ARA in the community.
The theme of this year’s annual report is ‘It’s different here’. A key reason why it is different at ARA is the sustained commitment to contributing meaningful donations and sponsorships to the communities where we work and live. We have a very strong commitment to our social responsibility.
We believe a for profit organisation such as ARA has an obligation to make a meaningful impact on our community. As an inherent part of the ARA culture, we believe our support for our communities makes us a better company.
This is what makes us different here at ARA.
In financial year 2026, ARA directly donated $3.7 million to various non-profit organisations ($2.9 million in 2025).
ARA Endowment Fund
The ARA Endowment Fund was established in 2009. The idea was to engage with ARA employees for both the fundraising as well as the determination of where donations will be made. Earnings from the Fund each year are donated to registered Australian charities. From a humble beginning in 2009, there is currently a principal balance in the Fund of approximately $5 million.
The charities supported in 2026 as chosen by ARA employees were:
Each charity received $20,443, or a total of $163,544 was donated from the ARA Endowment Fund.
Here for the readers, the writers and the idea creators
Conservation and wellness
ARA’s longest partner in the community is the Taronga Zoo. ARA is a Crown sponsor and began supporting the Taronga Zoo in 2009. Our annual contribution has grown consistently during the period of our support.
Indigenous charities
Sports
The ARA Book Club
Beginning in 2024, we created the ARA Book Club. The club highlights literature written by Australian and New Zealand authors. The club brings readers across the ARA Group together to discuss and share their thoughts, ideas and opinions. We have also invited the authors of the book to join the Book Club meetings.
“Don’t underestimate the powerful impact that the ARA book club can make, it has helped me rekindle my love of reading and books. I feel in this age of the internet that finding our way back to books and our own imaginations is important.” – ARA Employee.
Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF)
ILF’s community-led programs and publishing projects grow every year, and ARA’s support has contributed significantly to two core programs and celebrations in the ILF annual calendar.
Book Supply
Book Supply is a core program of the ILF. They deliver brand new, culturally relevant books to remote and very remote communities twice a year, with over 50% of authors or illustrators being Indigenous. ARA has donated a total of $100,000 in 2026.
This donation has helped deliver 10,000 culturally relevant books to remote communities, delivering our one millionth book and sending out 4,100 book packs at no cost to the communities.
“It is honestly the BEST program in Australia for Indigenous literacy. Having access to such a variety of books, but also being able to provide children and family with books for home is HUGE for our community.”– Zoe Smith Central Australia Aboriginal Congress
Indigenous Literacy Day
On the first Wednesday of September each year ILF holds a celebration of First Nations peoples’ stories, cultures and languages via a live event at Sydney Opera House. It is streamed online across the country.
ILD 2025’s theme was Strength in our Stories: For Now & Future Generations
ARA was the major sponsor of the 2025 Indigenous Literacy Day. At the live event 300 guests attended the event at the Sydney Opera House and over 230,000 people live streamed the event across Australia.
“Our community LOVES these books. They support kids to connect to culture, help teachers learn about culture and bring families together.” – Claire Priest – Exmouth District High School · EXMOUTH, WA
