A devastating
fire season

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Australia’s bushfires burnt from September 2019 to March 2020. The environmental and emotional impact of the fires was unprecedented, covering 12 million hectares and killing 33 people, destroying over 3,000 homes and killing or displacing approximately 3 billion native animals. They also severely impacted local economies, including regional areas across the country.

In response to the devastation, Goodman pledged an initial $5 million to bushfire recovery efforts, which we then increased to $6.5 million. This was split between the more urgent grassroots efforts of organisations such as the NSW Farmers Association and Good360 Australia, and infrastructure aiding the longer-term firefighting efforts of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). Meanwhile, the Goodman team fundraised to support BlazeAid’s efforts to rebuild fences and essential infrastructure, and Good360 Australia in the distribution of critical items for displaced families.

Goodman’s people also volunteered their time. As an example, Matt Devlin, based in Sydney, spent three weeks battling blazes as a NSW RFS volunteer firefighter. Supported at every stage through the Goodman Foundation’s Do Good program, and the wider business, Matt suffered no financial impact, and Goodman was able to contribute to work that profoundly benefited the broader community. In July, Goodman was one of 12 companies to receive the 2020 NSW RFS Supportive Employer Award.

NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers with Goodman team member and RFS volunteer, Matt Devlin.
NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers with Goodman team member and RFS volunteer, Matt Devlin.

Grants for farmers

Grants for fire-affected farmers

The 2019–2020 bushfires had a significant impact on agriculture and farmers in NSW, affecting 15,994 primary producers. The fires destroyed around 60,000 hectares of prime farmland, more than 13,000 cattle and sheep perished, orchards and beehives burnt and incomes evaporated.

To directly help farmers to recover, NSW Farmers Association set up a natural disaster relief fund. The Goodman Foundation’s $750,000 donation boosted the fund to more than $1 million, which was distributed as grants to 357 primary producers. The payments were put to practical use in replacing stock, fencing, hay reserves, rainwater tanks, cattle water troughs and beekeeping equipment.

“We lost our home along with all our honey production sheds, machinery and equipment,” said Peter McGann of Mogo Village Honey. “We used the grant to buy a couple of shipping containers and converted them into packing and extracting sheds. We’re also buying new equipment to resume our beekeeping and honey production.”

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“It’s fantastic to have the support of the Goodman Foundation through this first of its kind partnership approach. The new helicopter will be a valuable additional resource for us to protect people in the communities we serve.”

NSW RFS Commissioner
Rob Rogers

Help is on its way

During the Australian bushfires of 2019–2020, it became clear the Foundation wanted to make a tangible, long-term contribution to support communities impacted by the bushfires.

With that in mind, Goodman contributed the largest corporate donation ever to the NSW RFS with the purchase of a state-of-the-art firefighting helicopter.

The multi-purpose helicopter is known as the go-to aircraft – a workhorse of the industry – with a reputation for performing reliably in the most extreme environments. It is designed to get firefighters into hard-to-reach places, and get people out of harm’s way. The chopper will be equipped with a full range of features such as winch, belly tank for water bombing, surveillance camera for use in firefighting operations, search and rescue, and down the wire insertions and extractions. Its extensive functionality means it can be deployed all year round in tactical and response operations.

Goodman was committed to doing something substantial to help. “During the devastating and unprecedented bushfires earlier in the year, we felt strongly about supporting the NSW RFS with something that will have a sustainable impact on its work and the communities it serves,” said Greg Goodman.

NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers welcomed the addition to the fleet. “It’s fantastic to have the support of the Goodman Foundation through this first of its kind partnership approach. The new helicopter will be a valuable additional resource for us to protect people in the communities we serve. We know helicopters can play a key role in delivering early, impactful action on a developing fire,” said Rob. Also adding, “51 people were rescued by helicopters last fire season. While the current chopper can take up to four crew, the new model can carry as many as seven – meaning more room to rescue large groups of people. The helicopter will also be used out of fire season to support emergency services in other rescue operations such as floods.”

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“Disasters are a marathon not a sprint and it’s really important to stage giving over the long-term recovery process.”

Founder and Managing Director
Good360 Australia,
Alison Covington

The right solution

The problem

  • After a disaster, 70% of donations stop after the first two months
  • Poor co-ordination and uninformed giving can create chaos and inefficiency
  • Up to 60% of goods donated during disasters end up in landfill and are otherwise wasted.

The solution

  • Good360 Australia matches brand new goods to the right people at the right time, to prevent waste and provide hope and dignity
  • Good360 Australia works with a vetted network of more than 2,000 not-for-profits and disadvantaged schools that know exactly what their communities need
  • Good360 Australia matches goods throughout the entire disaster relief lifecycle – prepare, respond, recover, rebuild, refurnish and relive.
Alison Covington, Founder and MD Good360 Australia and Jo Cameron, CEO, Goodman Foundation and volunteer.
Alison Covington, Founder and MD Good360 Australia and Jo Cameron, CEO, Goodman Foundation and volunteer.
Good360 Australia volunteers.
Good360 Australia volunteers.

In the wake of any disaster, people want to help and often donate goods impulsively. Their generosity can easily be misplaced though, if they’re not giving what’s needed. That’s where Good360 Australia comes in.

Since 2015, and with Goodman as a founding partner, Good360 Australia has been connecting new goods, donated by businesses, to a network of charities and schools that support Australians in need. In the midst of this year’s bushfires, however, they realised they needed to step up their efforts. “We came back in January saying, ‘we have to do more’,” said Alison Covington, Good360 Australia’s Founder and Managing Director.

With Goodman’s support, Good360 Australia set up a disaster recovery arm to get the right goods to the right people at the right time. “Disasters are a marathon not a sprint and it’s really important to stage giving over the long-term recovery process,” said Alison.

In January, Good360 Australia moved into a custom-built warehouse, donated by Goodman, where it could more effectively centralise its aid. “Having a high-quality warehouse has been a game-changer,” said Alison. “We are pinching ourselves every time we walk in.” The warehouse includes a volunteering space, a place to engage with the community, a product storage zone and an area for ‘click and collect’.

When COVID-19 first struck Australia in March, there was a 200% increase in requests for support. To help meet demand, Goodman provided additional financial support so Good360 Australia could scale up labour and logistics support. One example has been in the delivery of 65,777 educational kits to 151 charities and schools to support struggling families with home schooling during the pandemic.

“Goodman’s support of our growth, from day one, has meant we can be more impactful every year,” said Alison, “which is an amazing gift to the Australians that Good360 helps.”

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