OZ Minerals engages in a range of sponsorship and donation activities both at group level and at individual operations. These activities assist us to build an understanding and relationships with our local communities.

During the reporting period OZ Minerals contributed over A$1.8 million, 25 per cent of our total community investment of over $7.3 million, in sponsorships and donations to benefit local communities. Our sponsorships generally focused on community health and education initiatives, while our donations were for a variety of short-term or one-off initiatives, including humanitarian relief, festivals and cultural events.

OZ Minerals continued to support the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) donating $80,000 during 2008, as part of an ongoing partnership with the RFDS worth $280,000 over four years. This partnership assists the RFDS to purchase new aircraft and medical equipment, and ensure the service can continue to offer vital emergency and general medical support to rural Australian communities and mining operations. Our Golden Grove operation’s social club also donated over $60,000 to the RFDS in Western Australia. This donation funded a flight simulator which will be used for on-the-ground training, and will make it possible for RFDS to conduct training without removing an aircraft from service.