A new Bushfire Ready Fund announced by Alcoa this month will provide $1.3 million over the next three years to support communities in WA and Victoria to deliver key initiatives that address the risk of bushfires and contributing climate factors.
To kick the program off, donations of $6500 were made to 23 volunteer fire services in the Peel and South West of WA, and the Glenelg Shire in Victoria, as well as WA’s Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation’s Ranger Program, to help them better prepare for and mitigate against bushfire risk.
Alcoa Australia President Elsabe Muller said the company recognised that bushfire risk was an ever-present challenge faced by communities in the areas where the company operates.
“The Alcoa Bushfire Ready Fund aims to help address mitigation, prevention, action, and recovery strategies and tactics related to fire and its impact on local communities and recognise the integral role that volunteer services fulfil in these areas,” Ms Muller said.
“A large part of our workforce lives in the communities where we operate and many of our people have been personally impacted by bushfire in recent years.
“Many of our team members serve as volunteers in their local fire services and community organisations and have been on the frontlines to assist their communities in tackling emergencies and dealing with the aftermath of these devastating events.
“Alcoa has special leave provisions for employee volunteers and provides essential support services during fire management, such as provision of water and fuel to emergency service providers, access to the network of roads across our mine sites, and backup firefighting units and personnel if required.”
Ms Muller added that Alcoa has funded and conducted research into fire mitigation and management and would continue to do so through its Forest Research Centre, a $15 million initiative announced in 2024 to contribute to improvements in the management and long-term health of forests.
The Alcoa Bushfire Ready Fund includes an annual competitive grants program offering up to $20,000 to community organisations supporting initiatives that prepare and protect communities, and funding for regional scale impact projects which address challenges related to fire and the drying climate.
Alcoa expects to announce further details about the Bushfire Ready Fund and how to apply for grants in coming months.
