Alcoa volunteers get hands dirty for a good cause

Alcoa employees are embracing the spirit of National Volunteer Week, celebrated from 17 – 23 May, by committing to provide more than 1,500 volunteer hours for 57 community groups and charities this year.

In recognition of its employees’ volunteering efforts, Alcoa will also donate $3,000 to each group or charity, taking the total contribution to $170,000.

The volunteering and grants will be delivered through the company’s Alcoans Coming Together in Our Neighbourhoods (ACTION) Program.

Alcoa Australia President Michael Gollschewski said the company’s ACTION program aligned with this year’s National Volunteer Week theme of Recognise. Reconnect. Reimagine, which acknowledged the essential role volunteers play is keeping communities connected.

“Alcoa is proud to be a connected and supportive partner in our local communities and we back our employees to also be active community members,” Mr Gollschewski said.

St John Ambulance’s Brunswick Sub Centre was first to benefit from Alcoa’s ACTION program this year, with eight volunteers coming together to transform its gardens and landscaping.

A group of Alcoa employees volunteer at the St John Ambulance Brunswick Sub Centre as part of the company’s ACTION Program.

Rodney Barrett, who works at Alcoa’s Willowdale Mine, organised the employee volunteering activity and said it was a privilege to provide St John volunteers with a tranquil space to rest and recharge between callouts.

St John Ambulance Head of Fundraising Ferdi Fourie praised the efforts of the Alcoa volunteers and the positive impact of the $3,000 grant.

“We are very appreciative for the support from the volunteers who gave up their time to create this beautiful space for our St John Sub Centre” Mr Fourie said. “The team spirit and determination displayed by the volunteers was outstanding and their efforts have made a huge difference to the space.”

In 2020, Alcoa made about $4.6 million in community contributions. That included $156,000 in ACTION grants however, the volunteering element could not be delivered due to COVID restrictions. Additional measures will be taken this year to ensure volunteer events are conducted in a COVID-safe manner.