Woodside marks anniversary milestone with $1 million in grants for City of Karratha community initiatives

Ten community and not-for-profit organisations in the City of Karratha have been awarded Woodside Anniversary Grants of up to $100,000 each to support programs and initiatives that deliver positive outcomes in the local community. The grants coincide with its celebration of 70 years as an Australian company and four decades of operations in Karratha. Among the grant recipients is St John WA, which will use the funding to buy new ambulances and lifesaving equipment for its operations in Karratha, Roebourne and Wickham. Yaandina Community Services has been awarded funding to install air-conditioning at its Roebourne residential detoxification facility, while Yinjaa-Barni Art will use its grant to upgrade its studio in Roebourne to better support local artists. The WA Centre for Rural Health has received funding to develop a business case for a proposed Centre for Applied Research and Education (CARE) hub in Karratha. Reach Us Pilbara will use the grant to buy essential equipment for its cancer support services centre, and the Juluwarlu Group will deliver the Yindjibarndi Wellness pilot program, which focuses on Jadas and Gurri. The Karratha RSL will install solar panels, battery storage, and new air-conditioning systems at its facility, while Pilbara for Purpose has received funding to deliver cultural competency training for community service providers. The Karratha Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service will use the grant to upgrade storage facilities, ensuring its firefighting equipment is stored securely year-round. Lastly, the Dampier Community Association will purchase kitchen equipment to activate a kiosk on the Dampier foreshore, enhancing community amenities. Woodside executive vice-president and chief operating officer Australia Liz Westcott said Woodside and its joint venture participants in the North West Shelf Project and Scarborough Energy Project’s Pluto Train 2 were pleased to support these valuable initiatives. “Karratha is where our Western Australia story began and we understand that being a part of the community is centred on developing strong relationships and making meaningful contributions,” she said. “We have done this for 40 years and look forward to continue supporting projects and programs that provide local solutions to local challenges.”