Breast cancer, dementia, animal welfare and the mental health of young people. These critical issues are just some of the causes CA ANZ members and employees help to address through donations, events and volunteering.

“Giving back is a defining characteristic of our profession and our organisation,” says Ainslie van Onselen, CA ANZ CEO. “Our members make an enormous commitment to supporting the wider community through volunteering more than 1.2 million hours a year.”

She says the philanthropic efforts of the accounting profession can help charities reach a wider network, facilitate specific fundraising activities and provide specialist pro bono or in-kind support through employee volunteering.

And it’s just not the charities that benefit, van Onselen adds. Organisations that run effective philanthropic programs and charitable partnerships foster a culture of giving and community involvement, which in turn creates a shared sense of purpose that strengthens team connections and pride.

Philanthropy is strongly supported by both CA ANZ members and employees through the corporate giving program, Everybody Counts. Charitable partners include Youthline, Cancer Society NZ, Autism NZ and the SPCA in New Zealand, and ReachOut, The Smith Family, Dementia Australia and the RSPCA in Australia. Initiatives on both sides of the Tasman also support breast cancer through the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) in Australia and Breast Cancer Foundation NZ (BCFNZ) in New Zealand.

Standing strong against breast cancer

Since 2010, CA ANZ has raised more than A$350,000 for the NBCF in Australia and supported BCFNZ in New Zealand through a range of initiatives.

In 2024, CA ANZ supported the NBCF’s 30th anniversary with an opt-in donation of A$9 during membership renewals, symbolising the nine Australians who lose their lives, and the nine New Zealanders who are diagnosed with breast cancer, every day. This initiative was very successful, raising more than A$24,000 and contributing to a total of more than A$62,000 donated by CA ANZ to the NBCF in Australia that year.

Similarly, New Zealand members donated more than NZ$3000 to BCFNZ during the 2024–2025 membership renewal period. CA ANZ teams also participated in the Pink Ribbon Walks in Auckland and Christchurch.

In 2025, to commemorate CA ANZ’s highly effective 15-year collaboration with the NBCF, when members renew their membership they can make an opt-in donation of A$15.

“This is one of the new and most effective ways CA ANZ supports the NBCF,” says NBCF CEO, Associate Professor Cleola Anderiesz.

“This initiative is an incredibly easy way for members to contribute with just a few clicks, providing a simple, tax-deductible way for members to give. Beyond its simplicity, this unlocks the potential to engage CA ANZ’s membership, amplifying our impact like never before.”

Associate Professor Anderiesz stresses how vital it is for the corporate sector to support charitable organisations.

“Through corporate partnerships, such as between the NBCF and CA ANZ, charities can increase awareness for their cause, reach new audiences and provide meaningful ways for individuals to support causes,” she says.

Additionally, says Associate Professor Anderiesz, aligning with a charity offers numerous benefits for organisations, including boosting employee engagement, fulfilling social responsibility, and building trust and credibility with clients.

“NBCF is incredibly grateful for all the support it receives through this partnership.”

Counting the impact

Breast cancer philanthropy and the subsequent research it funds is certainly having an impact. While New Zealand and Australia have some of the highest breast cancer diagnoses in the world – at about one in every seven and one in every nine women in Australia and New Zealand respectively – mortality from the disease has been steadily declining.

“The death rate from breast cancer in Australia has reduced by over 40%,” says Associate Professor Anderiesz, “and this is driven by research.”

She says throughout the NBCF’s 30-year history, it has invested more than A$200 million into more than 600 world-class breast cancer research projects across Australia.

Van Onselen says it’s rare to meet a member or an employee who hasn’t had a direct or indirect experience of cancer, and the chance to participate in fundraising activities to support the important work of these organisations resonates.

“I encourage all members to consider making a small contribution,” she says. “Your donation, along with others, can substantially support life-saving research to prevent breast cancer deaths.”

How you can help

Since philanthropy is a core value of the accounting profession, CA ANZ is dedicated to helping members make it a priority.

Our Everybody Counts program encourages CA ANZ employees to support charities in multiple ways, from direct donations through payroll giving and volunteering time and skills, to participating in fundraising activities.

Members can get involved with the Everybody Counts program, too, says van Onselen. “They can attend our events, participate in fundraising activities or volunteer their time.”

Two CA ANZ Sydney employee members, Chetan Puri and Hemal Shingala, have done just that, volunteering at the NBCF head office last year.

Shingala says the experience was incredibly rewarding.

“Contributing my time and skills to such a noble cause brought a sense of fulfillment that went beyond the hours I spent there,” he says. “Whether it was sharing my energy, ideas or simply lending a hand, every moment felt like a step forward in the fight against breast cancer.”

Other recent CA ANZ member and employee fundraising efforts for the NBCF have included a New South Wales charity lunch at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, which raised more than A$9000. In Perth, the 58 Squat Challenge and the eighth annual charity high tea have also been highly successful fundraising events.

In addition, Pamela Lee FCA, CA ANZ member care manager, was commended as a Workplace Giving Champion of the Year at The Australian Workplace Giving Awards 2024. She was nominated by the NBCF for her outstanding contribution as the driving force behind Everybody Counts.

Last year, van Onselen visited a lab in Sydney funded by NBCF at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

“The inspiring passion, intellect and purpose of the PhD students and researchers really put a human face on the impact of our philanthropic efforts,“ she says. “They did a terrific job explaining how our giving program supports their life-saving research and helps patients through their treatment.”

She also represented CA ANZ at World Vision Australia’s Strong Women Strong World field tour in Zambia, a campaign focused on steering practical, targeted programs to empower women in their communities.

“I can only describe my eight days in Zambia visiting schools, health clinics and other community practices, as a life-changing experience,” van Onselen says. “The challenges women and young girls face in developing countries appear insurmountable when you witness it firsthand, which is why I’m inspired to lift our approach to philanthropic giving to another level.

“I’m a firm believer that organisations have a responsibility to support the communities they serve.”

Learn more

To learn more about Everybody Counts and even start a giving program in your firm, please email Pamela Lee FCA, CA ANZ’s member care manager: [email protected]