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AGL is a foundation member of the London Benchmarking Group Australia / New Zealand (LBG) and has been measuring and reporting the value of contributions to the community using the LBG model since 2005/06.
The LBG model is an independent framework for measuring, benchmarking and reporting a company’s community contributions and achievements, and provides a more standardised methodology for organisations to account for their community contributions.
We measure our total community investment using standard definitions and valuations, therefore allowing us to compare our level of community contribution against other energy companies and companies of a similar size.
The LBG framework breaks down community contribution by charitable cause (i.e. social welfare, environment, emergency relief, health or other), as well as by the motivation for the contribution. The motivation types recognised by the LBG framework comprise:
AGL also breaks down its community contribution according to the four Energy for Life program areas, as well as the support provided to the local community through the AGL Hallett Wind Farm Fund, for bushfire relief, as well as contributions arising from key brand sponsorships.
AGL’s major retail sponsorships during 2008/09 are outlined below.
The AGL Action Rescue Helicopter is a non-profit service, established more than 25 years ago to undertake vital rescue, medical and search missions throughout south-east Queensland. The service is staffed by volunteers, emergency doctors, nurses and paramedics, who supplement the service's full-time employees and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In April 2009 AGL became the naming sponsor of the service to secure its ongoing operations. The helicopters’ new AGL blue and orange livery are quickly becoming synonymous with trust, action and rapid response in the local community.
Further, AGL customers can also donate to the service by nominating contributions from their AGL account. This donation facility was set-up by AGL almost two years prior to the official sponsorship and in the past year AGL customers have contributed over $346,000.
AGL was the naming rights sponsor of the Regional Initiative category of the Channel 9 Young Achievers Awards program for South Australia.
The AGL Regional Initiative Award acknowledges young Australians who are helping their local communities by developing primary industries, manufacturing, tourism and employment opportunities, helping to enhance sustainability and promoting positive images of regional Australia.
Earth Hour is an initiative supported by Commonwealth, State and Local Governments to heighten awareness of climate change and energy efficiency. People were encouraged to switch off lights between 8.30 pm and 9.30pm on Saturday, 28 March 2009.
Four children’s hospitals - the Children’s Hospital at Westmead New South Wales, the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide and the Royal Children’s Hospitals in Melbourne and Brisbane - took part in Earth Hour.
Given that it is not possible for hospitals to turn off their lights, AGL paid to source the equivalent amount of electricity the hospitals consume for the hour from renewable energy sources accredited under the GreenPower scheme.
The Skipping Girl Vinegar sign, affectionately known as ‘Little Audrey’, is a Melbourne icon and listed on the Victorian Heritage Register of the State’s most significant places and objects.
In 2008, we responded to the public call from the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) for Victorians to 'Help Audrey Skip Again'. Together with the Heritage Council of Victoria, the Melbourne Restoration Fund and public donations, AGL has helped to get Skipping Girl back into action and skipping again.
The original neon sign was erected on the Nycander factory in the 1930s to advertise the Skipping Girl brand of vinegar. She ‘skipped’ across the night skyline for many decades.
Time took its toll on the Skipping Girl, and by 2001 she was inoperable, needing significant work. Whilst donations to the National Trust’s appeal were received, there remained a significant gap in funding to undertake the restorative work. The project stalled.
In March 2009, Little Audrey was removed from her lofty perch in Victoria St, Abbotsford and spent three months in the workshop being restored. After extensive work, little Audrey returned to Melbourne’s skyline in June 2009 and is skipping brightly.
Skipping all night takes a lot of energy. Over the next five-years AGL is sponsoring 'Little Audrey's' electricity supply with 100% GreenPower Accredited Renewable Energy. This means that every night, she will be lit up using renewable energy resulting in lower greenhouse emissions. AGL will also be providing annual maintenance funding to keep her skipping.
AGL continued to sponsor the Mix102.3 Adelaide InfoNET until it ended in December 2008.
The Mix102.3 Adelaide InfoNET provided listeners with information on public events happening in and around Adelaide and was an integral part of Mix102.3’s dedication to keeping listeners informed of events across South Australia.
During the 2008 Olympic Games, AGL sponsored the Games Village project (organised by NVisage Media) which involved setting up giant LED screens to broadcast live Olympic action in the four key locations across Australia from 8 – 24 August. Locations included Reddacliff Place, Brisbane; Waterfront City, Melbourne; Circle on Cavill, Gold Coast; and King Street Wharf, Sydney.
