News

Aurizon, the largest rail-based transport business in Australia, has announced the 29 successful recipients in the latest round of our Community Giving Fund, from regions across our national footprint.

The Aurizon Community Giving Fund is part of Aurizon’s ongoing commitment to supporting and engaging with the local communities where our people live and work, with funding provided in the areas of education, community safety, environment and health and wellbeing.

Managing Director & CEO Andrew Harding said this current round sees support given to local projects in South Australia, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.

“We have extended the reach of the Community Giving Fund to South Australia and the Northern Territory over the past 12 months, with our business expansion into central Australia. We’re excited to connect with and support these regional communities where our employees live and work,” Andrew said.

“Aurizon grants of up to $20,000 will help grassroots organisations deliver important work in the local communities where we operate.

“In South Australia for example, we’re funding the Follow the Dream project in Port Augusta which provides enriched educational opportunities for First Nations’ students. The program celebrates culture, strengthens a sense of belonging and connection to community and empowers students to pursue their aspirations.

“In New South Wales, funding from Aurizon will be used by the Disability Trust of Wollongong/ the Illawarra for the Playground Project. An adult-sized playground will be built for the recreation needs of young adults living with intellectual disabilities, who frequently get taken to parks and playgrounds which are built for 0-12-year-olds.

“In the Northern Territory, the Stomp Out Sepsis program in Katherine aims to reduce the devastating harm and death rates caused to Indigenous people who are at most risk and vulnerable to sepsis. Funding from Aurizon will be used to set up an awareness stall at festivals and key events that are frequented by people from remote communities across the NT.

“In Western Australia, 20Talk will use the grant funding to provide accredited mental health first aid training to support their work for mental health awareness and education programs for young people aged 18-30. Their Rural Activation program will support this program in the Esperance region.

“In Queensland, the Basement Soup Kitchen in Toowoomba will use the Aurizon funding to continue their work in providing nutritious meals, employment and training opportunities to people experiencing homelessness, long-term unemployment, and other difficult circumstances.”

A list of all the latest Community Giving Fund recipients and their projects in your region is available here.

Background

Aurizon’s Community Giving Fund distributes funds bi-annually and provides grants of up to $20,000. More than 570 charities and not-for-profit groups across Australia have received grants since the Fund was established in 2011.

The next round of applications for the Community Giving Fund will open in September 2023.

For more information about the Community Giving Fund, visit www.aurizon.com.au/community

For more information, please contact:

Corporate Affairs: media@aurizon.com.au