News in the Community magazine by News Corp Custom Publishing

Acknowledgement of Country News Corp Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land in all states and territories across Australia on which we all live and work. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, both past and present. We honour the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, cultures, knowledge and traditions of storytelling.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned photographs in this report may contain images of deceased persons which may cause sadness or distress.

OPPOSITE: From Geelong Advertiser for NAIDOC Week, Wadawurrung Woman Claire Mennen with Jayden Wooley at the rejuvenated Durdidwarrah Wetlands in Victoria. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Chadstone welcomes back the Teddy Bear Hospital; Kids News Junior Journalist of the Year, Madison Riquelme, Year 7 student; Tiny Home charity working with troubled youth and The Courier-Mail Children's Fund. The Advertiser Foundation blanket appeal.

Welcome

A Message from Michael Miller and Penny Fowler

At News Corp Australia we aim to give back to our communities as much as possible, to do what we can to make Australia a better place for everyone. Supporting the communities we all work and live in has always formed a key part of our ethos.

And for more than a decade News in the Community has been the means by which we make this happen, allowing us to use our resources to better support many different organisations.

This has empowered us to maximise the positive impact we create every day at a grassroots community level throughout Australia.

And it provides the means to better amplify these programs to a bigger audience and to celebrate their strong legacy – in many cases built up over many decades – in pursuit of community benefit.

It has set us up for an even stronger future.

All of our initiatives – whether we are talking the Good Friday Appeal, the Shine Awards or the Bush Summit –aim to find new ways to create positive impact across our nation in order to create a better Australia for all.

Our recent past shows how News in the Community continues to evolve and to thrive as we enter our second decade.

The Good Friday Appeal, which has supported Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital since 1931

has greatly increased its reach by distributing a record amount of funds in partnership with the hospital to six regional paediatric health services.

This will improve health outcomes for children across Victoria and help kids receive care closer to home, helping create stronger and more resilient regional and rural communities.

We also increased our long-standing support for the world-renowned Royal Flying Doctor Service, entering a car in the Outback Car Trek which has raised nearly $35 million since its inception in 1990.

Why Volunteer Day is important to me

This year the team and I helped out in the kitchen at the Salvation Army in Surry Hills (above) and last year we packed food boxes for Turbans4Australia. Volunteering plays a vital role in tackling social challenges and promoting positive change in the world. It makes a meaningful difference to both the giver and the receiver, and I encourage everyone at News to organise a day where you and your team can give back to the community.

The Advertiser Foundation launched its Kids Appeal to help children in need in South Australia. This appeal raises money and awareness to help South Australian charities deliver programs that demonstrate positive and measurable outcomes.

And in recognition of our 10th anniversary our Staff Donations Fund

is donating $10,000 to 10 charitable organisations over 10 months. This is a tangible way that our staff can recognise and support the charities that matter most to them.

Another way is for teams at News to take a Volunteer Day and interact directly with your local communities.

The Australian Indigenous Foundation celebrated its 15th year and through partnerships with leading Australian companies and foundations, the Australian Government and other donors, the AIEF has built a Scholarship Fund that currently supports around 500 secondary and tertiary scholars and continues to support a network of over 600 graduates. These students and graduates are achieving outcomes that set the benchmark for Indigenous education programs in Australia.

Why News in the Community is important to me

In the mental health space we continue to make R U OK? Day a priority to encourage people to have the conversations that matter. Editorially we ran the Let Them Be Kids campaign – which together with parents, mental health experts, and child advocacy organisations – called on the Federal Government to raise the age limit to access to social media to 16.

Our purpose at News Corp Australia is very clear – to help build a better Australia.

News in the Community plays an important role in fulfilling that goal.

We look forward to the next 10 years, and beyond.

Penny Fowler News Corp Australia Community Ambassador Chairman, The Herald & Weekly Times

Michael Miller Executive Chairman, News Corp Australasia

I am passionate about creating positive impact in the communities in which we live and work, building on our company’s long history of giving back. Over the past decade News in The Community has built a strong foundation for the future and this booklet shines a light on some of our work and the lasting impact we are creating together. We look forward to continuing to help build a better Australia.

Shine Awards 2023 Youth winner Annie Pumpa.

News and Responsibility

Freedom of speech is the foundation of our democracy. We take responsibility for upholding it. We are vigilant on any encroachment on our ability to report without fear or favour. We believe in operating our business responsibly, treating our employees fairly, acting with integrity and supporting programs that contribute to the vitality of the media sector.

Education for all

Education is good for our society and critical to long term prosperity. Everyone should have access to a good education and it is our goal to help make sure this happens for all Australians.

Stronger Communities

Australian communities should be strong, liveable and connected. With our support, we help local economies, create job opportunities and support those that are disadvantaged.

Healthy Nation

By championing health and lifestyle issues, encouraging participation in sport and supporting community groups, we can play a broader role in improving the environment, health and wellbeing of all Australians.

News and Responsibility

Our people play an important role in our community

DISASTER RELIEF

Fire and rain

Australia is a country of extreme weather conditions. Being prepared lessens the impact of bushfires, floods and cyclones.

In light of the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, we have established the News Corp Australia Emergency Relief Fund. This fund will provide support, relief and resources when a crisis occurs – whether it’s a bushfire, flood, or other emergency situations.

