CSR’s policy is to act responsibly, ensuring that our people deal appropriately with the communities in which we operate, to encourage and gain their support.
Central to our charitable involvement is the CSR Workplace Giving program, under which CSR matches employee contributions dollar for dollar. During its four and a half years of operation, the program has given over $1 million to the following 14 charities, which have been selected by our employees:
During YEM08 CSR and its employees donated a total of $208,584 through the workplace giving program.
In addition, CSR donated over $30,000 of building products and installation services to Habitat for Humanity, helping to build 12 homes for needy people in Australia.
We also contributed $50,000 to the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal for communities affected by the 2008 North Queensland floods and donated laptop computers to Youth off the Streets for their scholarship program.
Case Study
CSR Sugar Supports the Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation Scholarship Program
In 2007, CSR Sugar pledged $5000 a year for six years to help address the economic and educational disadvantage of Australian South Sea Islanders in Queensland.
Australian South Sea Islanders are the direct descendants of South Sea Islanders who were brought into Queensland between 1863 and 1904 and worked as indentured labourers in the sugar industry. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has identified Australian South Sea Islanders as one of the most disadvantaged groups in Australia.
The Queensland Government formally recognised Australian South Sea Islanders as a distinct cultural group in September 2000. Through a Recognition Statement, the Government acknowledged the Australian South Sea Islander contribution to the development of the State and the disadvantage endured by the community as a result of a long history of unjust treatment.
Through research and community consultation, it has become evident that Australian South Sea Islanders have significantly worse educational outcomes than the general community. Access to tertiary education by community members is seen as an important strategy to alleviate poverty and provide positive role models.
As part of strategy to improve education, The Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation was established as a trust fund by the Queensland Government in September 2001. Its first patron is Mal Meninga AM, a highly regarded member of the Australian South Sea Islander community.
The scope of the Foundation is to provide university scholarships in Queensland – at nominated universities – for Australian South Sea Islander students. Scholarships provided are $15,000 in total over a three year period, a total of $5,000 per annum. 20 Australian South Sea Islanders have benefited from this initiative to date and the first student graduated in 2006.
In addition to providing $5,000 a year in scholarship funds, CSR Sugar is also providing a number of laptops to scholarship recipients.
Case Study
CSR Increases CreekWATCH Efforts By Greening Up Their Site
CSR is continuing to lead the way in caring for our creeks with staff planting 300 trees and removing harmful weeds on the Gyprock site at Coopers Plains, Queensland.
Under the banner of the recently launched CreekWATCH program, to which CSR Gyprock is a major sponsor, the business has taken it upon itself to help green up its site which lies adjacent to Stable Swamp creek.
CSR Gyprock staff at Coopers Plains will also undertake regular testing of the upstream water to ensure the CreekWATCH message of preventing pollution is getting through and to see the positive impacts their efforts will have on the water quality.
The planting provided a great opportunity to get all Coopers Plains staff supporting the CreekWATCH project and understanding the need for reporting pollution in our waterways, understanding why we need healthy creeks and streams, and how to re-create healthy creeks in industrial urban areas.
Adding Value to the Community
CSR’s main financial contributions to the wider community are through payments to employees, dividends to shareholders, government taxes and charges, and interest paid to lenders. During YEM08, CSR added approximately $1 billion of value to the community. This value is in addition to the products and services we purchased from suppliers.
Engaging with Industry and Other Stakeholders
CSR has a long history of involvement with industry and Advocacy bodies, working with competitors, Government and Non-Government organisations to progress industries or champion certain issues, including safety and the improvement of energy efficiency of residential, commercial and industrial buildings. During YEM08, CSR was involved with the following industry and advocacy bodies:
Government Donations
In YEM08, CSR contributed $79,975 in direct and indirect donations to political parties in support of the democratic process. All political contributions are disclosed in accordance with our obligations to the Australian Electoral Commission.
CSR HAS A LONG HISTORY OF INVOLVEMENT WITH INDUSTRY AND ADVOCACY BODIES...
