Bupa Expands Grants to Support Mental Health and Sustainability
The Bupa Foundation has once again stepped up its efforts to support communities, announcing its 2025 Community Grants program across New Zealand and Australia. This initiative has been designed to channel funding into projects that strengthen mental health services and promote environmental sustainability, with a special focus on grassroots organisations making a real difference in people’s lives.
In New Zealand, eleven local groups have been selected to receive grants of around $10,000 each. These groups are working on projects that touch on everything from mentoring young people and supporting families in need, to restoring local ecosystems and creating digital platforms for staff wellbeing. For example, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rotorua will be offering mentoring programs to children facing adversity, while the Endangered Species Foundation will lead a stream restoration project combined with education initiatives. Other recipients include the Louise Perkins Foundation, which provides services for people living with advanced breast cancer, and the University of Auckland, which is carrying out research into the mental and social benefits of gardening.
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On the Australian side, the program has been expanded even further, with more than $600,000 allocated to 65 organisations. These projects cover an impressive range of community needs. There are initiatives designed to bring mental health education into schools, such as the Adelaide Crows Foundation’s Open Parachute program. Others, like Batyr Australia, are focusing on preventative mental health education for young people. Environmental sustainability also features strongly, with projects like the Common Ground Project and Wattle Volunteering promoting sustainable practices while building stronger communities.
Bupa leaders have emphasized that these grants are not just about money. Michael Burgess, Bupa’s director of corporate affairs and sustainability in New Zealand, explained that when financial support is combined with the passion and dedication of local organisations, the outcomes can be transformative. Similarly, Roger Sharp, Bupa Asia-Pacific’s chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer, highlighted that pairing resources with the knowledge of community groups can create lasting impact for healthier communities.
The Bupa Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and over that time it has invested more than A$40 million into health and wellbeing projects. What began as a foundation primarily focused on health research has since grown into a broader mission that now includes mental health, environmental sustainability, and resilience building. Since 2019 alone, over $2.8 million has been distributed to grassroots initiatives across Australia and New Zealand.
Beyond the grants, Bupa also maintains partnerships with a wide network of organisations, from the Paralympics to the New Zealand Landcare Trust, as part of its wider commitment to community health. This approach reflects a clear recognition that human health and environmental health are deeply interconnected.
By supporting these projects, the Bupa Foundation is ensuring that communities have the tools and resources they need to thrive. The impact of these grants will not only be felt immediately but will also help create healthier, more resilient environments for the future.
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