2026 Community and Foundations Impact Report

Working with communities, schools and future leaders to build a more inclusive and prosperous Australia.

Creating opportunities through education

Together, Westpac, Westpac Foundation1 and Westpac Scholars Trust are investing in education, creating pathways to opportunity across the learning journey. From literacy and numeracy programs for primary school students to leadership development opportunities for future leaders, we're helping more young people reach their full potential to build a stronger, more prosperous Australia2.

Learn more about our Foundations and Community Initiatives


1. Throughout this report, references to 'Westpac Foundation' and 'the Foundation' include St.George Foundation, BankSA Foundation and Bank of Melbourne Foundation.

2. Unless otherwise stated, use of 'we' and 'our' refer to Westpac, Westpac Foundation and Westpac Scholars Trust collectively.  While Westpac Group helped establish and continues to support the Westpac Foundation and Westpac Scholars Trust, they are independent not-for-profit organisations and are separate from Westpac Group.

Explore the report

The year in review 

2026 was a year of alignment, momentum and impact. By bringing together the strengths of Westpac, Westpac Foundation and Westpac Scholars Trust, we've sharpened our focus on education and expanded the ways we support students, schools, educators and communities. Alongside our partners, grant recipients, scholars and employees, we're helping build stronger pathways to opportunity for the next generation.

 

Hear from Jane Calvert, Head of Community and Foundations and Amy Lyden, CEO of Westpac Foundation and Westpac Scholars Trust to learn more.

 

At a glance: 2026

 

$11.92m

Amount awarded by Westpac, Westpac Foundation and Westpac Scholars Trust through partnerships, grants and scholarships3.

100

Number of schools supported by Westpac and Westpac Foundation through our Principal Partnership with Australian Schools Plus.

100 

Number of scholarships awarded by Westpac Scholars Trust.

Our impact ecosystem

Social Impact Framework

Partner heat map

Westpac community impact spotlight

Through strategic partnerships and employee engagement, Westpac complements the work of the Foundations by investing in initiatives that help improve education outcomes for children and young people. Working alongside partners including Australian Schools Plus, the Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN) and New Zealand’s Springboard Trust, Westpac supports evidence-based programs that strengthen literacy and numeracy, build leadership capability in schools and create greater opportunities for students to thrive. One of its longest standing employee engagement initiatives is the Board Observer Program, now in its ninth year, which pairs senior Westpac staff with social sector boards.

Impact metrics

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$3m

Value of Westpac education partnerships committed to Australian Schools Plus, ABCN and Springboard Trust4.

100

Schools supported as part of the Australian Schools Plus partnership.

23

Schools supported as part of the ABCN School Leadership Program.

5

Schools supported as part of Springboard Trust’s New Zealand program.

7,500

Total books donated to the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation by Westpac Group employees as part of the Doubling Down on Education campaign.

2,059

Total skilled volunteering hours completed by Westpac Group employees.

49

Active Board Observers.

63%

2025 Board Observers secured a Director role with their Host Board or another Board5.

Westpac community initiatives

  • Building strong foundations for learning

    In 2026, Westpac launched a new partnership with Australian Schools Plus, investing in the coaching, evaluation and measurement frameworks that support the design, delivery and assessment of targeted literacy and numeracy programs in schools serving communities facing greater barriers to opportunity across Australia. Westpac Foundation complements this investment by funding supporting program resources in the same schools across communities including Port Lincoln (SA) Wagga Wagga, Bathurst and Western Sydney (NSW), Shepparton (VIC) and Darwin (NT). The combined approach strengthens teaching practice and school leadership while helping more students develop the foundational skills needed to succeed in education and later life.

  • Enhancing leadership capability in schools

    The School Leadership Program launched as a pilot in 2026 in partnership with Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN) and New Zealand’s Springboard Trust, pairing 28 Westpac senior executives with 28 principals from schools facing complex challenges across Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand. Through facilitated workshops held throughout the year and visits to participating schools, participants exchanged insights, strengthened leadership capability and developed new perspectives, demonstrating the value of learning across sectors. Learnings from the pilot will inform the program’s future development.

