CAF Community Award

In May 2011, RailCorp was awarded the CAF Community Award in recognition of the organisation’s commitment to Australian philanthropy via its support and development of Workplace Giving.

Now in its second year, the annual CAF Community Award is a perpetual award to acknowledge the efforts of companies and foundations excelling in giving.

RailCorp launched its Payroll Giving program in 2008, and since then employees have donated over $350,000. Today some 500 employees regularly donate to more than 50 charities across Australia; and during the recent Floods Disaster Appeals, around 670 employees made donations. In the last 12 months RailCorp has grown its pre-tax payroll donations by 30% and the number of employees participating by 35%. RailCorp hopes to have 1000 employee donors by the end of 2011.

One of the key success factors of RailCorp’s Payroll Giving program is the Employee Community Champions who encourage other employees to become regular donors. RailCorp Transit Officer, Ary van der Schoor is one such employee. Outside of work, Ary had been involved in delivering food and basic needs to disadvantaged children, however due to his shift work it was always difficult to make a regular commitment. According to Ary, “When RailCorp’s Workplace Payroll Giving program came along I was thrilled as it offers a way to devote my full energies to giving by promoting the program to as many RailCorp staff as I can – my commitment is to increase the support for those in need. I have been very blessed throughout my life and despite some difficulties I am now in a situation where I can make a difference no matter how small which will bring benefits to children who need it.”

RailCorp also promotes its charity partners - The Children’s Hospital at Westmead - consistently throughout the year to its 13,800 employees in NSW. However due to the diversity of its workforce, it is also important for the organisation to offer employees the opportunity to donate to those causes and charities that are important to them, so they offer charity choice.

Don Willesee, CAF Australia Chief Executive, says, “What makes RailCorp’s program even more remarkable is that as a Government organisation it cannot match employee donations, which we know from our research is a huge motivator for employees to give. This illustrates RailCorp has a terrific culture of giving. RailCorp is truly a leader in philanthropy in Australia and CAF is thrilled to be able to publicly acknowledge that.”

Further reinforcing RailCorp’s Senior Executive commitment to Payroll Giving, CAF presented this Award to RailCorp’s Chief Executive Rob Mason at its Senior Leadership Team meeting in late July.

Photo: RailCorp’s Chief Executive Rob Mason receiving the CAF Community Award from CAF Chief Executive Don Willesee.

Past CAF Community Award Winners

2010: National Australia Bank