Community Contribution
Foundation Quick Links
The Fairbrother Foundation has been established as a not for profit, Private Ancillary Fund (PAF). Its intent is to provide an avenue for donations from the Fairbrother family, business, employees and other key stakeholders to give back to areas of need in our communities.
The Foundation’s core purposes are to:
- Facilitate access to quality education, particularly among youth
- Support activities or research striving for improved health and well-being
- Support charities that have a direct connection to our employees
- Where possible support charities making a positive impact within the construction industry.
Foundation Background
The Fairbrother Foundation formed a partnership with the UTAS Foundation in 2008 to support keen students to undertake an undergraduate degree at the University of Tasmania. Since 2008, the UTAS Foundation has awarded a 3-year Fairbrother Foundation Scholarship to 20 students, enabling many to successfully undertake university study.
To be eligible for a scholarship, a student must have a parent employed by Fairbrother Pty Ltd or Degree C Pty Ltd (an entity owned by Fairbrother) and preferably be entering the first year of their degree. The Fairbrother Foundation Scholarship currently provides recipients with $15,000, spread evenly across 3 years.
Key Partnerships
The Fairbrother Foundation has also formed key partnerships with:
- Hobart City Mission (HCM), providing financial support in particular the HCM’s DIY Dads program.
- SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY, where the Foundation is contributing to SUSC’s essential and powerful work around promoting positive mental health and suicide prevention.
- New Horizons, a charity focused on building inclusive communities through sport and recreation. The Fairbrother Foundation is supporting to offer an inclusive basketball program catering for beginners right through to more competent players.
- Action Against Homelessness (AAH), a community supported charity based in Devonport, Tasmania focused on implementing solutions to alleviate homelessness.
- The Smith Family, where the Foundation is supporting two student scholarships under The Smith Family’s Learning for Life Program.
- Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch Bendigo, a key fundraising activity raising money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
- UTAS Foundation, providing scholarships for University of Tasmania students.
“A big thank you to the Fairbrother Foundation for their donation towards MS Australia and MS Research Australia. This was the perfect gift to give Mum in time for Mothers Day.“
Tim Mee, Fairbrother
“I nominated Cystic Fibrosis Tasmania as this is a disorder close to me. My brother-in-law lives with this disorder. There needs to be a lot more awareness as many people don’t have knowledge of this unless it affects them personally. That was me before I learnt about it. As with a lot of charities, they can all do with more funding for research and to help those suffering,”
Brooke Casboult, Degree C.
“Thank you to the Fairbrother Foundation for supporting Dementia Australia. In recent months my father has been diagnosed with vascular dementia and parkinsonisms. Dementia Australia has been an invaluable resource for my family as we struggle to deal with his diagnosis, care needs and planning for the future.”
Em Hollister, Fairbrother
“Being able to contribute to Lets Talk allows their organisation to continue with their great work in de-stigmatising mental health, particularly in men. It gives our staff, as a whole, a great feeling to know that we are able to assist them to continue their important work within our community.”
