Austal Giving
Austal is committed to helping the local communities in which we live and work. As part of this commitment to corporate social responsibility, Austal has established ‘Austal Giving’ - a platform for the company and its employees to provide assistance in various forms, to worthwhile community and charitable programs.
‘Austal Giving’ leverages our people and business' natural capabilities to improve opportunities for employment, learning, health and wellbeing and the environment. Aligning with own corporate culture, Austal carefully considers and chooses to support programs and organisations that can demonstrate a high degree of operational efficiency - ensuring the delivery of maximum benefit to the targeted people in need.
Austal has established a dedicated Austal Giving Committee to lead and manage support activities - and ensure Austal makes a real difference in our local communities.
Through a robust review process, applications are critically assessed for compliance against Austal’s support criteria;
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE STRATEGY
Austal Giving is a key element of Austal Limited's corporate social responsibility (CSR) arrangements, with objectives that align and support the company's Environmental, Social and Governance Strategy, outlined in the 2022 ESG report, available from the Corporate Governance page of the Austal (Corporate) website.
Some of Austal Giving’s current and past projects are detailed below. These projects have and will continue to provide community benefit beyond the initial support period.
For more information on ‘Austal Giving’ please contact the Austal Giving Committee via austalgiving@austal.com
AUSTAL GIVING IS PROUDLY SUPPORTING:
Anglicare WA – Young Hearts Program
Austal supports Anglicare's Young Hearts program which provides much-needed counselling support services to women and children who have suffered domestic violence in Rockingham, Western Australia.
With two full-time counsellors, funded by Austal and Telethon, the program has been successful in reducing the waiting time for appointments from over 300 to just 31 days
Find out more https://youtu.be/3vqh7SDL4rM
Spinnaker Health Research Foundation
Austal employees and Austal Giving support the great work of the Spinnaker Health Research Foundation through the SMHS Staff Lottery for Spinnaker that raises funds for important medical research in a number of areas, including;
- Maternal and infant health
- Childhood disease and injury
- Endocrine disorders including diabetes
- Cancer and cancer treatments
- Burn management and treatment
- Inflammatory and rare diseases
- Mental health
- Heart disease
- Heart and lung transplant
- Prehabilitation and rehabilitation for improved recovery
Every dollar raised by Austal employees through the SMHS Staff Lottery for Spinnaker is matched by Austal Giving and goes directly toward helping the Foundation to focus on the identified health needs of the community of south metropolitan Perth.
Spinnaker prioritises research that aims to translate findings to practice - to ensure the best possible diagnosis, treatment and care of the people who attend local hospitals; as well as projects that focus on prevention to ensure the improved life outcomes for everyone in our community.
For more information about the Spinnaker Health Research Foundation, or to find out how you can help go to https://www.spinnakerhealth.org.au/support/ways-of-giving/
SMHS Staff Lottery for Spinnaker (previously Freo Doctor Lottery)
Running now for over 16 years at Fremantle Hospital and for 13 years at Austal, employees participate in the SMHS Staff Lottery for Spinnaker, to vie for the chance to win a weekly cash prize, with 50% of the proceeds going to the Foundation.
The Lottery is a fantastic project and provides a forum where you can support the important research of the foundation whilst at the same time have a little fun with the lottery.
With a chance of winning cash prize every payday, staff can purchase $2 “chances” in the weekly/fortnightly draw, and Spinnakers' computer-drawn lottery system picks the winner.
For more information on the SMHS Staff Lottery for Spinnaker and how to introduce it to your workplace, please contact Russell McKenney on 0438 932 748 or russell.mckenney@health.wa.gov.au
Telethon Kids Institute - Djaalinj Waakinj Ear Portal Program
Austal Giving donated A$50,000 to the Telethon Kids Institute’s Djaalinj Waakinj Ear Portal Program based in Perth, Western Australia in March 2021; and has committed to a further three years of support at A$50,000 per year, from March 2022.
The Djaalinj Waakinj (listening and hearing) Ear Portal Program was established to address an identified need in the community to test and treat Aboriginal children suffering with recurrent or chronic middle ear infections called otitis media (OM).
Djaalinj Waakinj is a telehealth-based clinical research program that uses technology to remotely diagnose and prioritise treatment of children with otitis media, to prevent hearing loss.
Austal Giving Committee Chairman Richard Liley said Austal's sponsorship of the Ear Portal Program enables the program to see three times the number of children previously possible, each year.
“Austal is deeply committed to improving opportunities for employment, learning, health and environment in the local community,” said Mr Liley.
“Djaalinj Waakinj has translated research and the latest technology into real outcomes for the Cockburn community – the impact of the program is obvious and so is the existing need.
“By supporting the Djaalinj Waakinj Ear Portal Program, Austal is making a real impact to local families and help ensure no child in our local community starts school with preventable or treatable hearing loss,” Mr Liley added.
Every year 650,000 Australian children suffer from recurrent or chronic middle ear infections, or otitis media (OM). Telethon Kids Institute research has shown close to 40 per cent of Aboriginal babies begin to develop middle ear infections between two and four months of age. By six to eight months, this increased to over 50 per cent.
Dr Chris Brennan-Jones, Head of Ear Health at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at Telethon Kids Institute, said the statistics clearly demonstrate the urgent need to prioritise early testing and treatment for Aboriginal children suffering OM.
“Some children have spent over two years on waiting lists for treatment of ear infections. That’s too long for children who are in crucial stages of language, behavioral and educational development,” said Dr Brennan-Jones.
“The Djaalinj Waakinj Ear Portal Program was established to address this gap. It ensures access to early diagnosis and intervention by reducing unnecessary travel and waiting times.”
Hearing loss caused by untreated OM is a lifelong burden, with the impact on lost wellbeing (due to unemployment, impacts on mental health and quality of life) estimated to cost $17.4 billion per annum in Australia.
“There is an assumption that if you live in Metropolitan Perth, you have access to many and varied services. This is not the case for many Aboriginal families as there can be barriers to accessing some services.” said Val Swift, Aboriginal Cultural Governance Advisor at Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases.
“By working with the community to design and deliver the program, we’re ensuring the cultural security of the program so families feel safe and comfortable to participate.”
For more information on The Telethon Kids Institute Djaalinj Waakinj Ear Portal Program please visit https://www.telethonkids.org.au/projects/djaalinj-waakinj-a-cohort-study-of-otitis-media/ or watch the video on You Tube