Its establishment followed the devastating bushfires of 2019/2020 when more than 2700 homes were destroyed and 34 people died. An estimated 24.33 million hectares burnt. This was then followed by devastating floods in 2021/22.

One lesson from such extreme events is that when they happen, aid is needed quickly.

When future disasters occur the Fund will be there to help prioritise actions that address urgent needs such as rescue operations, shelter, food and water supplies and medical care. Other priorities would include

repairs to any communications and power infrastructure, establishing clear road and transport access and establishing temporary sanitation solutions to prevent outbreaks of disease.

We will also work with community organisations on the ground to ensure that rebuilding homes, businesses and lives – together with future-proofing against the elements – will help create a safer, more stable environment into the future. We have already supported multiple organisations.

We donated to BlazeAid and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal. We supported Rural & Remote Mental Health, the Salvation Army and worked with Landcare Australia to support bushfire recovery in Victoria and Queensland, just a few of the wide ranging programs we supported.

Elsewhere, we provided financial support to the NSW Rural Fire Service

Association for a pilot program of new fire danger rating signs and also to Taree’s Koalas in Care.

Following the floods we donated to the Vinnie’s Flood Appeal and added to the Sky News Australia Community Rebuilding Trust.

Other charities that we supported during these trying times included It Takes a Town in Murwillumbah; REgener8 in Lismore; Wordell Core and Healing and Resilience Australia in Ballina and put money towards a mobile library truck after the Richmond-Tweed Library’s entire collection was destroyed by flooding. Our journalists reported on the losses but we also told the stories of the heroes of the affected communities who put their own concerns aside to focus on aiding their neighbours and friends. When disaster strikes, News in the Community will help build a better Australia.

RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN

Moving forward

Our vision is to work towards reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and to celebrate their successes.

News Corp Australia’s vision for reconciliation is to celebrate the successes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, recognise the injustices and lead and shape the debate around reconciliation. We marked another exciting chapter in our reconciliation journey with the launch of our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, reaffirming our commitment to achieving lasting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Since our first RAP in 2011, we have identified sport as a powerful incentive to keep young Indigenous boys in school through a FOX Sports partnership with The Clontarf Foundation, and by celebrating Indigenous sportsmen and women through Indigenous Sport Week.

We insert the National Indigenous Times into our mastheads and use our legacy in journalism to support National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week with editorial and advertising campaigns online and across our publications, helping to share the stories and aspirations of Indigenous people with all Australians.

We now have a working relationship with Supply Nation and hold Experience Days for Bandu students who may be interested in a career in the

media. To help meet our deliverables for our fourth RAP, an Employee Resource Group (ERG) was established to assist the RAP sub-committee. The group is called Mura, and is comprised of employees who are passionate about First Nations issues and reconciliation.

Our RAP committee and subcommittee take great pride in the relationships we have formed with these organisations and we are committed to working with our RAP partners to ensure progress continues to be made.

Read more about Reconciliation Australia

Opposite: Experience Days for Bandu students. Marissa Williamson Pohlman

Events & Experiences

Read

The NSW-based

team completed their Volunteer Day, helping Randwick City Council regenerate and maintain the native bushland at Maroubra dunes.

THE ENVIRONMENT

Think global, act local

Improving the environment is key to building a healthier Australia.

News Corp has had our Global Environmental Initiative, the company’s comprehensive sustainability program in place since our inception as a public company in 2013.

Our approach includes an emphasis on practical initiatives, such as Containers for a Cause.

This program encourages employees to bring containers from home into the office to recycle in exchange for raising charitable funds for the Children’s Cancer Institute.

More than 6,800 containers have been collected to date, with 10 cents from each item donated in return.

Some employees choose to volunteer for environmental groups such as the Sydney-based Events and Experiences team which helped Randwick City Council regenerate and maintain native bushland in Maroubra.

Our Global Head of Sustainability oversees a committee of leaders

from each of our businesses and is responsible for driving the program, setting strategies, managing and overseeing our environmental goals.

We have three major areas we’re focussed on – Reduce, Engage and Source Responsibly.

We aim to reduce our operational carbon emissions 65% by fiscal 2030, from a 2016 base year; minimise singleuse plastic and other wastes within our business; and recycle 100% of newsprint waste at our print centres.

We engage our customers, employees, suppliers and partners on sustainability outcomes; align carbon emission reduction goals with a global temperature rise limit of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels; and continue to publicly report sustainability practices annually to CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project).

And we source responsibly from certified sources.

Locally, at News Corp Australia, we

have always believed in the importance of sustainable practices as a core part of our business.

The accreditation of the “National Environmental Sustainability Agreement for newspapers and magazines” scheme by the Federal Government, saw Executive Chairman Michael Miller host the Environment Minister, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP at our Sydney printing plant.

Over the years we have committed to using sustainable fibres and nonhazardous inks, and have put great effort into ensuring safe recycling. The Sustainability Agreement reaffirms our commitment to continue leading in environmental stewardship within the media industry.

Our ongoing conversations at the national Bush Summit continue to explore the challenges and opportunities for rural and regional Australia, including energy transition and liveability in the bush.

News and Responsibility

Our people play an important role in our community

Co-founders of Orange Sky Lucas Patchett OAM and Nic Marchesi. Opposite: Jacob was treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

STAFF DONATIONS FUND

Giving back

We are a company of incredible people with remarkable stories of resilience, bravery and courage. One of the best ways to share our passions and priorities is through the Staff Donations Fund.

