Fonterra Oceania celebrates International Volunteer Day 2025
International Volunteer Day, celebrated on 5 December each year, provides a moment to champion the people whose generosity strengthens communities. At Fonterra Oceania, it’s a chance to spotlight the spirit of “Good Together – Tātou, Tātou” in action.
As our teams contribute their skills both on the job and in the places they call home, this day becomes a celebration of the countless ways our volunteers bring connection, care, and positive change to their communities.
As we lead into International Volunteer Day this week, let's explore how our amazing Australian and New Zealand teams across the Oceania business are making a difference.
Melbourne, Australia – Foodbank
In Australia, our team has a longstanding partnership with Foodbank Victoria. Whether it's donating dairy products or lending a helping hand, we are committed to addressing the ongoing issue of food insecurity and its wide-reaching impact.
Each week, we donate fresh milk from our Cobden site in southwest Victoria, which gets sent on to hundreds of Foodbank’s partners right across the state.
This October and November, two volunteering groups attended Foodbank's Yarraville warehouse in Melbourne to help pack hampers and meals for Victorians in need – collectively packing more than 31,000 meals.
Takaanini, New Zealand – Conservation Volunteers
In Takaanini, New Zealand, members from the local manufacturing site embarked on a tree planting initiative with Conservation Volunteers New Zealand.
Our volunteers planted native trees in a designated restoration area. By creating habitats for native species, we helped improve local biodiversity. The tree planting also enhanced soil health and reduced erosion, while contributing to carbon sequestration, supporting climate change mitigation.
Melbourne, Australia – FareShare
Across August and September, two Fonterra Oceania teams, the Farm Source and Sustainability team and the Commercial Ingredients and Farm Source team recently joined FareShare at their kitchen in Abbotsford, Melbourne.
They rolled up their sleeves to prepare, cook, and pack thousands of free, nutritious meals for those in need - people sleeping rough, women and children escaping domestic violence, and families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Māngere East, New Zealand – De La Salle College
In New Zealand, our upper North Island sales team supported De La Salle College's annual school gala by volunteering time and donating products for a special cooking initiative.
They helped prepare ethnic food dishes for the event, showcasing the rich cultural diversity of the local community. They cooked two classic New Zealand favourites - a cheesy potato gratin and a bread-and-butter pudding, using our Mainland cheese and Anchor milk and cream products.
Initiatives like this matter because they strengthen our connection with the communities we live and work in, reflecting our commitment to giving back.
Geelong, Victoria, Australia – Bikes for children in need
The Farm Source and Sustainability team chose a team-building activity for their Spring Conference with real purpose: building bikes for children in need.
Partnering with a local Lions Club in Geelong, Victoria, the team assembled 10 brand-new bikes, which were later gifted to underprivileged children in the community.
The hands-on activity strengthened collaboration and problem-solving across the group, but more importantly, it left everyone with a genuine sense of fulfilment, knowing their time together had created joy and opportunity for some very deserving young people.
Auckland, New Zealand - Fair Food
In October, our Oceania Sustainability team rolled up their sleeves at Fair Food in Avondale, Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau). Established in 2011, Fair Food was New Zealand’s first food-rescue charity that diverts surplus kai from landfill and redistributes it to local community groups.
The team spent the day portioning rolled oats for food parcels and crafting hundreds (possibly thousands!) of bliss balls for goodie bags at a World Homeless Day event, where Fair Food and other organisations hosted a free community gathering for people experiencing homelessness.
These stories highlight the incredible efforts of our teams in supporting their communities. Through volunteering, we not only make a positive impact but also build stronger connections with the people around us. Happy International Volunteer Day!