Kate Hadfield

Workplace Giving

Why did you first give to UNE?
In my role as Stewardship and Research Officer with the Office of Advancement, Communications and Events, I routinely ask people to support the students and work of UNE. My thinking is that if I don’t believe in the organisation enough to give my own money, then I can’t expect anyone else to. But it’s more than that. UNE is my alma mater - I graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2000 - and I want to see it continue to flourish.

What does it mean to you to give to UNE?
It's important to me to support UNE. I believe in UNE’s uniqueness and its heritage as the first distance education provider in Australia.

What motivates you to give?
I think it’s important to contribute to society in whatever way you can and to support causes you care about.

What other organisations do you support and why?
I first started making gifts as a teenager, when I would do the World Vision 40 Hour Famine, and I've sponsored children through Child Fund Australia since I was 20 years old. I try to make decisions about the charities I support year on year. There’s so many worthy causes and we can’t give to everything. I have supported Wildlife organisations such as WWF and ‘adopted’ an orangutan. I have also donated to OzHarvest and I'm a regular donor to the Armidale based BackTrack program, which helps youth at risk to reconnect with education and training. Mental health causes are close to my heart and I have supported the Black Dog Institute, Beyond Blue and Headspace, as well as the Butterfly Foundation.

What are you most passionate about and why?
I am passionate about raising my children to be considerate and responsible citizens. I am also passionate about people and their stories: I think stories are how we connect with each other as human beings. I care about those who are not as privileged as I am. I care about our environment and making small improvements to reduce the damage we are doing to it.

What would you like to pass on to future generations?
The message that you can make a difference. Everyone can and should make a difference.

What would you say to others about workplace giving?
Workplace giving is just so easy. All you have to do is arrange it with your HR department. You don’t see the money, and because you’ve already got the tax benefit from paying out of your pre-tax salary, you don’t have to claim it as a deduction in your tax return. It couldn’t be simpler.