Billy Edis, Fairbrother
Employee-Led Donations
The Fairbrother Foundation recognises that it is the quality work of Fairbrother employees that underpins our ability to make charitable donations. Each year employees are consulted regarding charities to support. As a result of this process, the Foundation has had the pleasure of making donations to each of the following charities:
| Coeliac Australia – nominated by Laura Parker | Muscular Dystrophy Association of Tasmania – nominated by Sam Gray | Tasmania Police Charity Trust – nominated by Luke Young |
| 65 for CF (Cystic Fibrosis Tasmania) – nominated by Gaye Rutherford | Motor Neurone Disease Association of Tasmania – nominated by Tennille Jago | Dress for Success Hobart – nominated by Jessica Ribbon |
| Heart and Lung Transplant Trust Victoria – nominated by Brad Van Den Bosch | Helicopter Rescue Tasmania Fund – nominated by Sam Gray | Ostomy Tasmania – nominated by Stephan Muther |
| Risdon Vale Bike Collective – nominated by Dylan Graham | Diabetes Tasmania – nominated by Adrian De Jong | Beyond Blue – nominated by Richard Skelly |
| Impact Recovery Bendigo – nominated by Joel Fergus | Pathways Tasmania – nominated by Kurt Arnold | Stroke Foundation – nominated by Mick Draper |
| Mates4Mates – nominated by Dave Toohey | Tassie Mums – nominated by Laura Ship | Cystic Fibrosis Australia – nominated by Brad Van Den Bosch |
| Diabetes Australia – nominated by Hannah Thomas | Heartkids Victoria/Tasmania – nominated by Sam Nugent | Cystic Fibrosis Tasmania – nominated by Brooke Casboult |
| MSResearch Australia – nominated by Shaun Roney | MS Australia – nominated by Tim Mee | SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY – nominated by Paul Ransley, Carrisa Wells and Billy Edis and his South West Victoria team |
| MS Research Australia – nominated by Shaun Roney | Camp Quality – nominated by Andrew Burns (Victorian team) | Dementia Australia – nominated by Em Hollister |
| Huntington’s Disease Association of Tasmania – nominated by Thea Fairbrother | HALT (Hope Assistance Local Tradies) Aust – nominated by Josh Gill | CanTeen – nominated by Richard McGuire |
| The Bernie Banton Foundation – nominated by Richard Skelly | Give Me 5 for Kids – nominated by Sheralee Urbanc | Autism Tasmania – nominated by Craig Luttrell |
| Legacy – nominated by Natalie Bell | Cancer Council – nominated by Joel Laycock | Make A Wish Australia – nominated by Jessica Cameron |
| Let’s Talk – nominated by Billy Edis and the South West Victorian Team | The Smith Family – nominated by Royce Fairbrother | Neuroblastoma Australia – nominated by Jackson and Tom Ackerley |
| Project Whitelion – nominated by Nick Freeman | Australian Cancer Research Foundation – nominated by Michael Caldwell | Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation – nominated by Gaye Rutherford |
Directors
Gaye Rutherford, Chair, BA(Hons), BNutrDiet(Hons), G.A.I.C.D.
The current Chair of the Foundation is Gaye Rutherford (née Fairbrother). Gaye provides a strong family connection for the Foundation, and in addition to being a Foundation Director, also sits on the Board of Fairbrother Pty Ltd. As a mother and Accredited Practising Dietitian, Gaye feels passionate about the Foundation’s focus on education and wellbeing initiatives.
Kurt Arnold
After commencing his career with Fairbrother Pty Ltd back in 1995, Kurt has progressively fulfilled a number of roles and is now the company’s Chief Executive Officer and is a member of Fairbrother Pty Ltd’s Board. Kurt joined the Foundation as a Director in 2016 and provides a valuable connection between the Foundation and the operational aspects of the Company.
Mark Nugent
Mark is currently also a Board member of Fairbrother Pty Ltd and Degree C Pty Ltd and has the executive role of Chief Financial Officer. Mark also served on the Fairbrother Employees Retirement Fund Board for a number of years until its transfer to Tasplan in 2018. Mark is also a Board member of Bank of Us a role he has held since 2012. Mark brings to the Board his experience in governance and regulatory environments as well as his financial and strategic knowledge.
Gareth Atkins, B.Com., C.A., R.T.A, R.C.A.
Gareth is the CEO and director of Synectic Group, who have a long-standing relationship as accountants & business advisers to the Fairbrother Group. Gareth is a Chartered Accountant, Registered Tax Agent, Registered Company Auditor and acts as Non-Executive Director of a number of Tasmanian businesses. Having joined the board in 2021, Gareth provides independent advice relating to finance, governance and strategy and acts as the Responsible Person for the Foundation.
Fairbrother Charitable Trust
The Fairbrother Charitable Trust was established in 2023 to provide additional flexibility for charitable donations, being able to support any charity or charitable project that aligns with the values and goals of the Fairbrother Group.
The first project the Fairbrother Charitable Trust embraced was the development of a 14-unit, 24/7 supported living site in Claremont. This facility will support long-term accommodation for people living with mental illness and psychosocial disability. The Claremont facility has been named Glenson Place in honour of Thea and Royce Fairbrother’s son, Glen, and the health challenges that he navigates.