The winners of the 2019 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards were announced in Sydney on Tuesday evening, in a ceremony attended by the Hon Gary Johns Commissioner, Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits and CEOs from Australia’s leading business and Not-For-Profit (NFP) organisations.

Australia’s leading companies across business, education and service, were recognised for their innovative workplace giving programs and commitment to creating a national culture of giving.

Gold in the Best Overall Program was awarded to leading law firm, King & Wood Mallesons (KWM). The workplace giving program, known as “DigDeep®” has almost 50 percent of their people involved in payroll giving and 85 percent involved in pro bono / volunteering. Since DigDeep® commenced in 2001, KWM has donated over $12.5 million to its charity partners.

EnergyAustralia was awarded Gold in the Best Launch / Refresh category. The company led from the top with a commitment from the leadership team and board to donate 1% from their pay, the announcement of dollar-for-dollar matching and an innovative way of signing on staff. As a result, since January 2019, the company has achieved a staff participation rate of 63% and has donated over $350,000 to charity partners.

JB Hi-Fi continues to be an outstanding workplace giving performer. It was a finalist in three categories and Gold winner in the Most Unique Innovation. For over three years, the company has maintained a staff participation rate of over 75% and has donated $20 million since the program began. JB Hi-Fi continued to innovate and was in turn able to help its charity partners achieve scale as they had certainty of commitment and funding.

Gold in the Most Innovative Charity / Employer Partnership award went to Rural Aid with Australia Post. The partnership involved payroll giving, a Buy-a-Bale Christmas appeal, a special stamp pack (with $2 from each pack sold going to Buy-a-Bale) and a public hay drop event. Australia Post’s donation resulted in the delivery to farmers of 866 large bales of hay delivered by 14 road trains.

Judging panel Chair, QUT’s Associate Professor Wendy Scaife said, “I commend all organisations that offer their employees the ease and convenience of workplace giving. The award winners stood out for consistent reasons – their programs had leadership support, were part of the organisation’s culture and were highly supported and loved by their staff. It’s perhaps no surprise that the winner of the Most Innovative Charity / Employer Partnership was in response to the crippling drought affecting so many in our community.”

“The Workplace Giving Excellence Awards is a great opportunity for the sector to acknowledge the organisations excelling in this space. These organisations are enabling working Australians to support those less fortunate in the community in a highly efficient and ethical way. I encourage every business leader in the country to consider implementing a workplace giving program. Employees embrace these programs, they build culture and they provide much needed funding for charities – it’s a win win for everyone”, said Jenny Geddes, CEO at Workplace Giving Australia.