The Staff Donations Fund supports our staff involved in the work of a charity − those who volunteer their time, donate, or have a special connection with an organisation close to their heart. Three times a year, we donate 10 grants of $3,000 each to charities nominated by our staff. In recognition of the 10th Anniversary of our News in the Community program, the Staff Donations Fund will donate $10,000 to 10 charitable organisations over 10 months.

We support colleagues through the Staff Donations Fund and have donated over $877,650 to 225 charities since 2015. To ensure fair consideration and due diligence for all applications, the assessment and selection process takes place over a number of weeks (see next page).

Donations have covered a wide range of health, education, and community charities, including the Sargood Foundation, which assists patients recovering from spinal cord injuries; PanKind, The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, which is exclusively dedicated to improving outcomes for Australians impacted by pancreatic cancer; The Geelong Youth Engagement, which aims to transform the lives of at-risk youth by empowering them to achieve their full potential; And Raising Literacy, which works with the community to improve literacy levels in children from infancy. More recently, donations were

included to assist environmental and Indigenous causes including Tribal Warrior, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia.

Furthermore, we have also focused on assisting initiatives that provide crucial support and treatment for individuals facing life-threatening health conditions such as the National Breast Cancer Foundation. This supports women during breast cancer treatments. As well as Emerge Australia which brings hope, understanding, and effective treatment to those living with ME/CFS. Likewise, the Children’s Cancer Institute has been instrumental in providing life-changing treatments for children battling cancer.

Our support also extends to organisations that help families facing deep emotional and personal

“Thank you NCA for this generous donation! My husband sustained a spinal cord injury in 2016, leaving him a quadriplegic at only 27 years old. It has been a complete saviour for us as young adults, and now even more so with the addition of our little baby, we are able to travel as a family in a completely inclusive way.”

ANGELA HOARE, SARGOOD FOUNDATION

challenges. Precious Wings, for example, offers vital support to families grieving the loss of a child, providing emotional care and resources to navigate the difficult journey of loss. Similarly, Mummy’s Wish provides practical and emotional support to mothers undergoing cancer treatment, helping them manage their responsibilities while focusing on their health and recovery. These organisations, like many others, play a critical role in easing burdens and offering hope during times of hardship.

How grants are chosen:

Submitted applications undertake a pre-eligibility check to ensure:

 The application form is duly completed;

 A valid Australian Business Number (ABN) has been provided;

 Not-for-profit/charity details are complete including deductible gift recipient (DGR) status;

 The application demonstrates impact on the community;

 Eligibility requirements are met.

The Steering Committee then confirms the not-for-profit/charity contributes to News Corp Australia’s

aim to inform, advocate and inspire to help build a better Australia.

They also confirm the not-for-profit/ charity meets due diligence and governance requirements and undergo checks from an independent body, Charities Aid Australia. Based on the above process and final approvals made by the News in the Community Steering Group, three times a year 10 organisations are chosen to receive the donation over the course of the financial year.

The Staff Donations Fund is a testament to the collective efforts of our employees, whose passion and commitment to charitable causes continue to shape the program's impact year after year. By supporting the causes that are most important to our employees, we aim to amplify the positive impact of their charitable efforts towards the communities they care deeply about.

Employees only:

Read more about the Staff Donations Fund

A FEW OF OUR STAFF CHARITIES

 Sargood Foundation – Angela Hoare

 Orange Sky Australia – Cheryl Anne Gadsby and Susan Day

 Pankind – Andrew Munkman

 Aussie Deaf Kids Ltd – Erin Miller

 Mummy's Wish – Julian Delany

 St Vincent's Hospital Sydney

– Shoba Rao

 Indigenous Literacy Foundation

– Sarah Elks

 Tribal Warrior – William Taione

 Animal Welfare League Queensland

– Chantay Logan

 Raising Literacy – Melissa Librandi

 Children’s Cancer Institute

– James McMahon

 Emerge Australia – Elise Potter

 Lord Somers Camp and Power House

- Simon Love

 Reach Out, Laps for Life

– Jennifer Lennartsson

 NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia

– Natasha Cormier

 Arundel Park Riding for Disabled Inc

– Rosie Pryer

 Geelong Youth Engagement

– Cam Ward

 Fusion Australia (Southern Tasmania)

– Julian Delaney

“This grant means the world to my family and me, as well as to countless other families who face the heart-wrenching reality of childhood cancer every day. My hope is that it brings us one step closer to a cure, ending the sadness and despair that so many families endure.”

JAMES MCMAHON, CHILDREN’S CANCER INSTITUTE

Healthy Nation

Healthier lifestyles lead to greater nations

Good Friday Appeal for the Royal Children's Hospital

GOOD FRIDAY APPEAL

Plenty of appeal

The Good Friday Appeal raises funds to enable The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne to provide world class care to our children.

For 94 years, the Good Friday Appeal has supported The Royal Children’s Hospital’s invaluable, life-changing work on behalf of our most vulnerable children and their families.

Victorians’ unwavering generosity makes this possible.

People from all walks of life give what they can and do what they can, selflessly providing critical support, time and effort, to help make a difference.

Our vision is for a world in which all kids can thrive.

The Appeal – uniquely – is a year-round fund raising effort that culminates on Good Friday and in a series of major public events held during the year.

Some 25,000 participated in last year’s Herald Sun Transurban Run For The Kids and family entertainment

festival, Kids Day Out, attracted an astonishing 95,000.

