Health
Since 1999, Australia Post has sponsored research
into a melanoma vaccine, by helping fund a medical research
fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Hundreds
of our employees raise funds by participating in the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation's "Walk to Cure Diabetes".
Our employees have raised tens of thousands of dollars since 2001 and
are supported by the corporation’s contribution of $25,000 a year.
Over 11,000 Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. The experience is likely to be one of the most difficult and emotionally challenging of their lives. Australia Post has supported the Breast Cancer Network Australia since 2001, and continues to do so by supporting the My Journey Kit. It contains an index of resources, treatment information, and practical advice from women who have survived the disease - as well as a journal for recording medical tests, appointments and questions.
Education
Australia Post supports the work of retired university science lecturer
Phill Higgins, otherwise known as Phiggles. Phill makes
an annual flying/teaching tour to an outback Australian region, where
he conducts interactive science lessons for local children. The lessons
are designed to inspire a love for science among the children and enhance
their learning and life skills.
Australia Post strives to excite children about reading and writing by providing books, stamps and other resources. Our education website (auspost.com.au/education) provides a range of resources for students and teachers. We have sponsored National Literacy and Numeracy Week since 1999. Australia Post provides Excellence Award winning schools with Personalised Stamp sheets in recognition of their outstanding achievement.
Sport
Australia Post is a sponsor of the National Aboriginal Sports
Corporation and continues to support a wide range of youth sport
programs, including a number in rural and regional areas, involving rugby
league, Australian Rules football, cricket, tennis and softball. In Queensland
alone, 15 young footballers have gone from Australia Post sponsored programs
to become players in the senior AFL since 1998. In 2004, Australia Post
was a major sponsor of the Australian Olympic team competing in the Athens
Olympic Games. The Olympic sponsorship offered both community
and commercial opportunities, especially through the Letter Link program
that encouraged children to write to their favourite Australian athletes,
and the issuing of gold medal stamps. Australia Post is the Official Postal
and Courier sponsor of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Australia
Post has been a major sponsor of the Australian Open
tennis tournament since 2002. Since 1995, the corporation has sponsored
the nation's richest footrace, the Australia Post Stawell Gift.
Arts
A founding member, and long-time supporter, of the Australian
Business Arts Foundation Australia Post provide support to a
variety of artistic companies and projects. We sponsor the ABAF Gold Book,
an annual showcase of award winning arts-business partnerships. In 2004,
we became a "gold partner" sponsor of Opera Australia.
Under the agreement, Australia Post is also principal sponsor of OzOpera,
Opera Australia's touring and education arm, which is responsible for
regional, community and school-based projects and tours.
Environment
Australia Post continues its close association with environmental group,
Planet Ark, by assisting customers to recycle Christmas
cards and printer cartridges. The cards are pulped and recycled for use
as cardboard packaging or tissue products, while the cartridges are broken
down and the components are removed for reuse or recycling. Recycling
of cards has saved over 120,000 trees since it began in 1993/94. Australia
Post's contribution to the, 'Cartridges 4 Planet Ark', program saved over
60 tonnes of printer waste from going into landfill during the year. As
a Bronze sponsor of Landcare Australia, Australia Post
teamed up with the Tarcutta Landcare Network to plant 14,000 native seedlings
in a degraded area alongside the Sturt Highway, near Wagga Wagga, to improve
both the local environment and road conditions. The earthworks, tree and
shrub planting, and fencing will help restore an area degraded by increasing
soil salinity from over-clearing.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Tsunami
Australia Post responded quickly to the devastating Tsunami originating
in the ocean off Indonesia on Boxing Day 2004. In addition to $250,000
cash donated to CARE Australia, Australia Post and its
partners provided the services of a Boeing 727 aircraft to supply aid
to the neediest areas, and offered specific specialist support to the
postal organisations throughout the region. Our postal outlets were made
available for accepting more than $1 million in public donations to CARE
Australia, and many of our employees have been active in various Tsunami
fundraising activities.
Australia Day
Australia Post is the principal sponsor of
Australia Day luncheons. The sponsorship coincides with
Australia Post’s launch of the annual Australia Day Legends
stamp issue. In 2005, the Legends awards recognised the contribution of
six of Australia’s leading fashion designers.
Champions
At Australia Post we strive to recognise the
tireless work of staff, contractors and licensees who regularly volunteer
for community activities. In 2005, we launched the Australia Post Community
Champions Award to recognise those devoting their own time and
efforts to charities, local community groups, schools, sporting associations,
etc.
Our Community website
Australia Post has partnered with the Our
Community organisation to help community groups develop their
own capacity to deliver improved knowledge and skills in administration
and management. The Marketing, Media & Post Centre is part of a free,
web-based resource for community groups to help spread their messages.
Interested groups can find this information and much more at: www.ourcommunity.com.au
