Workplace Giving Australia, with the support of Deloitte Australia, welcomed a motivated group of charity and corporate supporters to a panel discussion and networking event, ‘Driving Change for Workplace Giving in 2024'. A mix of ESG and Community leaders, as well as People and Culture, Talent and Acquisition and employee experience teams, alongside Corporate Partnership Managers of many of Australia's leading charities, were in attendance.
Brigid Glanville, a respected policy and communications professional with 25 years’ experience working in politics, government, stakeholder relations and media and current Director of Government Communications at GRACosway led the panel and audience on a journey to understand the current challenges and how we can address them collectively and collaboratively. Panel members included:
- Frances Drummond, Principal, IP Advisory from Deloitte Australia and Workplace Giving Australia board member,
- Leisel Collins, Senior Corporate Partnership Manager from UNICEF Australia,
- Nikki Anstis, Head of Advocacy and Engagement from Workplace Giving Australia.
Members and guests of the workplace giving group The Network, a group of corporates and charities driving change through smart giving, broke new ground and discovered new ways to give through innovative discussion and conversation. Communication, awareness and simplicity emerged as key themes for 2024.
When asked about the top ways to engage giving in this present climate, Frances Drummond from Deloitte Australia commented that corporates from all sectors, regardless of industry, could collaborate and share knowledge about how to increase giving. Leisel Collins from UNICEF Australia also agreed with the need for greater collaboration and a collective view; having just launched a new UNICEF workplace giving program, this was a valued perspective. With her advocacy experience, Nikki Anstis from Workplace Giving Australia commented that alongside the 2023 double giving goal, we need a strong collective effort from employers, charities and employees to increase uptake, and it would be one of the quickest solutions for real change. It was also noted that Workplace Giving Month is coming up in June, where Workplace Giving Australia will provide practical and simple actions that all audiences can take to get involved.
With insightful audience conversation, discussion led to ideas to cover all types of business (from small, medium as well as the top end of town), as well as the emerging trend of larger corporations relaunching workplace giving programs to refresh and meet the ends of new generations of employees. Another theme discussed was that corporations not only match employee donations dollar for dollar but also match volunteering hours for dollars, which stretches the employee efforts into greater financial support for much-loved charities. It was concluded that industry organisations, solutions providers, Australian businesses, government removing barriers, charities, and individuals can all contribute to this important shift as a collective group.
Research reveals that the average person will spend around a third of their lifetime at work. Not only that, but many people also support much-loved charities. It's no secret that Australians are generous, with over 70% of people already giving. David Mann, CEO of Workplace Giving Australia comments: “Workplace giving is an essential part of corporate DNA. To just have a program in place is the bare minimum, and we know that employees and the wider community expect so much more. We encourage all stakeholders to dive into current trends and research into giving at work, and adjust giving in the workplace and keep up with these new giving attitudes. Giving in the workplace is the smartest way to give, and we look forward to working with all Australian corporates to leverage their talent, communities and goodwill to make giving part of everyday life.”
Everyone in attendance was delighted to learn more about giving at work and why its becoming part of everyday life, with all in attendance grateful for the support of the venue host Deloitte Australia. Workplace Giving Australia collaborates with organisations to make giving a part of everyday life. Workplace giving is the smartest way to make your charitable impact count. To learn more about how you and your organisation can enabling giving and drive real change, discover more and contact an expert here.
