Introduction
On this page
Medibank supports the health and wellbeing of the community through health promotion, events and programs, and sponsorships including the Medibank Melbourne Marathon Festival, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Invictus Games Sydney 2018. Our commitment also extends to supporting reconciliation, disaster relief, and health and medical research through the Medibank Better Health Foundation.
$3.7m
Community investment including sponsorships and partnerships
Community investment
Medibank invested $3.7 million in the community in 2018, as verified by the London Benchmarking Group (LBG).
Our community investment by focus area
| Health & medical research/training | 40% | |
| Community health sponsorships | 21% | |
| Childhood obesity | 14% | |
| Mental health | 10% | |
| Community sponsorships & donations | 7% | |
| Emergency relief | 4% | |
| Workplace giving | 2% | |
| Employee volunteering | 2% |
Health promotion
Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund
Recognising the critical role mental health plays in overall wellbeing, Medibank committed $1 million to establish the Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund. The initial focus of the fund is on preventative initiatives, awareness and education to support the wellbeing of ex-Defence personnel and their families. Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation and The Banksia Project received funding during the year, with funding of Kookaburra Kids commencing 1 July 2018.
Outside of the fund, Medibank also supported Mates4Mates, Soldier On and the Australasian Military Medicine Association.
“Awareness of mental wellbeing has come a long way, and as a community we are talking more about it. I commend Medibank for taking this practical step and providing support where it will make a difference”
Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund Patron Dame Quentin Bryce
Medibank CEO Craig Drummond, Dame Quentin Bryce and Retired Lieutenant General Peter Leahy at the
launch of the Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation
Medibank continued to partner with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, whose vision is for children to form positive food habits for life. An estimated additional 20,000 students participated in their school or learning centre’s kitchen garden program during the year, with total participation estimated to be 222,375 across 1,779 schools and learning centres since our partnership commenced in 2012. Medibank’s total commitment to the foundation will reach $4.2 million by 2020.
Inspiring chefs of the future
Culinary rising star Emma Cook was inspired to start her cooking career after taking part in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at Whitehorse Primary School as a nine year old.
Ten years later, she has competed in culinary competitions in Australia, India and more recently in Singapore as part of the Australian Youth Team for the 2018 Gourmet Team Challenge.
“The program is a really big eye opener for lots of young kids and it’s definitely a big part of where I am today”
Emma Cook
“The program is a really big eye opener for lots of young kids and it’s definitely a big part of where I am today”
Emma Cook
beyondblue
Medibank announced a $300,000 partnership in October 2017 to help fund beyondblue’s suicide prevention initiatives. This included support for research and the ongoing development of the BeyondNow app which assists people to create personal safety plans to use when they are experiencing suicidal thoughts. beyondblue also supported Medibank in the development of a new mental health portal dedicated to sharing information and ways to seek support.
Events & programs
Medibank Free + Active
We announced a five-year commitment in August 2017 to get 1.5 million Australians active by 2022.
Medibank Free + Active is helping to make free, community-based exercise events and wellness initiatives available nationwide, in partnership with organisations that share our vision. The program has supported almost 350 communities so far.
An estimated 226,000 Aussies have participated in Medibank Free + Active since its launch in August 2017
Medibank Free + Active partners in 2018
Major sponsorships
We have been the naming rights partner of the Medibank Melbourne Marathon Festival for six years.
More than 32,000 people entered the 2017 festival including 5,000 Medibank and ahm customers.
Medibank has been a major partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for three years.
We supported three key events in 2018 – Fair Day, Family Fun Day and the Parade.
Through the symbol of a kiss, our campaign explored diversity, inclusion and acceptance as part of holistic health and wellbeing.
Our Brand Ambassador Michelle Bridges and Medibank’s Mardi Gras Ambassador Jordan Raskopoulos
Medibank is a premier partner for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, an international sporting event for wounded, injured and ill veteran and active service personnel.
The Invictus Games will bring together more than 500 athletes from 18 countries to compete in 11 sports in October 2018.
Reconciliation
Medibank's ongoing support of reconciliation reflects our Better Health for Better Lives purpose, which extends to all Australians. We launched our fourth Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in February 2018. This was recognised as a ‘stretch' RAP due to its focus on longer-term strategies and targets.
Some of our commitments
“The implementation of the fourth RAP signifies that Medibank is a leading advocate for reconciliation, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of all Australians”
Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine
We also launched a new partnership with Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium (IDIC). Led by CEO Adam Goodes, IDIC helps build and grow Indigenous businesses. We will work with IDIC to identify supply chain opportunities between Medibank and Indigenous businesses, particularly in the health sector.
Health & medical research
Medibank Better Health Foundation
The Medibank Better Health Foundation works with leading institutions and researchers to improve knowledge, health outcomes and patient experiences.
The foundation’s priorities for the year included osteoarthritis, back pain and reducing obesity – conditions impacting the quality of life for millions of Australians. We completed six research projects and commenced another eight. Two of these projects were also awarded Federal Government grants from the National Health & Medical Research Council.
The Medibank Better Health Foundation is looking to better understand why young female
soccer players are four times more likely to sustain knee injuries than their male peers
During the year some highlights were:
• Partnering with Move and Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital to publish a report on knee and hip replacements for people with osteoarthritis. The report recommended a new model of care to improve outcomes for patients.
• Working with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons on rehabilitation pathways following hip and knee arthroplasty.
• Partnering with the Centre for Sport and Social Impact at La Trobe University, FIFA and the Football Federation of Victoria to better understand injury prevention for adolescent female soccer players.
• Working with Monash University on Australia’s first pre-conception to post-partum trial to optimise healthy weight gain. The trial will run for three years with 600 Medibank customers, with the results to benefit all Australian women.
Disaster relief
Medibank was a Red Cross National Community Preparedness Partner during the year. This three-year partnership commenced in July 2017 and will see Medibank contribute $120,000 each year to support the work of the Red Cross including its training of volunteers, outreach programs, and international disaster relief and recovery. Medibank has supported the work of the Red Cross since 2012.
