COMMUNITY
Since its inception, GHD has assisted global communities to realise their potential and create lasting value by delivering innovative and sustainable solutions.
Committed to delivering services from a local platform, GHD has established relationships and working partnerships with communities around the globe. Yet it is our people that continue to drive our collective ambition to make the world a better place for all, and to leave a legacy for future generations.
THE GHD FOUNDATION
Established in 2001, the GHD Foundation provides funds and skills for projects in disadvantaged communities across the world. Projects are selected with the aim of enhancing local ways of life through the provision of pro-bono work and other support. In 2008, the GHD Foundation contributed AUD75,000 to the Global Foundation’s Australia Unlimited Roundtable, a citizen-driven public policy process that facilitates the continuing development of national and international issues concerning Australia’s future. Established in 1998, the Global Foundation is sustained entirely by a membership of 180 prominent Australian and global corporations, universities and citizens, with linkages that reach out across Australia and the world. GHD’s support of the 2008 Australia Unlimited Roundtable will help the Global Foundation continue to address the need and appetite for a community conversation that can influence the future direction of the nation, particularly in terms of its global preparedness.
The GHD Foundation also donated funds to the Red Cross in China to assist with relief efforts for the May 2008 Sichuan Earthquake. With a significant part of our operations and people now based in China, GHD was keen to extend its support to the community to help alleviate the burden of this disaster. With this donation, the GHD Foundation matched (dollar-fordollar) the funds raised by our people.
Previous recipients of the GHD Foundation include the Diabetes Ride Across Oz (Australia) initiative. With Diabetes fast becoming a health epidemic around the world, GHD became a major sponsor of the famous bike ride where participants cycled 3,456 kilometres from Perth to Melbourne to raise awareness about the disease. We also supported a number of our people who took part in various legs of the ride.
GHD IN THE COMMUNITY
Since 2005, GHD has supported staff involvement in not-for-profit organisations through the GHD in the Community initiative. The Board allocates AUD100,000 per year to provide grants to selected projects. Typical of the contributions made in 2008 include our support for:
- The construction of a fairy garden by our Canberra team for a terminally ill young girl.
- A range of safety equipment for surf-life saving clubs. Rescue gear and equipment represents the biggest single cost to running lifesaving services in Australia. GHD is assisting with the replacement costs of such equipment due to constant exposure to sun, sand and salt water.
- Various schools and fundraising programs including the supply of sporting equipment, sporting uniforms, rainwater tanks and the like.
- The supply of overalls to indigenous preapprentice students enrolled in the building and construction courses offered at Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation in Albury-Wodonga through the Wodonga Region Community Youth Commitment Project.
- Various community sporting clubs including Wagga Wagga Dolphins Water Polo Club (NSW), Lochinvar Rovers Junior Soccer Club (NSW), North Beach Netball Club (WA), New Lambton Eagles Junior Soccer Club (NSW), Cavaliers Softball Club (QLD), Collarenebri Rugby Club (NSW).
- Fencing project for the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission in north-east India. Two of our people helped construct 2.5 kms of fencing around an orphanage to protect crops from wandering buffalos, cows and goats.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SPONSORSHIP
GHD also touches the community by making financial contributions to charitable societies and not-for-profit organisations as well as sponsoring industry and professional initiatives.
2008 recipients include:
- Landcare
- Guide Dogs Association
- CEO Challenge
- Cancer Council
- Leukaemia Foundation
- Habitat for Humanity
- The Community Funwalk in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) – Grace Community Services
- Rum City Rockers Charity Dance, Bundaberg (QLD)
- Slim Dusty Centre (NSW)
- Adopt a School Program, Ballina (NSW)
- GHD Academic Excellence Award, Curtin University, Sarawak (Malaysia)
- Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand IPENZ) Ray Meyer Medal for Excellence in Student Design
- World Environment Day
- International Women’s Day
- Riversymposium Young Water Scientist Award
- Movember.
More recently, we sponsored the Anti-Corruption Education and Training Initiative in the USA. This is a collaborative effort by organisations from around the world to combat corruption in the engineering and construction industry, including the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, World Federation of Engineering Organizations, World Economic Forum’s Partnership Against Corruption Initiative, Transparency International and others. GHD’s contribution will help produce a range of education and training materials to promote and reinforce the importance of individual integrity among all participants in the performance of engineering and construction projects.
