Australia Post has increased its People of Post grants program by 47% this year, distributing over $400,000 to 224 grassroots community groups across the nation. This initiative, now in its eighth year, is an employee-led program that allows Australia Post workers to nominate local charities for grants of up to $2,000.
The grants focus on several key areas, with 54% of projects addressing mental health, 25% targeting environmental sustainability, 12% enhancing disaster resilience, and 3% promoting Indigenous children’s literacy. Victoria received the highest number of grants, accounting for 35% of the total, followed by Queensland with 25% and New South Wales with 20%.
Nicky Tracey, General Manager Community and Stakeholder Engagement at Australia Post, highlighted the importance of community connection in the current climate. “being part of a community and feeling connected is more important than ever before. That’s why Australia Post continues to support local communities through the People of Post grants,” Tracey stated.
Research commissioned by Australia Post reveals that 40% of Australians who regularly donate to charity have reduced their contributions over the past year due to cost-of-living pressures. Additionally, the research indicates that 57% of Australians are inclined to support local causes that address immediate community needs.
Tracey acknowledged the financial challenges faced by many Australians, saying, “We know that people want to continue to support their local not-for-profit, but with cost of living impacting both households and communities, many people are finding it increasingly difficult. We’re proud to continue supporting our team members to champion the causes they see making a real difference at a local level and strengthen Australia Post’s commitment to creating a culture of giving for our people.”
The People of Post grants have supported 2,158 not-for-profit community organisations since their inception, delivering nearly $2 million in grants. Australia Post employs over 63,000 people and maintains a retail network of more than 4,000 Post Offices across Australia.
Hannah Meyer, an Australia Post team member, expressed the personal impact of the program, stating, “The People of Post grants are such a meaningful way for team members like me to give back to the community groups we’re personally connected to and champion the causes we care about.”
Meyer also shared her experience with the program, noting, “Through Australia Post’s support, I was able to nominate the Brunswick Neighbourhood House’s Chatty Café program, a local organisation doing incredible work creating a safe, welcoming space for vulnerable people to connect. I knew this substantial grant could make a real difference; one I couldn’t have made on my own. With increasing financial pressures this initiative is more important than ever.”
Australia Post’s research further shows that 47% of Australians would prefer to work for an organisation that supports local causes. The research was conducted in April 2025 with 1,000 Australian consumers through Pollfish.