Investing in Change that Matters
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