  • Unlocking Employee-Led Impact

    Anchored to National Literacy and Numeracy Week, the Doubling Down on Education campaign launched in 2026 to mobilise employees across Australia behind our shared goal of creating opportunities through learning. Via a newly created central Education Impact Hub, employees can connect with a range of new volunteering and giving opportunities, including donating books, mentoring and stationery kit packing for students in need. In its first three weeks, the campaign generated more than 1,000 volunteering registrations and collected 7,500 books as part of a national book drive.

  • Stronger Governance through Shared Expertise

    Delivered in partnership with MinterEllison, the Board Observer Program matches senior Westpac leaders with social sector boards for 12 months of immersive learning. By sharing expertise and fresh perspectives, participants contribute to the work of community organisations while gaining practical governance experience and expanding their leadership capability. Now in its ninth year, the program highlights the value of cross-sector collaboration in building stronger organisations and creating positive community outcomes.

“Growing up, I saw firsthand that not every child has access to the same opportunities or support. That's why initiatives like the Schools Leadership Program matter. They bring together leaders from different worlds, united by a common goal: creating better opportunities for young people.”


Karen Guiliani, Westpac Group Employee and mentor in the School Leadership Program.

Westpac Foundation impact spotlight

Westpac Foundation invests in organisations working to improve education outcomes for children facing barriers to learning and address systemic challenges across Australia. Through grants and partnerships, the Foundation supports both direct assistance for students and broader efforts to strengthen literacy, numeracy, school engagement and educational opportunity.


2026 marked a significant new chapter for the Foundation as we transitioned away from a long-standing focus on job creation and social enterprise. As part of a responsible exit from more than 20 years of investment in the sector, the Foundation established a $1 million Transition Fund, including support for the WISE Learn Book, which captures key learnings, case studies and grant making insights developed over two decades.


The Foundation also launched its inaugural Education Grants program in March 2026, bringing together the existing resources, funds and programs of the St.George, BankSA and Bank of Melbourne Foundations to create one single grants program focused on the critical issue of education.

Impact metrics

""

$4.2m

Value of new grants awarded to education partners6.

$1.6m

Value of grant funds paid to education partners.

11

Total number of education-aligned grants awarded.

$1m

Value of Transition Fund established to support the social enterprise sector through additional grant payments, sector capacity building initiatives and the WISE Learn Book.

$1.55m

Value of legacy grant funds paid7.

  

Westpac Foundation partner spotlight

Adelaide Crows Foundation

The Adelaide Crows Foundation's STEM Footy program is helping bring science and mathematics learning to life for students across South Australia. Using the power of sport to engage young people, the program is expanding its reach into regional and remote communities, helping students build confidence, capability and a stronger connection to future learning opportunities.

Dymocks Children’s Charities

Dymocks Children’s Charities supports children from disadvantaged communities to build stronger literacy skills through access to quality books. Working with schools and community organisations, the charity helps children build confidence, improve learning outcomes, and discover the joy of reading.

Westpac Foundation grant programs

Principal Partner Grant

Supports our strategic partner, Australian Schools Plus to deliver local programs that improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for primary school children in communities experiencing disadvantage.

 

$3m

Committed to Australian Schools Plus over three years.

Better Futures Grants

Provide $100,000 over two years for local organisations helping children build the literacy, numeracy and educational foundations they need to thrive.

 

$800k

Value awarded to Better Futures Grant partners.


8

Better Futures Grants awarded.

Impact Grants

Provide $200,000 over two years to support collaborations and place-based initiatives that drive systemic change and improve educational outcomes at scale.

 

$400k

Value awarded to Impact Grant partners.


2

Impact Grants awarded.

""

“The Westpac Foundation Impact grant will enable us to work with 10 small schools to provide integrated supports for curriculum, instruction, assessment and intervention across literacy and numeracy. Small schools are such an important and critically under-supported part of the Australian education landscape, especially when it comes to the challenges of curriculum and assessment. The project will provide coherent practical support to a cluster of small schools to improve student learning outcomes. It will also enable us to learn more about what it takes to create meaningful change in these complex settings.”