The annual Teddy Bear Hospital saw more than 1,200 University of Melbourne medical students attend to 4,000 children and their teddy bears or soft toys.

Separately, these could all be considered major events on the Victorian calendar, but taken as a whole they show The Good Friday Appeal’s profound impact and the deep regard in which it is held.

These efforts are backed by a volunteer army who rattle tins, man the phones, organise and attend countless fundraisers across the state.

Thanks to the incredible stories by our team at the Herald & Weekly Times and our media partners such as Channel 7, whose annual telethon is now in its 68th year, the Good Friday Appeal attracts the whole-hearted support of community groups, sporting clubs and families through to small and large businesses as well as the Federal and Victorian Governments.

Everyone doing what they can, and giving what they can because every Victorian knows of someone who was helped by the incredible medical staff at The Royal Children’s Hospital.

This level of support creates a profound impact that changes the lives of children afflicted by the most terrible illness and disease.

Thanks to everyone’s efforts these children can be assured their visit to the RCH will mean they receive worldclass care, be attended by specialist doctors and nurses and access state-ofthe-art medical equipment, research, training and patient and family centred care programs.

It shows that having a heart is what the Good Friday Appeal is all about, that every dollar really does make a difference.

But the search to unlock new ways to raise more funds and create even greater impact by improving health outcomes for children across Victoria never ends.

We are always trying to raise the benchmark because nothing is as important as our children’s welfare.

This approach led to the historic initiative to distribute funds across regional Victorian hospitals via The Royal Children’s Hospital to help kids receive care closer to where they live, helping create stronger and more resilient communities in our regions.

In everything we do the goal is to ensure the RCH remains the world’s premier provider of paediatric care and stays at the forefront of key areas such as trauma care, burns management and surgical research.

It recognises the need to empower future generations of Australians by developing accessible, reputable health

information through programs like the Health Literacy Project.

This aims to create new, engaging and inclusive digital health resources with and for young people, to ensure our youngest voices are heard.

Thanks to the support of the Good Friday Appeal the RCH has also established a dedicated research program, known as the Precision Newborn Health Program. This is working towards improving precision in identifying infants at high risk of health and developmental problems and aims to create personalised intervention programs targeted at those most at risk to improve their outcomes.

And the Wadja Aboriginal Family Place provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families at the RCH with culturally safe, respectful and timely services.

From humble beginnings in 1931 when a group of journalists from The Sporting Globe, published by The Herald & Weekly Times, first raised funds for the hospital it has grown to be the largest event in the News on in the Community calendar.

The Good Friday Appeal’s longevity and measurable impact in changing lives for the better is a testament to how our company can help create lasting, overwhelmingly positive impact for the communities in which we operate to help make Australia a better place.

MURDOCH CHILDREN’S RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Healthy solutions

The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute is in the top three child health research institutes worldwide.

Now in its 39th year, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) continues to raise its internationally recognised reputation, pioneering state-of-the art technology and innovation to improve child health.

The largest research institute in Australia for child health, MCRI’s aim is to ensure all children are given the opportunity to live healthy and fulfilling lives with a team of over 1800 researchers committed to preventing and managing childhood conditions.

As the MCRI’s co-chair and global ambassador Sarah Murdoch puts it: “Our goal remains to provide the critical resources MCRI needs to fulfil its purpose: to give all children the opportunity to live healthy and fulfilled lives. We are excited about the projects and initiatives ahead that will enhance our research and broaden our impact.”

MCRI, which began in 1986, focuses on five specialist areas: Clinical Sciences, Genetics, Infection and Immunity, Population Health and Stem Cell Biology.

An example of its work can be found in a recent research survey of more than 1200 teenagers’ mental health about their anxiety and depression symptoms from ages 10 to 18.

It found 74 per cent had “clinically significant” levels at least once, meaning their symptoms had reached the same level patients with a formal anxiety or depression diagnosis would typically

record on those questionnaires.

MCRI Professor Susan Sawyer said the data “suggests that even the most well-resourced country would struggle to provide adequate treatment if every young person sought help.

Beyond clinical care, we urgently need to fund, develop and evaluate preventive strategies that aim to reduce the onset and chronicity of depression and anxiety.”

Elsewhere, The Allergy Friendly Family Cookbook revolutionised family kitchens and school lunchboxes with helpful and practical tips drawn from the latest research by paediatric and allergy specialists at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

Demonstrating the positive impact News in The Community creates across its multiple activities, some of the funds raised from the Good Friday Appeal go towards the MCRI’s important work.

MENTAL WELLBEING

Helping each other

Inspiring people to meaningfully connect with those around them and start a conversation with people who may be struggling with life.

Editorial campaigns such as “Can We Talk” and “Through the Cracks” helped focus on mental health issues and ways they can be tackled through better communication such as lobbying the government for more funding for an overwhelmed system.

Another national campaign “Let Them Be Kids” pushed for the social media giants to restrict those under 16 from using their platforms in order to avoid toxic online bullying that leads to declining mental health in teenagers.

R U OK? Day

R U OK? Day is a national day of action reminding us to regularly check in with family, friends and colleagues. We all have a role to play in supporting those around us. We can do this by having

an R U OK? conversation with them, listening to what they have to say, encouraging them to take action and checking in with them often.

