We believe that we have a responsibility to assist the communities where we operate. Once ARA becomes committed to an organisation, we remain consistently committed as we attempt to build a meaningful partnership.
As an inherent part of the ARA culture, we believe our support for our communities makes us a better company.
ARA is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where we work. Our vision is to create a lasting impact through ongoing charitable contributions that will benefit future generations.
In 2009, we founded the ARA Endowment Fund with the goal of growing it to $10 million. Achieving this milestone will enable us to distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars annually from the fund’s earnings to support Australian charities, affirming ARA’s lasting contribution to the Australian community.
Every year, we donate 100% of the ARA Endowment Fund’s annual earnings to registered charities across Australia. Currently, we are proud to support three key foundations: The GO Foundation, The Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and The David Lynch Foundation.
In 2020, the ARA Group established the ARA Historical Novel Prize in partnership with the Historical Novel Society Australasia and provides $100,000 of prize monies making this literary prize the richest genre prize in Australia and New Zealand.
In addition, the ARA Group is the Principal Partner of the Sydney Writers’ Festival. ARA has supported the Sydney Writers’ Festival since 2016. The ARA Group has also been the Principal Partner of the Melbourne Writers’ Festival since 2020.
The ARA Group is the Principal Partner for Property Services for the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and we have made a multi-year commitment to NIDA. As a part of the ARA Principal Partner sponsorship, three $10,000 scholarships are given each year to three Indigenous students studying at NIDA.
ARA is also the Principal Partner of the Monkey Baa Theatre, a preeminent children’s theatre company. The Monkey Baa Theatre immerses school age children in the development of theatre production.
In addition to being the Principal Partner of the SWF, the ARA Group contributes significantly to Russ the Bus to promote and boost literacy in children.
The ARA Group is a key partner of the Story Factory, a not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people in under-resourced communities across New South Wales. The goal of the Story Factory is to build writing skills, confidence, and creativity.
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.
ARA is the naming rights sponsor of the Australian Cycling Team. Our sponsorship of our Australian national teams across all disciplines includes abled and para disciplines in road, track, BMX freestyle, BMX racing, cyclo-cross, E-sports, mountain bike, and para-Cycling.
ACA is an elite training academy based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, taking an athlete-centric approach to cycling development. ACA values life balance, hard work and loving what you do, and believe that a positive team culture is the best platform for success.
The Sydney Swans are a professional Australian rules football club based in Sydney, New South Wales. The men’s team competes in the Australian Football League, and the women’s team in the AFL Women’s.
The ARA Group acknowledges the connection of people, land and communities within the areas that we work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
We seek to maintain meaningful partnerships by undertaking the appropriate engagement practices within our business and for our communities. We know the importance of respecting, understanding and sharing the oldest living cultures in the world.