Origin Foundation

Thanks to Plumpton High School and its Year 9 students for coming into the Origin Energy office for our first Sydney-based ABCN Future Thinkers session - a workshop designed for students to collaborate with our people on real-world challenges, growing their confidence and critical thinking skills necessary for future careers.   Learn more about how school-business partnerships make a difference through our online educational resource, Purposeful Partnering: https://lnkd.in/gSQysxc6

As 2025 wraps, we acknowledge the commitment and work of all people and organisations who have supported their communities and helped young people achieve in education this year. Thank you to the teachers and schools, our non-profit partners and Origin Energy volunteers. We wish you all a joyful and restful festive season and look forward to continuing our work together in 2026.

Our volunteers have been out in the community this festive season, spreading joy and supporting organisations who make a real difference at this time of year. They’ve helped pack hampers so families can share a Christmas meal, set up homes for people starting again, and wrapped gifts so children can enjoy a moment of Christmas magic. More than 400 Origin Energy employees have volunteered at 44 events and contributed more than 343 hours to help make the holidays a little easier for people doing it tough. To everyone who has been part of this work in 2025, thank you. We wish you a safe and enjoyable holiday season and look forward to supporting our communities together in 2026.

Meet Ethan Hawke and Sharlee Cook – the latest recipients of Origin Foundation’s Grant King Indigenous Scholarships, now studying engineering and science respectively at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Congratulations!     An early interest in building and designing, including a passion for Lego at an early age, led Ethan to a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Honours). A descendant of the Wiradjuri Nation from western Sydney, Ethan is the first in his family to attend university and is passionate about supporting other students on their academic journey - with plans to apply for a teaching assistant role in an engineering course.   Sharlee Cook is studying a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Chemistry – while also writing a dystopian science fiction novel – combining her talent for storytelling and passion for science. Sharlee’s love for science began early, with her passion for the subject nurtured by her year 11 chemistry teacher. With the support of the scholarship, Sharlee, a proud Wiradjuri woman, relocated from Grafton to study and live on campus at UNSW.   Origin Foundation’s Grant King Indigenous Scholarship program supports First Nations students to study engineering or science at UNSW. Since launching in 2018, 16 students have been awarded the scholarship, with four students completing their studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Science or Engineering degree and now working in their chosen fields.

We’re proud to have taken out 2nd place in the GoodCompany Awards. This recognises our team’s commitment to workplace giving, volunteering and charity support.   The Origin Energy team made a real impact in their communities over the past year, including volunteering 9,527 hours with the Origin Foundation in FY25 – our highest participation to date. Congratulations to all winners and finalists in the #GoodCompany2025 Awards.

Today, Australia marks its first #NationalMentorAppreciationDay, recognising the people who guide and support the leaders of our not-for-profit and social impact sectors. Through our partnership with Kilfinan Australia, Origin leaders like Jon Briskin have mentored not-for-profit leaders such as Brent Phillips from Deaf Connect, sharing experience, perspective and support to help strengthen community organisations. It's a reminder of how valuable mentoring is to build leadership skills and support professional development. https://lnkd.in/gayy2Suu

Congratulations to Origin Foundation partner SolarBuddy on being recognised at the The Australian Financial Review Energy Awards for Community Engagement for the Illuminating Communities program. Since 2021, the Origin Foundation has been proud to support SolarBuddy as the founding partner of the Illuminating Communities initiative, which delivers hands-on STEM learning and solar-powered lighting to communities impacted by energy poverty, including schools in the Torres Strait and the Northern Territory, in collaboration with our grant partner, the Wuyagiba Bush Uni Study Hub We're proud that through our partnership with SolarBuddy Origin volunteers have delivered SolarBuddy STEM learning programs in some of Australia’s most remote schools, helping students explore renewable energy and global citizenship. https://lnkd.in/gbFg-2HG

Workplace giving has always been deeply embedded in Origin Energy’s culture, and we’re so proud that the Origin Foundation has been recognised by Workplace Giving Australia as a finalist for the Best Volunteering Program in 2025. This is the 7th time since 2018 that the Foundation has been awarded as a finalist in this category.    As we celebrate the Foundation’s 15th anniversary, I love seeing how our people’s generosity and community spirit continue to grow. This past year alone, Origin employees contributed more than 9,500 volunteering hours - our highest participation yet - and supported more than 8,000 students across Australia through STEM education and mentoring programs.    Congratulations to Michael Lupi and Nicole Stuart for their incredible work this year in delivering our award-winning workplace giving programs. Well done to everyone who gives their time, skills and expertise to help improve the lives of young Australians, and congratulations to all the finalists across every category!

A team of Origin Energy volunteers, including our Head of the Origin Foundation Michelle Zahra, and Sam Tufui from DXC Technology made the trip to Cherbourg, three hours northwest of Brisbane, to spend the day with local students. Over 60 students rolled up their sleeves for hands-on learning, built SolarBuddy lights to support communities living in energy poverty, and cheered as the school received 32 refurbished new laptops. These laptops were donated with DXC Technology Australia and New Zealand through the Origin–DXC Digital Futures Program partnership. It was a day powered by people coming together to learn and give back. #CommunitySupport #DXCDigitalFutures