Today we are launching Telstra in the Community (PDF), an inaugural report which presents the human face of Telstra in local communities and highlights some of our 2008/09 community investments including: 7SYA25VPF2ZD

• Telstra’s Access for Everyone programs, valued at over $180 million, enabling over one million low-income customers to stay connected each year; Telstra’s special rates to over 143,000 fixed lines to the value of $29.8 million in savings to our charity and not-for-profit customers, enabling them to extend their services and increase capacity, thus working more effectively to help more clients;
• Telstra’s community sponsorships, including 18 years of supporting the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award, a major catalyst in the growth of Aboriginal art, allowing hundreds of Indigenous artists to gain the recognition they deserve;
• Telstra’s disaster relief efforts, including our immediate response to the Victorian bushfires which included providing 1,000 mobile handsets free of charge, setting up a dozen free internet kiosks and waiving almost 25,000 customer bills; and
• Telstra Foundation’s programs and initiatives, valued at $4.8 million, including 625 Telstra’s Kids Fund grants supporting community organisations in which children of Telstra employees are involved. Details on how to contact the Telstra Foundation can be found on our website www.telstrafoundation.com

I hope you enjoy this report, a reflection of Telstra’s participation in the Australian community, and a celebration of the efforts of our people and the community organisations with which we engage.