Fairbridge-Alcoa project wins state PM award

A partnership between mining giant Alcoa and histroric youth charity Fairbridge was today announced as the WA state winner in the Prime Minister's Awards for Community Business Partnerships.

Over the last decade Alcoa and Fairbridge have worked to revitalise an historic Western Australian community by developing a range of youth programs and facilities benefiting tens of thousands in the Peel region.

The Alcoa-Fairbridge partnership has resulted in youth training programs involving 184 youth organisations across the state, a multi-million dollar contribution to the local regional economy and the preservation an important part of Australian and international history.

Alcoa Managing Director Wayne Osborn said this partnership embodied the company's approach to corporate social responsibility which centred on working in collaboration with the community to bring about sustainable outcomes.

"Alcoa's commitment to sustainability is not just focused on our own operations, but also how we can play our part in strengthening the regions where we operate, said Mr Osborn.

"Our partnership with Fairbridge has not only resulted in a range of fantastic youth training and development programs, our shared business expertise has enabled Fairbridge to re-establishing itself as a self-sustaining entity - with our financial contribution decreasing as our staff involvement increases."

Fairbridge CEO Mark Anderson said unlike a traditional sponsorship model, financial support was only a small aspect of the relationship.

"Alcoa doesn't hand us a cheque and walk away, their senior managers work hand in hand with us at both a business level and to meet the needs of the community, said Mr Anderson.

"The stability that the partnership has provided over the past decade has meant we have been able to develop programs to bring long-term change in the lives of many young people, including the long-term unemployed, young people with a disability and indigenous youth."

The partnership will now enter the national level of the Prime Minister's Awards in Community Business Partnerships, with winners announced in October.