Emergency

Our approach

Our stakeholders have told us that we have an important role to play in helping our customers and communities manage and recover from natural disasters.

We understand that natural disasters can have severe consequences for individuals, businesses and local communities.  

Our Disaster Relief and Recovery Policy aims to deliver an efficient, coordinated and proportionate response to disasters particularly as our business grows in the Asia Pacific region. The policy builds on our values of integrity, collaboration, accountability, respect and excellence. It prioritises:

  • meeting the needs of our customers and looking after our staff
  • focusing on the geographic regions of strategic importance to our business
  • supporting our Group-wide corporate responsibility framework.

Our support for communities affected by disasters includes a package of relief measures for customers, measures to support staff, and support for organisations involved in the response, e.g. promoting appeals and donations. We are also keen to help longer-term recovery where we can, including financial advice and planning for recovering local businesses and a volunteering program for our staff to assist with community rebuilding.

We encourage any customer impacted by a disaster to contact our financial difficulty team, local branch or relationship manager to discuss how we can support them during their recovery.

Case study: ANZ supports rebuilding of learning centre in Minami Sanriku in Northeastern Japan

ANZ is supporting long term recovery measures to help rebuild Minami Sanriku in Northeastern Japan which was impacted by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

We are helping to build a new civic Life-Long Learning Centre with a library, seminar and study rooms for the local community to use. It will be the first permanent building to be rebuilt in the town after the earthquake and tsunami that struck Great East Japan in March.  

The learning centre will support community activities, children’s education and generate local employment.  In the long-term it will be an interactive space for extra-curricular programs and after-school care.  

“ANZ is very pleased to be able to fund such an important project.  Our volunteer teams will continue to visit Minami Sanriku in 2012 to see the progress made”, said Robert Bell, CEO Japan.
Case study: ANZ supports long term recovery efforts in Emerald after the Queensland floods

In late December 2010, ANZ made a $1 million donation in response to the flood crisis which included a $500,000 donation to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal and a $500,000 donation towards long term recovery programs.

One of the long term recovery programs supported by ANZ includes a $100,000 donation to the Emerald & District Social Development Association.

The Association will use the funds to support community groups such as the Emerald Neighbourhood Centre which provides counseling and housing services as well as the provision of food and clothing.

ANZ District Manager for Capricorn and Coast, Queensland, Jacqueline Walsh said: “As part of our commitment to Queensland’s long term recovery, we engaged local councils in the affected areas to discuss the projects which require funding support. Emerald was completely devastated by the floods earlier in the year and the community still needs as much help as possible to get back on its feet,” said Ms Walsh.

 

2011 results

Recent events in Australia, New Zealand, our Pacific region and Japan have shown us how natural disasters can take us by surprise and leave our people and communities feeling shocked and unprepared, for both the event, and the recovery afterwards.

This year, we created ‘Being Prepared’ booklets for all ANZ staff globally to help them to prepare for and respond to unexpected events, such as natural disasters, at home and at work. Two versions of the guide have been made available, one for employees and one for line managers. Translated versions of these booklets have been created and disseminated where necessary.

In 2011, ANZ committed more than A$3.7 million to assist relief and recovery efforts and matching of staff donations. We worked with local partners to deliver timely, effective and appropriate support to our employees, customers and communities impacted by natural disasters.

Month Disaster ANZ Partnership
November 2010 Pike River Pike River Miner's Relief Fund Trust
December 2010 Queensland Floods Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet
January 2011 Victoria Floods Red Cross
February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake Red Cross
March 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Red Cross
May 2011 Cambodia Stampede CARE Australia

 

2010 results

Significant natural disasters in our region this year highlighted the important role we can play supporting relief and recovery efforts in times of need.

In 2010, we contributed more than A$1.2 million to assist relief and recovery efforts. We worked with local partners to deliver timely, effective and appropriate support to our employees, customers and communities impacted by natural disasters.

Disaster ANZ partnerships
China earthquake Red Cross China
China tornado Red Cross Chongqing
Cook Islands cyclone Red Cross Cook Islands
Fiji cyclone Red Cross Fiji
New Zealand earthquake Red Cross New Zealand
Queensland floods Queensland Flood Premiers Department
Southern India floods Red Cross India
Sumatra earthquake Red Cross Indonesia
Typhoon Ketsana Vietnam and Philippines Red Cross
Typhoon Ketsana Laos and Cambodia CARE
Western Australia bushfires Lord Mayor's Distress  Relief Fund

 

 

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