Chances
- Team Sports for All
Inclusive Employment Grant recipients
- Career Seekers New Australian Internship Program
- Confit Pathways LTD
- CommUnity Construction
- Green Connect Illawarra
- Leader Life Ltd
- Mates on the Move - Prisoners Aid NSW
- Maliga Ngura Services LTD
- The Freedom Hub
- The Shift project Byron Incorporated
- Steps - Shoretrack
- Blak Cede - South Coast Women's Health and welfare Aboriginal Corporation
- Studio A Limited
- Wildflower Gardens for Good
- Goodness Enterprises
- Loverwell Café - Hope Foundation Limited
- Substation 33
- Enterprise Learning Projects
- Garuwa Creative Pty Ltd
- Ananguku Mimili Maku Arts Aboriginal Corporation
- GOGO Foundation Limited / GOGO Events
- Boost Program - MarionLIFE Community Services Inc
- Miss MYSA Events
- Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Health
- The Underground Collaborative
- All Things Equal Limited
- Aroundagain - Christie Centre Inc
- Common Ground Project
- FiXit - Concern Australia Welfare Inc
- Enable Social Enterprises Limited
- For Change Co.
- YEA (Inner Melbourne Vet Cluster Inc)
- Space2b Social Design Inc
- The Social Studio (TSS)
- The Torch Project
- WomenCAN Australasia trading as The Placement Circle
- Bluegum Grounds - NOSS Tasmania Inc
- Mower Shed - UnitingCare Kippax
Social Enterprise Grant recipients
- BackTrack Works
- Hotel Etico
- Plate It Forward
- Warrama Li
- Free to Feed
- Beacon Laundry
- Good Cycles
- Dismantle
- Australian Spatial Analytics (ASA)
- The Social Outfit
