We are aware that we have taken on a substantial challenge in developing a community investment strategy for the Company. We will be looking at how we can use the resources our business provides – our knowledge and experience, our employees and our stores – to work with our local communities to address issues to assist in strengthening community partnerships. We know that we cannot be all things to all people, but we will focus our resources where we can help and make a difference.

To begin this process, in June 2008 we held a workshop with a range of non-government organisations with expertise in areas such as nutrition, health, supporting disadvantaged groups, rural and regional issues and animal welfare. We talked to them about our current community investments and asked for ideas on how we could improve on what we currently do.

Since this meeting, work has continued on the development of a community investment strategy that will be communicated to these and other external stakeholders on completion.

Current Woolworths Limited community work

For many years we have supported a number of children’s hospitals and research foundations through Big Heart, BIG W’s ongoing fundraising campaign for the Sydney Children’s Hospital, and the Fresh Food Kids Children’s Hospital Appeal, run annually by our Supermarkets division.

In 2007 the Fresh Food Kids Children’s Hospital Appeal raised $5 million in Australia.

Last year we extended our support of children’s hospitals to include our stores in New Zealand. In the 2007 and 2008 appeals, we raised over $2 million total for children’s wards and hospitals across the country.

Other programs include:

• Australia Day Ambassador Program. Since 2001 Woolworths store managers have participated in the Australia Day Ambassador Program by welcoming high achieving Australians to local community celebrations on Australia Day.
  
• Harmony Day. Woolworths supermarkets support the federal government’s Harmony Day initiatives to promote diversity and multicultural awareness by hosting BBQs organised by local Scout and Guide troops.
• Heritage posters in schools. For 27 years Woolworths has helped to engage schoolchildren in aspects of Australian history and culture by providing educational heritage posters for classrooms around the country.
• Foodbank.. Since 2004 Woolworths has been donating food and grocery products to Foodbank. Volunteers at Foodbank sort, store and distribute the product to accredited welfare agencies across the country. The food and groceries are distributed to those in need.
• Red Cross – Breakfast in Schools (New Zealand). The program provides a healthy breakfast of wheat biscuit cereal, milk, wheatmeal toast, a variety of spreads and a hot drink, with all products donated by Countdown.
• Cool Kids Cooking (New Zealand). The Cool Kids Cooking television program has been running since 2002, and teaches children 8–12 years the basics of nutrition and cooking. Homebrand is sponsoring the series, providing funds and products.
• 5+ a day (New Zealand). Through the launch of our Fresh Food Kids campaign, we worked with 5+ a day to promote the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, especially among children.

Through our stores we are able to support a range of charities in their fundraising by selling merchandise or through collection tins at point of sale. These include:

• CanTeen – $700,000 raised through collection tins and sale of merchandise by Woolworths.
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – $460,000 raised through collection tins and sale of merchandise by Woolworths.
• Jeans for Genes – $93,853 raised by BIG W through a range of fundraising activities.
• RSPCA – $134,000 raised by BIG W.
• Salvation Army (New Zealand) – $84,628 raised through collection boxes at Foodtown and Woolworths supermarkets.

Designate Reporting © 2008