Investing in Change that Matters

Four women smiling from GOGO Foundation

This year, we are proud to announce that, together with St.George, BankSA, and Bank of Melbourne Foundations, we’ve awarded over $5 million in grants to more than 85 social enterprises and community organisations.

 

With a collective purpose to create a more equitable Australia, together our grant programs support people experiencing disadvantage by partnering with organisations that provide education, wellbeing, and employment opportunities.

 

Funding across the four grant programs ranges from $50,000 to $300,000, offering both one-off and multi-year grants designed to support organisations at varying levels of maturity to deliver programs with impact.

 

Westpac Foundation CEO Amy Lyden was delighted with the diversity of recipients this year, spanning vast geographic locations, initiatives, and priority areas. Notably, more than 35 per cent of Inclusive Employment and Thrive Community Grant recipients were from rural or regional areas, a shared priority for all foundations.

 

“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 also largely focused on organisations that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds including refugees and asylum seekers, people with disabilities, people from low socioeconomic status areas and those facing employment barriers.

 

Among the 85 grant recipients this year, 37 were from the Westpac Foundation’s Inclusive Employment Grant program, including GOGO Events, a social enterprise dedicated to creating paid work opportunities for women overcoming complex barriers to employment.

 

GOGO Events plans to use the grant to expand its business and provide more opportunities for women transitioning into the workforce.

 

“Receiving this grant from the Westpac Foundation is a significant step forward for GOGO Events," said Sarah Gun, CEO of GOGO Events.

 

"The funds will enable us to bring on a business development manager, allowing us to grow and offer more safe, paid work experience in the event industry. This grant helps us strengthen our capacity to provide reliable and consistent employment opportunities for women, giving them the support they need to re-enter the workforce."

 

The grant represents more than just financial support.

 

"Grants like the Inclusive Employment Grant mean everything to social enterprises like ours. They are an investment in the value of the impact we’re making. It’s a validation that the work we’re doing matters, that these women matter, and it gives us the courage to keep going,” she added.

 

Westpac Foundation’s grants focus on creating jobs and training opportunities for those facing complex barriers to work, aligning with their goal to create 10,000 jobs by 2030, which is well on track to achieve.

 

Meanwhile, this is the first year St.George, BankSA, and Bank of Melbourne Foundations have awarded grants under their new social impact strategy, which aims to ensure that every child can reach their potential. Their Inspire and Thrive Community Grants now have a heightened focus on inclusive education.

 

“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.

 

Doing good is in our DNA.

 

Congratulations to our 2024 grant recipients!

 

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 

Tauondi 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  

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