10,000 reasons why Westpac Foundation supports an inclusive workforce

James Thornhill
08:00am October 15 2024

Social enterprise Free to Feed has partnered with Westpac Foundation to offer training and employment opportunities to people from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds. (Supplied)

Westpac Foundation has surpassed its goal to help secure 10,000 job opportunities for Australians facing barriers to work, five years ahead of its 2030 target. 

Since 2015, the Foundation has helped 10,141 people find work, either through the creation of jobs with its social enterprise community partners or the supported transition of individuals into mainstream employment opportunities. 

“Surpassing this milestone five years early is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of our social enterprise and community partners, whose work is transforming lives in communities across Australia,” said Amy Lyden, CEO of Westpac Foundation, which supports 61 social enterprises and community organisations across Australia through its grant programs.  

"Supporting job opportunities isn't just about numbers—it’s about giving people excluded from the mainstream job market a sense of purpose, belonging, and hope. It shows the power of collaboration and the impact we can achieve when businesses and community organisations work together on inclusive employment." 

Westpac Foundation’s grant programs provide multi-year funding and capacity building opportunities to support its partners’ financial sustainability and impact while also leveraging the skills, networks and resources of Westpac Group.  

The achievement is a key milestone in the Foundation’s mission to collaborate to create sustainable, inclusive employment pathways for people who face complex barriers to work. 

"Our strategy has always been about long-term impact," added Lyden. "We don’t just provide funding, we form enduring relationships and walk alongside our partners to help them grow, scale, and sustain their job creation efforts. Their success pushes us to keep striving even further." 

For more than five years, food sharing social enterprise Free to Feed has partnered with Westpac Foundation to empower people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds to overcome barriers to social and economic inclusion through training and employment opportunities.  

Free to Feed offers catering services and immersive cooking experiences where participants create authentic dishes from diverse cultures. During the classes, instructors - who were themselves refugees or asylum seekers - share their personal stories, providing an opportunity for cross-cultural connection. 

Since its inception in 2015, Free to Feed has grown into an established catering and cooking events company, providing over $2 million in employment wages and 63,000 hours of training to more than 400 participants.  

“Westpac Foundation’s support of our business has been instrumental in our journey towards sustainable growth,” Free to Feed ‘s CEO, Loretta Bolotin said. 

“Their backing goes beyond funding; they’ve given us crucial opportunities and connections, helped us navigate many challenges and allowed us to expand and evolve our employment program year after year.” 

The Foundation aims to build on this momentum with plans to award more than $2.9 million to 45 jobs-focused community partners in 2024. 

“We know the work isn’t over. With nearly two million Australians unemployed or underemployed, addressing this issue is critical to Australia’s future prosperity,” Lyden said. 

Westpac Foundation along with four other philanthropic foundations established by Westpac Group, have invested over $100 million in the last decade to help disadvantaged people find long-term employment, creating next generation leaders and helping children thrive. Together, they’ve been helping people in need for over 140 years.  
 

James Thornhill

James Thornhill was appointed as editor of Westpac Wire in May 2022. Prior to joining the bank, he was a business and financial journalist with more than two decades of experience with international newswires. Most recently, he was a resources correspondent for Bloomberg, covering the mining and energy sectors, and previously reported on a broad range of topics from economics and politics to currency and bond markets. Originally from the UK, he’s had stints working in London, New York and Singapore, but is now happily settled in Sydney.

Don't miss

Related articles

Meet the A-team who’ve got joy down to a fine art

By Sarah Williamson and Marina Gainulina

One woman’s mission to end Australia’s hidden slavery problem

By Marina Gainulina
Content Producer

The Social Outfit seals “game-changer” contract win

By Isaiah Vidler
Intern

Browse topics