We partner with R U OK? to raise awareness of the importance of the mental health of Australians. Recently we have held exclusive live stream events that aim to help staff build the confidence to ask “R U OK?” Hosted by Community Ambassador Penny Fowler and R U OK? Chairman Mike Connaghan we’ve heard from people such as Lachlan Spark who ran 222 back-to-back half marathons to raise funds for charities including R U OK?

We’ve also heard from Wayne Holdsworth, who lost his teenage son Mac to suicide after an incident of sexual extortion. He has since set up the charity SmackTalk which Wayne says is “a catalyst to do more and we want to

educate every person we can reach to simply be a better listener”.

Rural & Remote Mental Health

From bushfires and floods to financial hardship, mouse plagues and global pandemics, life has thrown challenges at Aussies living in remote and regional areas in recent years. Research shows people living outside Australia’s major capital cities are 1.5 times more likely to commit suicide, and that rate only increases the more remote you become. One of the charities we support is Rural & Remote Mental Health. The charity gives people the understanding and confidence to care for their mental health, seek help when they need it and support others in their community. The focus is on prevention rather than cure, reducing strain on clinical services and potentially saving lives.

SUICIDE TAKES 3X MORE LIVES THAN THE ROAD TOLL IN AUSTRALIA EACH YEAR.

and why

wants to help others who are struggling. R U OK?

Adelaide 36ers basketballer Isaac Humphries talks about his coming out journey

Opposite: Lachlan Spark is running 222 half marathons in 222 days. Sunday Mail social media campaign.

Stronger Communities

We are stronger when we work together

SHINE AWARDS

Brighter days

Celebrating the rural and regional women who work to make their communities better places to live and work.

Now in their eighth year, the Shine Awards celebrate exceptional achievements of rural and regional women from every state across Australia.

In partnership with Harvey Norman, the awards have shone a light on well over a thousand outstanding, resilient, generous women across Australia who often overcome adversity to become beacons of their communities.

The awards recognise these inspiring women across seven categories: Belief, Courage, Dedication, Grace, Passion, Spirit and Youth.

Sharon Winsor, the 2023 winner, is a Ngemba Weilman woman from Mudgee, NSW, who exemplifies the incredible stories.

Overcoming the loss of her first child to stillbirth and later the victim of domestic violence she launched a pioneering bush tucker business, Indigiearth.

Twenty-five years on, the business is a leading provider of premium bush food.

After winning the awards Sharon wrote: “I never set out to win awards. I set out on the journey passionate about sharing culture, knowledge of native foods, and more importantly my healing.

“I was desperate to break cycles for myself, my children, remove ourselves from domestic violence, and begin a life long journey of healing.

“I am truly honoured.”

News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador Penny Fowler said: “The

Shine Awards reflect our company’s belief in creating positive change through news and advocacy.”

Last year’s overall winner was also remarkable.

Danny Mayson-Kinder from Tasmania founded a charity focused on emotional wellbeing programs for schoolkids after her 12-year-old daughter died in a horse accident on the family farm in 2016.

Danny turned that tragedy into hope by creating the b kinder foundation – a play on her daughter Billie Kinder’s initials – that not only honours her daughter’s memory but is helping deliver messages of positivity and kindness to children across Australia.

Cattle producer Felicity Burton, from Cooranga North in Queensland’s Western Downs region, won the Grace category. She is founding member of the Common Ground Foundation, which buys units in Toowoomba for rural families needing accommodation while accessing healthcare.

Providing support

To help ease the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis we have partnered with food charities SecondBite and Foodbank to help feed everyday people in need.

Making sure there is enough food for everyone offers a lifeline to those who need it most. To help ease the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis we have partnered with food charities SecondBite and Foodbank to help feed everyday people in need.

SecondBite is a food rescue organisation that recovers food from growers, manufacturers and retailers and then issues the salvaged food to a number of charities and not-forprofit organisations.

The food is then used to feed vulnerable Australians including families, students, Indigenous Australians, refugees and asylum seekers, the elderly, the homeless and others impacted by high cost of living. This redistribution of food also helps to divert it from landfill, aiding a sustainable environment.

Each meal provided can also help individuals access not only food but

also essential services like health care, financial support, counselling, and housing assistance. The social connections fostered through these services can be life-changing, offering a lifeline to those in need.

Through taste.com.au, we have worked to support SecondBite in promoting the Winter Appeal, the Christmas Appeal and the back-to-school food program that launched in 2022.

The back-to-school program provides children across kindergarten, primary and secondary schools healthy breakfast and lunch options including fruit and vegetables, dairy, bread and protein.

Foodbank

The recent Foodbank Hunger Report stated that due to the rising cost-ofliving, food insecurity has risen by five per cent in low income homes.

Foodbank is the largest food relief organisation in Australia and helps feed vulnerable Australians.

News Corp Australia has in the past donated to Foodbank to provide assistance to communities in floodaffected areas of Victoria.

News Corp’s donation helped provide meals to displaced and homeless members of a number of communities, including Shepparton, Echuca and Rochester.

Every dollar donated to Foodbank provides two meals. The donation from News Corp allowed Foodbank to provide 200,000 meals to those in need. The meals consist of fresh produce and other essential supplies and allow for culturally appropriate food to be distributed amongst diverse communities.

