The SMEC Foundation, established in 2001, is a core part of SMEC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program, bringing to life our commitment to community development. To date we have donated approximately AUD $1.58M to over 234 projects in the areas of Health, Education, Community Development, Emergency Relief and the Environment, many of them driven and implemented by SMEC employees.
Each year, the SMEC Foundation ANZ CSR committee funds charities nominated by SMEC Australia’s employees. These charities provide education and community support for marginalised or disadvantaged youth.
In 2020, we are pleased to announce our support for the Cathy Freeman Foundation and to continue our partnerships with Engineering Aid Australia, Hope2Day and Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Cathy Freeman Foundation
We are proud to donate to the Cathy Freeman Foundation. Cathy Freeman established the Cathy Freeman Foundation (CFF) in 2007 to help Indigenous children and their families recognise the power of education in achieving their goals and dreams. CFF develops long-term partnerships with remote Indigenous communities, working to an international community development framework, employing local Indigenous people to build the capacity of communities in a long term and sustainable manner. CFF works one on one with students in the classroom and through national Horizons camps to build confidence, teach goal setting and resilience skills and support them through to year 12 completion.
Engineering Aid Australia
We are pleased to continue our partnership with Engineering Aid Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that inspires and supports Indigenous high school students to become professional engineers. SMEC supports one of Engineering Aid Australia’s key programs, the Indigenous Australian Engineering Summer School (IAES). Established in 1996, IAES is a week-long program held in Sydney and Perth and attended by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students from around the country. During the program, students can meet engineers, participate in design work and other activities, visit engineering sites and gain an understanding of job opportunities and pathways to an engineering career.
“SMEC is not only impacting our lives with infrastructure projects but making a huge difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families throughout Australia by supporting Engineering Aid Australia and the Indigenous Australian Engineering Schools (IAES).
First Nation people are still underrepresented in the Engineering profession and when Jeff Dobell initiated the program in 1997 he was told that there were approximately five Indigenous Engineers in Australia. Sydney University had only graduated one, to their knowledge in their 85-year history of the Faculty of Engineering. With support from companies like SMEC, EAA can make a difference and continue to address this imbalance.” Anna Vans-Colina, Engineering Aid Australia
Hope2Day
SMEC has a long-standing involvement with Hope2Day, commencing as the title sponsor of the inaugural charity ride for Hope2Day in 2017, which was a pivotal event for raising the initial profile of this community engagement and mentoring program. The Hope2Day program, based in the Laverton region of Western Australia, educates youths and community members of the value of exercise alongside a bike building program that teaches rapport, fine motor skills, problem solving and empowerment. The program has also impact school attendance and engagement. SMEC is proud to be able to continue to support this growing initiative.
“Certainly, having SMEC’s continued support with another generous donation toward the Laverton cycling and mentoring programs is an incredible step forward toward sustainability for this venture and partnership. This program has continued to engage local stakeholders and seeks to harness community health initiatives and cultural nuisances as a nexus for furthering cycling as a legitimate exercise and past time for local youths and adults alike. This funding from SMEC will go far to continue to deliver necessary programs for the greater Laverton region.” Brad Hall, Director – Hope2Day
Indigenous Literacy Foundation
SMEC has entered the third year of our partnership with Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which aims to reduce the disadvantage experienced by children in remote Indigenous communities across Australia by providing books to lift literacy levels and instil a lifelong love of reading.
“It is an absolute honour to have SMEC as one of our corporate partners to help us fulfil our vision of Equity of Opportunity which ultimately gives children in remote Australia future choice.
This three-year partnership ensures that access to the best possible literacy resources is guaranteed, not only in existing communities we work, with but with many more. We are very grateful for your continued support.” Karen Williams, Executive Director – Indigenous Literacy Foundation