Caroline Reed, Co-CEO Impact Teaching Group

Westpac Scholars Trust impact spotlight

Through its five scholarship programs, Westpac Scholars Trust invests in emerging leaders advancing four areas critical to Australia’s long-term prosperity: innovation, sustainability, social inclusion, and stronger connections across the Asia-Pacific region. By combining financial support with leadership development, mentoring and networking, the Trust helps scholars maximise their impact long after their formal scholarship experience ends.

 

In 2026, the Trust celebrated a decade of investing in Australia's future and the milestone of supporting more than 1,000 scholars. Founded in 2015 on a simple promise to award 100 scholarships a year, forever, the Trust has grown into a vibrant community of leaders, researchers, innovators and social changemakers. The annual Westpac Scholars Summit provided an opportunity to reflect on that journey, bringing together scholars under the theme 10 Years into Forever to explore the enduring power of leadership, connection and collective impact. The milestone was further marked through the launch of One Thousand, a commemorative digital magazine capturing the stories and achievements that have shaped the Trust's first decade and the future it continues to build.

 

The year also saw the delivery of the inaugural Westpac Australia-Asia Fellowship, a significant evolution of the Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship. Following a strategic review in 2025, the program was redesigned to meet Australia's growing need for leaders who can navigate an increasingly interconnected Asia-Pacific region. Moving beyond a traditional study-abroad model, the Fellowship focuses on developing cultural agility, leadership capability and cross-border networks through a nine-month immersive program.
 

Impact metrics
 

$5.99m

Value of scholarships awarded8.

100

Scholarships awarded.

1,012

Scholars since 2015.

$57m

Awarded since 2015.

Scholarship Programs

Research Fellowship

$2.25m awarded to 2 Research Fellows, including $1.54m in collaborative university funding.
 

Learn more about the Research Fellowship

Future Leaders Scholarship

$1.91m awarded to 16 Future Leaders.


Learn more about the Future Leaders Scholarship

Social Change Fellowship

$515k awarded to 10 Social Change Fellows.


Learn more about the Social Change Fellowship

Australia-Asia Fellowship

$586k awarded to 36 Asia-Australia Fellows.


Learn more about the Australia-Asia Fellowship

Young Technologists Scholarship

$720k awarded to 36 Young Technologists.


Learn more about the Young Technologists Scholarship

Unique scholarship program attributes

Leadership development

Westpac Scholars Trust empowers Scholars to become world-class leaders, providing transformative experiences that build the skills, personal insights and networks to achieve their boldest ambitions.

Initiatives include

  • Tailored leadership programs for each scholarship stream
  • Opportunities to learn from global thought leaders
  • Access to international experiences and networks.

 

94%

Believe the Leadership Development Programs opened their mind to new ways of thinking about leadership and their own leadership capability9.

93%

Had access to opportunities they wouldn’t have had otherwise9.

92%

Acquired new skills that will enhance their ability to achieve their goals9.

Empowering a network of scholars

The Trust connects bright minds to spark innovation and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Initiatives include

  • The Westpac 100 Scholars Network (W100)
  • Partnerships with 14 universities for lifelong professional development
  • Access to Westpac Group networks
  • The annual Westpac Scholars Summit.

 

103

Scholars connected through mentoring programs in 2026.

86%

Found collaborating with other Westpac Scholars to share and evolve ideas or projects valuable9.

78%

Gained valuable support from a Westpac employee9.

Scholar spotlight

Advancing environmental solutions

Westpac Scholars are helping drive the transition to a more sustainable future through research, innovation and systems change. From improving agricultural productivity and advancing clean energy technologies to strengthening climate governance, scholars are tackling some of Australia's most complex environmental challenges with practical, real-world solutions.

Driving social inclusion

Westpac Scholars are tackling barriers to opportunity and championing access to education for all Australians. Through research, advocacy and community leadership, they are helping build a more inclusive society by increasing STEM participation, expanding pathways to learning and connecting more people with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive.

“The leadership training is invaluable. The individual and group sessions have helped me identify how my interpersonal and management style needs to evolve so I can be a more balanced and productive scholar and leader. This ongoing process has also helped me recognise the things that hold me back and think through how to manage them.”