Stronger Communities

We are stronger when we work together

Diane Howarth at Adelaide's Ukraine Community Centre in Hindmarsh. Diane raised funds to rebuild schools in Ukraine. Opposite left: The Advertiser Foundation Kids' Appeal. Turning the Sod. Dan Demaria, Stuart Headland, Alan Miller, Brett Lavaring, Peter McIndoe and Melvin Mansell. Opposite right: Melvin Mansell, Penny Fowler and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas.

THE ADVERTISER FOUNDATION

Strong foundations

The Advertiser Foundation has raised over $20 million for charities across South Australia since 1993.

Turning words into action lies at the heart of The Advertiser Foundation, which has embarked on a bold and exciting revitalisation to ensure it continues serving South Australians many years into the future.

At the heart of this is The SA Kids’ Appeal, launched in September, which aims to accelerate fundraising for children and young people in need by partnering with as many corporate and community partners as possible.

The Appeal has made a flying start. South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas welcomed the initiative and made a significant donation in support, noting that there was a “disproportionally large cohort of young people in our state who find themselves at significant disadvantage”.

The Appeal will form an important fundraiser for South Australian

charities to benefit the state’s most needy children and feature a number of fund raising programs, including the Teen Parliament, Woman of the Year and the Blanket Appeal which is now well over 60 years old, raising funds for frontline charities such as the Hutt St Centre and Catherine House every winter.

As part of this, developer Villawood Properties and Weeks Homes have already donated a brand new, threebedroom home to be built at their major

development of Oakden Rise, not far from the Adelaide CBD.

Named the Good Home Project, the building is underway before being auctioned in the spring, providing a significant boost to the Kids' Appeal.

This all adds up to an inspiring second wave of the Foundation, which from day one has been a champion of young people in need.

Since Rupert Murdoch launched The Foundation in the early 1990s we have raised money and awareness for local grass-roots charities and causes to support our South Australian communities by creating positive impact.

And young people have always been a key priority for many of our programs such as:

The Blanket Appeal: For decades, we raised money to buy blankets for the homeless. Today it is waterproof swags

“We at Kickstart for Kids are so very grateful for our ongoing relationship with The Advertiser Foundation. The foundation has given us the opportunity to run more programs that better the lives of thousands of at risk, disadvantaged children in South Australia. Thank you Advertiser Foundation.”

KICKSTART FOR KIDS FOUNDER IAN STEEL

and sleeping bags, with a focus on the young homeless. Mitsubishi is the major corporate partner.

Woman of the Year awards: Held every International Woman’s Day, we recognise inspiring women from all walks of life, and reward scholarships for professional development and further education. Our major partner is Sky City Casino Adelaide.

Teen Parliament: High school students present their bright ideas for the progress of their communities; the best get to do it live in State Parliament. This year 12 students each received a scholarship of $10,000 to help their further education. One of them, Chloe

Wyatt-Jasper, made a passionate case advocating for more help for young people suffering mental health issues. The State Government responded with a $5 million program.

Christmas Appeal: KickStart for Kids is a remarkable grassroots program providing breakfast and lunch for underprivileged children. The highlight is a spectacular Christmas Party for more than 250 children, held at the beautiful Bird in Hand winery, in the Adelaide Hills. Many of these children have never enjoyed a Christmas party, let alone received a present. This may well be Australia's best Christmas party. These are just some of our programs. As News Corp chair Lachlan Murdoch

said at the Kids Appeal’s launch last year our company “has always sought to find new ways – and more ways – to give back to the communities in which we work and live, helping build social cohesion and stronger communities.” This mission continues to grow in importance. And there is no question, 2025 will be a landmark year for The Foundation and The SA Kid's Appeal.

A generous $10,000 donation from the Australian Chinese Medical Association Foundation has bolstered this year's Blanket Appeal. Medical Association Foundation's Dr Francis Ghan and Dr Kwong Han. Opposite clockwise from left: Teen Parliament student group. Christmas Kids' Appeal.

Fair Fight Foundation make and distribute superhero

or "supertees" to sick kids in hospital.

costumes

Toby Ward in his supertee. Opposite: Baby Give Back provide kids clothing to struggling families. Baby Give Back CEO Carly Fradgley with local donors Megan Christie and her 3-year-old son Parker.

THE COURIER-MAIL CHILDREN’S FUND

Funds that matter

The Courier-Mail Children’s Fund has been helping Queensland children since 1909.

The Courier-Mail Children’s Fund has been helping Queensland children since 1909, when it was known as Santa’s Toy Sack Appeal and raised funds to provide toys to sick children in hospitals at Christmas.

Established by Queensland Newspapers staff as a way to give back to their community, over the years the Fund has evolved to help children across a diverse range of issues while staying true to its original vision – to help Queensland children in need.

The Fund maximises its impact and efficiency by only directing its funds to registered charities that demonstrate the specialist skills and knowledge required to deliver high-value, lifechanging programs to needy children.

The Courier-Mail Children’s Fund is also a major beneficiary of iconic fun run, The Sunday Mail Transurban’s Bridge to Brisbane event with more

than $120,000 raised alongside support for hundreds of other Queensland charities thanks to the fundraising efforts of participants.

Staff members of News Corp Australia’s Queensland division manage the fund. There are no paid personnel, so every dollar raised goes directly to Queensland kids. The Courier-Mail heavily supports the work of the fund in many ways including editorial coverage and raising awareness of fundraising initiatives.

