A global pandemic and rising prices might be presenting their own set of problems, but they have not dampened the enthusiasm of Tomago Aluminium’s employees when it comes to helping worthy causes.

Over the past 12 months the company’s 1,000-strong workforce has donated an impressive $102,000 to the employee-run Workplace Giving Fund, with an additional $26,000 from the business owners lifting the total to $128,000.

$80,000 has been earmarked for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, which has been supported by Tomago Aluminium for more than 35 years.

Tomago Aluminium’s Communications Advisor, Katie Burns said they have been an ongoing supporter of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service since 1985.

“We are proud to have donated more than a million dollars in that time to help keep the chopper in the sky,” Katie said.

Last year Tomago donated $73,000 to the Service to buy a new training winch and this year’s donation will go towards upgrading its maintenance program.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service’s Business and Community Partnerships Manager, Jason Bourke, said the tremendous amount of money raised by Tomago Aluminium’s employees has enabled the service to deliver the highest standard of aero-medical rescue services to the people of the Hunter for more than 45 years.

“Funds raised by Tomago Aluminium staff this year will enable the Service to invest in an expansion of our deep-level maintenance facility at Broadmeadow, which will create a safer and more efficient workspace for our engineering teams and allow for the application of new technologies and equipment to service and maintain our helicopter fleet,” Jason said.

The money was presented to the rescue service at a special morning tea event on Thursday, 30 June which was attended by Tomago Aluminium employees and management.

As well as supporting the rescue helicopter, Tomago Aluminium’s Workplace Giving Fund supports several other charities with employees choosing four important charities to give back to each year.

The charities were chosen by Tomago employees as part of the program’s annual charity support campaign, which this year raised $48,000. Those charities, Nova for Women and Children, Lifeline, Variety the Children’s Charity, and NETS, will each receive $12,000 from the Workplace Giving Fund.

They received their cheques at an on-site morning tea presentation on Wednesday, 6 July attended by charity representatives, the Tomago employees who nominated each charity and Tomago Aluminium management.

Tomago Aluminium’s Workplace Giving Fund has been recognised nationally, winning gold in the Best Launch or Refresh category of the Workplace Giving Excellence Awards in 2020 and backing it with bronze for Best Overall.

Katie said every new Tomago Aluminium employee is automatically enrolled as a Fund member, a move which resulted in a 15 per cent increase in donations in the year following its implementation.

“I believe that moving to an opt-out approach rather than asking people to opt-in has allowed the Workplace Giving Fund to grow year-on-year, achieving great results and allowing us to better assist those in the community who really need help,” Katie said.

IMAGE | Tomago Aluminium providing their donation at the Westpac Morning Tea.