Community

At WK, we are deeply committed to engaging in community activities that create a meaningful impact through our advocacy, fundraising and volunteering efforts. Our charity partnerships are long-term and strategic.

Indigenous Literacy Foundation

In 2023 we partnered with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), an Australian charity that provides remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities with the literacy resources they request to support their aspirations for Community and Culture.

In remote communities across Australia, there is often no infrastructure such as libraries or bookstores. Access to reading material is extremely limited and this impacts the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander remote Communities through the supply of books and a greater focus on the publication of Indigenous content needed to shape their children’s literacy futures.

We are proud to support the ILF, contributing to initiatives that enhance educational resources, foster a love of reading, and preserve Indigenous languages and cultures.

Our teams across Australia participate in various fundraising and volunteering events to expand the ILF’s reach and impact, advancing educational equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Highlights

raised since inception of partnership

culturally relevant books donated

hours volunteered

Sydney Tennis Charity Event

City2Surf for the ILF

Melbourne Carnival Charity Event

Great Book Swap

Life Squared Trust

The Life Squared Trust was established by the McIntyre family and friends after the passing of Andrew McIntyre, one of the founding Partners of WK New Zealand.

The purpose of the Trust is to understand, promote and raise awareness of mental health among legal professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through the University of Melbourne, the Trust commissioned a three-year longitudinal research study to gain an in-depth understanding of mental health in New Zealand. The learnings, insights and findings from the research were published in September 2024 and will provide support to the legal profession through various initiatives.

Building on our support of the Trust and our focus around mental wellbeing in the legal profession, we run mental wellbeing education sessions with our team annually.

Andrew McIntyre Memorial Scholarship

Before his passing in 2016, Andrew had built a closer relationship with Porirua College through volunteering days with the students by our Wellington office. In memory of Andrew and his commitment to the students at the school, WK established the Andrew McIntyre Memorial Scholarship.

Each year the scholarship ($1,000 for three years towards university fees) is awarded to a student who has excelled at school and has been accepted at a tertiary institution.

Volunteering

hours volunteered supporting our community

WK staff actively involved in volunteering

At WK, we are dedicated to making a positive impact through our volunteering efforts. We actively support local charities by organising fundraising events, providing in-kind donations, and facilitating employee engagement activities.

Our commitment to volunteering helps amplify the efforts of our charity partners, effectively addressing community needs while fostering a sense of social responsibility.

Lou’s Place

WK’s connection to Lou’s Place dates back 14 years to the inception of our Community Footprint program. Lou’s Place, a community-based refuge for women in crisis, feeling isolated or needing support, provides a vital service to our community, empowering women from diverse backgrounds.

We volunteer at Lou’s Place every month by cooking a hot breakfast. Through conversations over scrambled eggs with Lou’s Place clients and staff, we gain a better understanding of the issues faced by women in crisis.

Throughout 2023, WK organised 10 breakfast events, which were attended by a total of 127 women.

Eat Up Australia

Eat Up Australia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to addressing food insecurity among schoolchildren.

They provide healthy, nutritious meals to students in need, ensuring that no child goes hungry while at school. WK has hosted several events, transforming our conference rooms into makeshift sandwich production lines to create thousand of sandwiches for hungry school kids.

Eat Up Australia not only nourishes young minds, but also fosters a sense of community and support, helping to create a positive learning environment for all students.

Asylum Seeker Centre

In 2023, we formed a partnership with the Asylum Seeker Centre in Newtown which delivers employment support, health services, and daily meals to people seeking asylum in the Greater Sydney area. Cooking and serving lunches for the Asylum Seeker Centre community on a Thursday has been a highlight in our community program for WK volunteers and clients alike.

Averill Margison, Events Manager

“When I was approached to volunteer at the Asylum Seeker Centre in Newtown I couldn’t turn it down. Having lived in Newtown for 4 years I had no idea there was an Asylum Seeker Centre right behind Enmore Road.

Making lunch for 40 people was no easy task, all the hot dishes were made from scratch and took several hours to prepare. But this was all worthwhile as the room filled up with hungry people. The services the ASC provide are incredible and I’m glad I was able to contribute to making a difference.”

Other Causes we supported in FY24

Through our partnerships with Arise Foundation and The Smith Family, we launched WKadetship, an employment program providing a pathway to a paid, flexible cadetship opportunity for people experiencing barriers to employment.
Our IT team offered specialist advice to community legal centre partners.
We packed over 300 essential bags for Share the Dignity, helping to combat period poverty and provide crucial support and dignity to those in need.
We assembled 100 Solar Buddy lights for children in energy-poor areas, offering safe and sustainable lighting solutions that enhance their educational opportunities and overall well-being.
Our New Zealand team donated four laptops to the Afghan community, providing access to technology for education and professional development.
We collaborated with Backpacks 4 SA Kids to provide essential backpacks filled with school supplies and comfort items for children in vulnerable situations, ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive.
We supported Shoebox Christmas Aotearoa, providing shoeboxes full of presents to let Tamariki (children) know we’ve got their back.
For Movember, our team united to grow moustaches and raised over $2,000 to support men’s health initiatives.