Last year, The Courier-Mail Children's Fund disbursed more than $500k to 16 registered children's charities including to:

Ipswich Hospital Foundation: Funding was sought to purchase four Bilistick Systems to be used in the Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery (SCN). These systems are used to test for Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (otherwise known as neonatal jaundice).

Kokoda Youth Foundation: Funding for their Digital Detox Program (DDP) aimed at addressing digital overload in young people The program offers structured interventions that encourage young people to disconnect from devices and engage in realworld activities through outdoor expeditions, education workshops and parent education.

Fair Fight Foundation: The Supertee is a medical garment disguised as a fun hero design costume which has been specifically designed for

children facing long term treatment. Patented design is MRI and PET scan friendly and has press stud openings on the sides as well as the shoulders to allow easy access to the tubes and cords. It also allows the nurse to do a quick temperature check even if the child is sleeping. The fun design allows the child to feel more powerful and positive. Funding supported over 500 Tee's being delivered to QLD Children's Hospital this year and staff got to engage in packing the Tees, contributing to this worthy cause.

Cystic Fibrosis Queensland: A spirometer is an essential tool for children with cystic fibrosis (CF), especially those living 100km or more from a clinic. It allows for regular monitoring of lung function, providing critical data on the progression of the disease. For CF children in these areas, access to specialised healthcare is often limited due to geographic isolation, so home spirometry offers a way to manage their condition independently. Regular spirometry can help detect early signs of lung deterioration, prompting timely medical intervention and reducing the risk of hospitalisation. Given the high prevalence of lung infections in

CF patients, the ability to monitor lung health remotely is life changing. Funds will be used to purchase spirometers for 20 CF children with lung capacity of three.

AIM Foundation: The AIM foundation runs programs for Queensland children who have become disengaged from school and/or suffering mental health challenges. The funds will be used to run an 8-week program (during school and after school) with a focus on team and sport.

The Leila Rose Foundation: The foundation exists to support families whose children have been diagnosed with rare childhood cancers. The funding will support five families and their children as they navigate treatment and recovery.

Opposite from top: Bridge to Brisbane Run. Five-day 800km cycling trek to raise funds for TRACTION's much needed youth workshops. Volunteers Georgie Jamieson, Helen Hall, David Overell and David Beven help prepare school bags for Zephyr Education. This page: Tiny Homes, charity building a tiny home to be given away. (From left) Joseph Te, Simi Toru, Ari Rasheed, Lenny Stone and Puni-Fromont

ROYAL FLYING DOCTORS SERVICE

Care from the air

The Bush Summit brings the nation’s most powerful decision makers together to create real change for rural and regional Australia.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service embodies the Australian ethos of supporting those in need, no matter how far they are from urban centres. It has become a symbol of resilience and ingenuity in delivering healthcare to remote and rural areas.

With a waiting room of 7.13 million square kilometres, they provide 24hour aeromedical emergency services to country Australia.

The RFDS provides emergency evacuations throughout rural and remote Australia for people who are seriously ill or injured and require urgent medical attention. They provide quality medical treatment on the ground, and use a dedicated aircraft when we need to transport patients to an appropriate hospital for any further treatment.

With News Corp Australia’s Bush

Summit now a national event held in all states and territories it continues to proudly sponsor the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s strategic research series entitled Best for the Bush, in alignment with the Bush Summit’s purpose − to bring attention to the issues and opportunities facing rural and regional Australia.

Best for the Bush will be identifying key geographical locations where health service provision gaps exist,

and making whole-of-industry recommendations to improve health outcomes for those who live in rural and remote Australia.

The reports demonstrate significantly poorer health outcomes and more limited access to primary health services in rural and remote Australia. This results in people from these areas getting sicker and requiring more urgent attention.

The research has focussed on different areas of health including mental health, heart, stroke, and vascular disease and dental care.

Funds for the RFDS was also raised through The Outback Car Trek with a News Corp Australia/Bush Summit 66 Mustang participating in the event.

The Outback Car Trek has raised in excess of $35 million for the Royal Flying Doctor Service since its inception in 1990.

Royal Flying Doctor Service. Opposite: Money for the RFDS was also raised through The Outback Car Trek

Education for all

All Australians deserve access to a good education

Serpell Primary School student Kyle Hu, 10, topped the country in the Years 3-4 Green level category of the school round of the PM's Spelling Bee with a perfect 30/30 score. Opposite: National Champions of PM Spelling Bee with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Editor of Kids News Di Jenkins and News Corp Australia Community Ambassador Penny Fowler.

KIDS NEWS

The fountain of youth

Our free resource for teachers, parents and, most importantly, kids features daily news updates from around the world across curriculum-aligned topics.

Kids News is our investment in educating future generations through news and current affairs.

Kidsnews.com.au is a ready-to-go literacy resource for teachers using daily news stories for students in the classroom. The content is written into educational stories in child appropriate language and filtered/censored to remove any inappropriate content or imagery.

Each story comes with additional learning support, including classroom activities by teachers for teachers. It represents a dynamic resource for teachers and students who want to learn more about the rapidly changing world around them.

The site features daily news stories suited to children from Years 3-12, plus education kits, everyday activities, award-winning news cartoons, explainers and much, much more.

Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee

Annually, Kids News runs the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee. Motivated by their love of literacy and reading, Australia’s keen young spellers across Years 3-8 compete to Bee the Best, with a national champion crowned in each of the three age groups.

