One job at a time

Westpac Foundation has released its 2019 Impact Report (PDF 8MB) which documents the collective impact the Foundation, together with its community partners, is making in local communities across Australia.
 

Highlighting collaboration as a key focus of the Foundation, the Report details the many ways Westpac Foundation collaborates to create impact, including the new co-funding model which will see a combined $2.31 million invested in five social enterprises, together with 10 funding partners.
 

The model aims to create more jobs for Australians experiencing significant barriers to employment, reflective of the Foundation’s mission to help social enterprises create 10,000 jobs by 2030.
 

One of the social enterprises to benefit from this model is YMCA ReBuild, a facilities maintenance service that provides training, coaching and employment pathways for young people from prison.
 

YMCA ReBuild gives people like Asad (pictured above), a second chance.
 

“I am very fortunate ReBuild has given me a second chance to make an honest living… I’m feeling the best I have ever felt. I now feel like I’m not a problem for the society I live in,” said Asad.
 

Since 2015 Westpac Foundation-supported social enterprises have created 2,843 jobs.
 

Here’s a look at some of the Foundation’s highlights in 2019:
 

Investing for job creation

Providing funding and programs to help social enterprises looking to scale their business and create more jobs and training opportunities for people facing barriers to mainstream employment.
 

2019 highlights:
 

  • New collaborative co-funding model investing a combined $2.31 million in 5 social enterprises, together with 10 funding partners
  • 21 Community Grants to local organisations helping people into jobs or be job ready
  • 746 jobs and 1,104 employment pathways created through social enterprises
Programs to drive impact

Connecting our community partners to a diverse range of Westpac Group pro bono support.
 

2019 highlights:
 

  • 500 Westpac employees volunteered their time and skills
  • 8,590 hours of Westpac pro bono support
  • 146 organisations supported
  • 95% of our community partners said it helped them to be more effective
Helping local communities

Support for small not-for-profits that are making a difference in local communities all around Australia.
 

2019 highlights:
 

  • 100 Community Grants of $10,000 each
  • Funding estimated to benefit 12,000 Australians
  • 77% of Community Grant recipients previously funded by Westpac Foundation
  • 100% nominated by a Westpac employee
Collaborating for change

Measuring our impact, sharing our learnings and building partnerships with businesses.
 

2019 highlights:
 

  • Released research in partnership with Centre for Social Impact Swinburne
  • 50% of our major social enterprise partners supplied goods and services to Westpac Group
  • $940,000 in goods and services procured from community partners

For more stories like Asad’s and the organisations that Westpac Foundation supports, read our 2019 Impact Report (PDF 8MB).