Woolworths Group

NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Woolworths Group is committed to making a positive impact on First Nations Communities. This week with our amazing team members we are putting together Happy Boxes, filled with essentials to support First Nations women in remote communities.

BIG W is privileged to have partnered with budding young artists around the country, inviting the nation to give with heart and support families in need by purchasing a $2 Heart Fundraising Token. The national fundraising campaign will run across our 178 stores during our Big Whopping Toy Sale until 12 July, with 100% of donations contributing to vital life saving and life changing programs at Children’s Hospitals and Research Institutes around the country. This year’s Heart Tokens are particularly special as they have been designed by children who have been supported by BIG W’s hospital and research partners. For every $2 Heart Token purchased, we will also be matching donations up to $100,000. We invite our customers to give with heart while shopping with us this Toy Sale and help us make a real difference for Australian families.

The Primary Connect team at the Townsville Distribution Centre know first hand what it means to stand by their community in times of crisis. The team, including Supply Chain Manager, Shane Kerr, and Safety Lead, Erin Mealey, look after 39 regional supermarkets across far North Queensland and have a deep understanding of the importance of future-proofing the site and being prepared with essential lines for efficient support in the wake of natural disasters like Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the Townsville floods. Listen to Shane and Erin talk about proudly serving their regional community here https://lnkd.in/g8pq2v_Y

Audrey Nable and the Lomandra Community Project team are lifelines for their entire community in south-western Sydney. Every week, community liaison officer Audrey and her team coordinate and distribute 5000 kilograms of food and healthcare essentials provided by Woolworths Group’s partners and food rescue organisations, such as Foodbank Australia, to more than 2000 people. “These donations are so important as we are able to alleviate some of the pressures,” says Audrey. “Everybody has a story. We are here to support without judgement.” The organisation, based in Leumeah in south-western Sydney, was first set up by the Lomandra School 12 years ago to ensure the students had access to nutritious food. Four years ago, the organisation became the Lomandra Community Project and now offer weekly support to 25 schools and community members experiencing food insecurity. “The pantry means so much to the community,” says Fay, a local beneficiary. “This is the only food a lot of families have access to. Without it, they wouldn't eat. Audrey and the staff and volunteers really care about people in need.” Watch the incredible impact of the Lomandra Community Project below.

Queensland-based Erin Mealey worked in management roles at Big W and Woolworths supermarkets before applying for a position with Primary Connect at the Townsville Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) three years ago. Following the 2019 floods, the RDC underwent a $12 million expansion to deliver a more resilient supply chain network for Woolworths Group’s customers in Far North Queensland. Erin and the devoted RDC team can now futureproof against severe weather events; better service the region’s 39 Woolworths supermarkets; and build rewarding careers within the Primary Connect business. “Woolworths Group has helped regional north Queensland by providing stable jobs and a greater service for our customers,” says Erin, who celebrates 15 years with the Woolworths Group this year. “The investment was a confidence boost for everyone in this region and us here at the DC.” Having started as a picker, Erin’s passion and dedication was noticed by Supply Chain Manager Shane Kerr, who promoted her to safety lead 12 months ago. “It was really nice to have someone like Shane give me the opportunity to prove myself,” says Erin. “There is so much room to grow a career with Woolworths Group. “Just because you start out in one position, you’re by no means stuck in that position forever. There are so many opportunities – you just have to say yes to them!” Read more of Erin and the Townsville DC team here https://lnkd.in/g8pq2v_Y

Get to know Christine Faulkner, our Head of Commercial for Play (Toys and Leisure). After many years at BIG W and in particular the toys and leisure team, Christine loves the fast paced team environment, the value of affordable quality, and exciting products that her team gets to discover in their Toy Sale planning. “Toy Sale is one of the biggest events of the year and we start planning 10 months out, reviewing data and insights from the previous year, taking feedback from our customers and then planning with our partners on what will be important for the following year’s toy sale.” When it comes to BIG W’s Big Whopping Toy Sale in 2024 Christine highlights Somersault as a range to check out; “The must haves on every kid’s wishlist this year can be found in our Somersault range. The team have been on a journey to develop BIG W’s own toy brand and customers are loving the range’s value and quality with over 50 new products landing in store for the toy sale and many more to come!” #BIGWAustralia #OurPeople

Meet Tamim Faizi, personal online shopper at Woolworths Customer Fulfilment Centre in Queensland’s Roachdale and one of 42 refugees who joined Woolworths Group as part of our Refugee Employment Program run in partnership with Community Corporate. Tamim and his family migrated to Australia from Pakistan after fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021. The TAFE student proudly works alongside his Woolworths team mates hailing from countries such as Afghanistan, the Congo, Burundi, Syria and Ukraine supporting home deliveries and Direct to Book Pick up windows at the Queensland first online CFC. “I started going to TAFE to learn English when I came because I didn’t speak any English,” says Tamim. “After six months my English was better and through the Afghan community, they told me Woolworths needed people for the night shift. I applied and they accepted me. I am working with my brother, my cousins and I’ve made a lot of friends.” To celebrate Refugee Week 2024 and acknowledge issues refugees face and the important contribution they make to our communities, watch Tamim’s inspiring story below.

For over 36 years we’ve been growing together with the Baronio Family of Eastern Colour farm. Woolworths Group is incredibly proud to be partnering with Aussie farmers for the long term. Watch the incredible story of the Baronio family below. Nathan Baronio, Alex Doyle, Paul Turner, Natalie Davis, Peter O'Sullivan

Instead of preparing for Christmas with wife Leanne and their kids last December, the The Salvation Army Australia's Major Lincoln Stevens was executing a plan to deliver 15 pallets of food from Woolworths Group’s Regional Distribution Centre in Queensland’s Townsville to an evacuation centre in Cooktown in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Jasper.  “The team at the Woolworths Group’s Distribution Centre went the extra mile and worked through the night packing these pallets to have it done in time,” says Major Stevens, the SAES Response Coordinator for North and Far North Queensland. The pallets of food plus four pallets of equipment were transported from the RDC to Cairns in Woolworths trucks before being loaded into Chinook helicopters and flown to the evacuation centre in the Cape York Peninsula. Major Stevens and his team then prepared three meals a day for the hundreds of people who’d been evacuated from the devastated rural town of Wujal Wujal. The Salvation Army even saved Christmas for the devastated families by cooking a special festive lunch with all of the trimmings. “Even though they had lost everything, there was still so much joy and happiness on their faces as they ate Christmas lunch,” recalls Major Stevens. “It just wouldn’t have been possible without our partnership with the Woolworths Group. “The support they give us is just phenomenal.” Read more about the Salvation Army’s partnership with the Woolworths Group here https://lnkd.in/gAS2KjHW

Eastern Colour, the Baronio family farm in Queensland, has partnered with Woolworths for 36 years to grow fresh strawberries and apples. This partnership has helped them improve their sustainability efforts, increase yields and decrease waste, all while expanding their operations.