We respect the views of the neighbourhoods where we work as we go about our business of building and maintaining the electricity network. EnergyAustralia’s gold rating in the Corporate Responsibility Index highlights the value the company places on respecting the community.
Community consultation
As EnergyAustralia’s capital works program expands, so does our work with the community. We understand that building and maintaining an electricity network can impact on the residents we serve and our goal is to balance the technical needs of the electricity network with the needs of the local communities.
EnergyAustralia is committed to supporting the communities where its network exists and assist in their development and growth through investing in future generations. We are committed to involving the community in the planning, designing and building of both new and replacement infrastructure. Consultation includes community information displays, distributing newsletters and notification letters, and door-knocking of residents and businesses around project sites.
Community investment
In concert with partnership programs we run with external organisations, EnergyAustralia also invests in the local community through our staff.
In 2008, EnergyAustralia launched its CommunityCare Program. This program has been designed by our people with the specific aim of delivering grassroots assistance to the community organisations that our staff members choose to support.
The CommunityCare Program is a multi-layered community investment program that allows EnergyAustralia to extend the contribution our people are already making in the communities in which they live and work.
Staff can apply to one of our Regional Employee Community Committees, where a panel of their peers can approve one of two types of assistance:
- We match your Energy offers a small cash grant to those community organisations where our people volunteer
- More than Energy offers practical help for local community organisations where our staff volunteer by providing in-kind technical support delivered exclusively by our apprentices.
In addition to this, EnergyAustralia’s Payroll Giving Program allows employees to donate to a charity of their choice via payroll deductions.
EnergyAustralia measures and manages its community investment program using the London Benchmarking Group (LBG) framework and is an active member of LBG Australia New Zealand.
Indigenous issues
EnergyAustralia recognises the importance of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal culture and heritage. Our Heritage and Conservation Register was endorsed by the Heritage Council in August 2007.
Human rights
In line with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, EnergyAustralia respects the basic human rights of everyone in everything we do. This is outlines in our Human Rights Policy, which articulates the behaviours we expect from all our stakeholders in promoting responsible business practice and a commitment to human rights.