QBE Foundation announces 2018 charity partners

14 Feb 2018

QBE has today announced the 2018 partners of the QBE Foundation, the charitable arm of Australia’s largest global insurer.

The Foundation announced new partnerships with Mission Australia and KidsCan NZ.

In line with its approach to building ongoing, strategic relationships, The Foundation has extended its partnerships with renewing partners Assistance Dogs Australia, Brainwave, Foodbank, The Kids’ Cancer Project, McGrath Foundation and Women’s Justice Network. It will also continue to support Jawun.

This will be the second year of QBE’s multi-year partnership with The Kids’ Cancer Project, which supports the QBE Foundation Young Researchers Fellowship. The fellowship aims to increase the treatment options available for rare childhood cancers. This year the research will focus on improved treatment and outcomes for an aggressive childhood cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, for which there are currently no effective treatment options.

The Foundation has also selected suicide prevention charity R U OK? as a community partner to build awareness amongst QBE’s people and the wider community. R U OK? promotes the importance of checking in with family, friends and work colleagues who might be going through a tough time.

This new partnership aligns with QBE’s commitment to creating a mentally healthy workplace following the signing of the ‘Mentally Healthy Workplaces’ Pledge’ in 2017, a New South Wales Government initiative that asks businesses to commit to significant improvement of mental health in the workplace. The insurer also removed the mental health exclusion from its travel insurance products.

Chief Customer Officer Bettina Pidcock takes over as Foundation Chair, after Chief HR Officer Sally Kincaid completed her two-year rotation.

“Mental health is a strong focus for QBE this year and we’re so pleased to partner with R U OK? for the first time so our community know how to recognise the signs that someone might be struggling,” Ms Pidcock said.

“We’re also proud to continue our work with longstanding partners, like Jawun. This partnership sees our people join with communities of First Nation Peoples around Australia, in locations from Redfern to Cape York and the Kimberley, to share their skills and help build capabilities. Along with bringing lasting, material and measurable improvements to the lives of Indigenous people, our people have reported experiences that are humbling and inspiring.”

Ms Pidcock said the Foundation’s work is important to QBE as an organisation, as its objective of helping people in the community to overcome disadvantage, strengthen their abilities, and live more independently, successfully and productively is reflective of the wider organisation’s values.

“I’m truly honoured to take on the role as Foundation Chair to continue the meaningful work the Committee has already achieved,” said Ms Pidcock.

“We very much see ourselves as part of the communities in which we operate, so supporting people who are in need, vulnerable or disadvantaged is as much a part of our organisaitonal DNA as providing insurance cover.”

“Our people are passionate about the QBE Foundation, and the charities selected represent a wide range of causes across the region – we’re so pleased that we’re able to get behind them and the work they do.”

QBE charity partners are provided with a one-off cash donation and a 12-month commitment of support from the Foundation. They also offer QBE employees volunteering opportunities throughout the year, allowing our people to provide more than just financial support to those in need.

To be considered as a charity partner, organisations must be a registered charity and are required to complete an application form detailing their funding sources and the project for which they are seeking support. Charities that align with the QBE Foundation’s philosophy and objectives are invited to submit their applications for partnership between June and September each year.

2018 will see the QBE Foundation enter its eighth year. Along with partnerships, the Foundation has a number of programs in place that enable people to support the causes that matter to them.

Additional programs for staff include local grants up to $10,000, donating through workplace giving, have their own fundraising efforts supported by QBE through employee matching, and the opportunity to participate in staff volunteering, which is beneficial for the charities and for the participants as a team-building exercise.

QBE Foundation Charity Partners 2018

For further information please contact:

Tel: +61 466 028 302
Email: externalcomms@qbe.com