With more than 70,000 student registrations in the opening school round, winners of the Spelling Bee were given the opportunity to visit Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House. While there, they took the opportunity to test the PM’s skills and flex their own spelling muscles, cementing their status as whiz kids.

Red level national champion (years 7-8) was NSW Year 7 student Aditya

Paul while 10-year old Jillian Strong from Queensland won the Orange category (years 5-6) and Canberra’s Echo Feng won the Green category (years 3-4).

Junior Journalist

Along with the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee, the annual Kids News’ Junior Journo competition is another initiative to help build childhood literacy and uncover the next generation of news breakers.

A terrific way for budding reporters in Years 3-9 to hone multiple literacy skills, the competition comprises news and sports categories across both print and video.

THE CLONTARF FOUNDATION

Fields of dreaming

The Clontarf Foundation uses sport to engage and educate young Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Boys.

The Clontarf Foundation works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys to improve their life outcomes by using sport as an engagement mechanism to keep them in school. Fox Sports is the official media partner and produces bespoke content to help tell the Clontarf story.

The Clontarf Foundation started in 2000 with a single academy located at the Clontarf Foundation Aboriginal College in Waterford, Western Australia with 25 students and two staff members.

Two decades later, the Foundation now operates 158 academies in Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia with more than 11,000 participants and has 1000 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys in Year 12. The programme provides strong mentors, rich activity

and a safe space to keep the boys and young men in school and on the right path.

Foxtel

and OzTag

The Foxtel Group are proud supporters of the Clontarf Foundation and one of

the ways they show our support is through the annual Fox Sports and Clontarf OzTag Challenge an event that brings together Foxtel Group staff, professional athletes, television personalities, and corporate partners to team up with Clontarf students.

The Challenge, organised by the Foxtel Group team with Clontarf, celebrates students’ hard work and allows them to showcase their sport skills while creating a fun, interactive environment that connects them with role models from the sports and media worlds.

EDUCATION FOR ALL

The power of education

As Nelson Mandela said, “Education

is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Indigenous Literacy Foundation

Literacy is the key to opening many doors, but in remote Indigenous communities, books are all too scarce and literacy levels are lower than anywhere else in Australia.

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation works to make a difference to the lives of Indigenous families by not only donating thousands of new culturally appropriate books, but also running programs to inspire the community to tell and publish their own stories.

HarperCollins Australia supports the Indigenous Literacy Foundation by donating proceeds from book sales on the Foundation’s annual Indigenous Literacy Day

Australian Indigenous Education Foundation

AIEF was established in 2008 in

response to community demand from Indigenous families whose children attend boarding schools.

Bringing together the government and private sector, AIEF provides scholarship funding for Indigenous students to complete Year 12 or tertiary studies, with career support to help them make a successful transition to employment.

Backed by some of Australia’s most influential business, philanthropic and community leaders with support from Sky News and The Australian the AIEF has grown from one scholarship student in 2008 to now supporting more than 1200 young Indigenous people.

Under a parent and school-led model, AIEF provides co-funding to enable students to complete their studies at an AIEF Partner School.

At the Economic Outlook Luncheon, hosted by The Australian

and Sky News in Sydney, the Acknowledgement of Country was delivered by 15-year-old Jacobi Fernando – a young Gomeroi man from Moree – who said: “As a young Aboriginal man I was never one to be given assistance and support.

“But to be given the opportunity to attend the school of my dreams and be open to a number of great opportunities, I cannot thank AIEF enough. AIEF has assisted me through their ongoing support and facilities that they have made available for me as not only a student but also an individual.”

Read more about Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF)

VOLUNTEER DAY

Volunteering your time

Volunteer Day gives employees the opportunities to work for their communities.

News Corp Australia offers employees paid volunteer leave, providing one day annually to make a meaningful impact in their communities and support the causes that matter most to them. Volunteering not only benefits the organisations and individuals, but it’s also an opportunity to develop new skills and build connections with others who share their passion for positive change.

Whether it’s assisting with local outreach programs or supporting health initiatives, there are countless ways to help make a positive difference. For example, by volunteering at food banks or shelters, they can directly impact the lives of those facing hunger or homelessness. Supporting health initiatives like organising fundraising events for medical research or promoting mental health awareness can provide basic

care to undeserved populations. Additionally, engaging with environmental efforts such as tree planting or clean-up campaigns helps preserve our natural surroundings for future generations. Offering mentorship to youth or providing educational resources can also play a significant role in shaping the next generation, empowering individuals to pursue their dreams and overcome challenges.

Acts of kindness often create a ripple effect that fosters a stronger sense of

unity and belonging. No effort is too small, each positive action can have a lasting and profound impact on the community.

We encourage our employees to take advantage of the opportunity to volunteer their time and skills to charities and organisations that matter the most to them. They can explore the array of opportunities available through Go Volunteer, a platform that connects volunteers to more than 5,000 not-for-profit organisations. This forms an important part of our ongoing dedication to improving lives and making a difference in the communities in which we live.

Employees only: Read more about Volunteer Day

Clockwise from top left: The NSW Field team volunteering at SecondBite; the national Field Sales team joined Supertee to pack garments for children in hospital; the Queensland Sales team gift wrapped at The Pyjama Foundation; Penelope Heath from Corporate Affairs helps the Salvation Army. Opposite: The Queensland Sales team at the Christmas Toy Drive; the NSW Events & Experiences team planting in Maroubra. Inset: The Consumer Marketing team volunteered at Thread Together.