 

Dr. Eve Warburton, 2025 Research Fellow, investigating the role of critical minerals (nickel, lithium) in the global economy.

“The scholarship connected me with people I would not have met otherwise, from social changemakers and business leaders to diplomatic and cultural organisations. These relationships have enriched my life, shaped my interests and opened opportunities I could not have accessed alone, including my upcoming honours thesis on using data science to prevent financial crime in Australia.”


Adam Choong, 2024 Asian Exchange Scholar

Impact in action

Investing in school leadership

For Westpac leader Victoria Hudson-Wright, mentoring a school principal has provided a firsthand insight into the extraordinary role school leaders play in supporting students, families and communities. Through Westpac’s School Leadership Program, delivered in partnership with ABCN, Victoria was paired with Deer Park West Primary School Acting Principal Deanne Scott, gaining valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing school leaders today. The experience highlights how mentoring can build capability on both sides, strengthening leadership while creating meaningful connections between business and education.

Read Victoria's mentoring story

Building stronger foundations in maths

Across four Darwin schools, a new collaborative approach to mathematics education is helping students build stronger foundations for the future. Delivered through Australian Schools Plus as part of Westpac and Westpac Foundation's combined investment in literacy and numeracy, the initiative is strengthening teaching practice, leadership capability and community engagement to support better learning outcomes for more than 1,000 students.

Explore the Darwin maths program

Turning potential into impact

Inspired by a lifelong connection to organ transplantation, Westpac Future Leaders Scholar Harry Robertson is using artificial intelligence to help clinicians detect signs of organ rejection earlier and more accurately. By combining data science with healthcare, Harry is developing tools that could reduce invasive procedures, support faster decision-making and ultimately improve outcomes for transplant patients. His work demonstrates the potential of investing in emerging leaders with the courage and capability to tackle some of Australia's most complex challenges.

Read Harry’s research story

Our network

Westpac Partners

Westpac Scholars Trust

  • Margie Seale (Chair)
  • Dave Curran
  • Nathan Goonan
  • Professor Annamarie Jagose
  • Professor Deborah Terry AC
     

Westpac Foundation

  • Jim Tate (Chair)
  • Tim Burroughs
  • Emily Gatt
  • Carolyn Hoy
  • Adrian Piccoli
  • Keith Rovers
  • Jane Watts 

Better Futures Grant Partners

Impact Grant Partners

Research Fellows

Future Leaders

Social Change Fellows

Australia-Asia Fellows

Young Technologists

 

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Things you should know

In FY26, Westpac Group provided support to the Westpac Community Trust and Westpac Buckland Fund, known as the Westpac Foundation and which also operates as the St George, Bank SA and Bank of Melbourne Foundations. Westpac also continued its support of the Westpac Scholars Trust. While Westpac was involved in establishing the Foundations and Westpac Scholars Trust, they are non-profit organisations that are separate to the Westpac Group.

 

  1. Throughout this report, references to ‘Westpac Foundation’ and ‘the Foundation’ include St.George Foundation, BankSA Foundation and Bank of Melbourne Foundation.
  2. Unless otherwise stated, use of ‘we’ and ‘our’ refer to Westpac, Westpac Foundation and Westpac Scholars Trust collectively.  While Westpac Group helped establish and continues to support the Westpac Foundation and Westpac Scholars Trust, they are independent not-for-profit organisations and are separate from Westpac Group.
  3. Includes Westpac Foundation transition grants awarded to social enterprises.
  4. Partnership amount awarded, to be paid over three years.
  5. Results from the 2026 Impact Study completed by Huber Social between December 2025 and April 2026. Respondents included 33 Westpac graduates.
  6. Grants are multi-year.
  7. Payments made to legacy grant partners from St.George, BankSA and Bank of Melbourne Foundations and Westpac Foundation supported social enterprises.
  8. Includes $1,539,690 contributed by university partners to support the Westpac Research Fellowship.
  9. Results from the 2026 Westpac Scholars evaluation survey conducted between 11 June – 6 July 2026, with 144 respondents.