Councils are the pillar of government closest to the community, and working with partners that also give back to society are another way councils can extend their own support.
Creating opportunities in communities is a central focus for Australia’s 537 councils, a vision shared by the GO Foundation, an organisation established to create space for Indigenous students to unlock the power of their identity and culture.
Founded by proud Indigenous men and AFL legends Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin – the ‘G’ and ‘O’ of GO Foundation – the organisation provides scholarships for Indigenous children during primary school, high school and university. Importantly, they put culture at the heart of everything they do.
The holistic program creates opportunities for young Indigenous people by focusing on the students’ identity, culture, and their wider community as they complete their education.
Industry support
Leading provider of pipeline infrastructure solutions, Interflow, has entered a partnership with the GO Foundation to provide vital funding towards the Foundation’s scholarship and cultural support program.
Interflow’s Executive Manager of People and Capability Tracy Keevers said she’s proud of this momentous occasion in the history of the organisation. According to Ms Keevers, supporting causes like the GO Foundation has been central to the company’s success over the past 85 years.
“The GO Foundation is strongly related to Interflow’s purpose, which has always been about improving the lives of the people we work with and of those within the communities we serve,” Ms Keevers said.
“As a family business, we’ve been able to do things differently. We have always taken care of the families of people that worked within the business. That philosophy hasn’t changed, but it has grown to include the lives of people outside the business, too.”
The GO Foundation partnership ties in deeply with Interflow’s Reflect RAP, currently in its second year, which emphasises building strong foundations to engage in meaningful reconciliation.
“Part of it is down to the industry we’re in,” Ms Keevers said. “We really want to learn about sustainable land practices and have a closer connection to Country as an organisation.
“At the same time, we want to have a long-lasting, positive effect on communities, and that’s what GO Foundation is all about.
“It is very grassroots. Every dollar we give will make a difference to Indigenous children staying at school.”
In partnering with GO Foundation, which has been making a difference to Indigenous student education for 15 years, Interflow becomes a part of the achievement of a grand goal.
Right now, GO Foundation funds over 660 active scholarships. The organisation has a goal of 1000 active scholarships, and Interflow is proud to support that goal.
“Maybe in the future, Interflow will be able to offer positions to candidates who have come through the program, but it’s really not about that,” Keevers said.
“If we’re truly committed to reconciliation and truly committed to improving lives, we need to put our money where our mouth is and do something about it. This is about us having a positive, powerful, long-term impact for generations to come.”
For more information, visit interflow.com.au
