IMPACT REPORT 2024-25
Raising Awareness
Bringing Canberra’s needs into focus: Inspiring action and celebrating local champions
Inspiring Greater Awareness and Connection Across Canberra
This year, Hands Across Canberra has passionately championed raising awareness about the vital work of our local charities and the needs of our community. Through creative storytelling, meaningful partnerships, and expanded outreach, we’ve engaged more Canberrans than ever before—sparking connection, inspiring generosity, and shining a spotlight on the positive impact being made across our city.
Our work centered on empowering local charities, amplifying generosity within the community, expanding our reach through digital channels, and leveraging data insights to drive meaningful impact. We achieved this by:
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Championing Local Charities
We strengthened our commitment to supporting and empowering Canberra’s charitable sector through a series of capacity building workshops which focused on building collaborative partnerships, AI and governance (delivered in conjunction with AICD).
These initiatives assist the operational capacity of local charities, enabling them to work more effectively towards their missions.
We saw a 150% increase in charitable giving through the HAC portal to Canberra-based charities. This surge in donations reflects both community trust and the strengthened visibility and capacity of local organisations.
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Celebrating Generosity
Our ability to support Canberra’s charities and communities is made possible through the generosity and collaboration of our valued partners. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected city where giving back is celebrated and encouraged.
In 2025, we proudly partnered with:
- CBRIN (Canberra Innovation Network)
- Canberra Convention Bureau
- OneX
- Region Media
- Thoroughbred Park
- Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)
- Canberra Airport
- Canberra Southern Cross Club
- Clubs ACT
- Events ACT
- Swell
Through their contributions—whether financial support, in-kind services, or amplifying community impact—we have collectively championed giving and ensured that more resources reach the charities and causes that need them most.
These partnerships highlight the strength of collaboration across our community and demonstrate that generosity is a cornerstone of Canberra’s identity.
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Amplifying Awareness
Our social media presence grew significantly, increasing followers, reach, interactions, and post impressions across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram by hundreds of percent, enabling us to engage and inspire a broader audience than ever before. Throughout the year, we collaborated closely with our charity partners to enhance storytelling across all platforms—our expanding media coverage stands as strong evidence of this collective effort.
| Platform / Account | New Followers (% Growth) | Reach (% Growth) | Interactions (% Growth) | Post Impressions (% Growth) |
| FB | 161 (36%) | 663.9K (1142%) | 6.7K (82%) | 315.3K (682%) |
| 373 (1522%) | 32K (858%) | 6.9K (298%) | 54.7K (873%) | |
| 328 (100%) | 148.7K (583%) | 3.3K (1953%) | 203.7K (538%) | |
| TOTAL | 862 (511%) | 844.6K (975%) | 16.9K (202%) | 573.7K (637%) |
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Data-Driven Solutions
Hands Across Canberra, in partnership with the Snow Foundation, has commenced work on the third Vital Signs data hub project having laid vital groundwork with previous Vital Signs research, producing valuable reports on Canberra’s community needs. Building on this, the new CBR Data Hub will be a dynamic, centralised online platform—co-designed with input from our local organisations—that continuously updates community data. The Hub aims to centralise access to diverse data, promote sharing and collaboration, and support informed decision-making to strengthen Canberra’s community impact.
Through this partnership, we are working to ensure that Canberra’s community sector is equipped with the insights it needs to drive meaningful change and strengthen local resilience.
Our Community Insights 2024-25:
- Mental health services: Community mental health providers saw unprecedented demand, with reports of a 30% increase in financial counseling and mental health support requests, further strained by underfunding relative to needs.
- Food insecurity and basic needs support: Food pantries and community kitchens witnessed significant growth in patrons, including many new to seeking assistance. Demand for emergency relief—including food, shelter, and utility support—increased dramatically amid rising costs, with community organisations stretched to capacity.
- Housing and tenancy support: Services helping vulnerable households with rent relief, tenancy advice, and eviction prevention have seen growing caseloads due to housing affordability challenges heightened by inflation and stagnant incomes.
- Pressure on the Community Sector: The community sector in Canberra is facing unprecedented challenges, contending with soaring demand for services alongside rising operational costs, stagnant funding, and dwindling reserves. This perfect storm has pushed many organisations to their limits, making it increasingly difficult to meet the diverse and growing needs of our city’s most vulnerable populations. Without adequate, sustainable funding that reflects Canberra’s 30% population growth over the past decade, community organisations are forced to stretch limited resources, often operating from unsuitable facilities and relying on short-term contracts that undermine long-term planning and service stability.
Despite these pressures, Canberrans remain deeply committed to supporting one another. Hands Across Canberra is dedicated to standing alongside charities and community groups—helping them secure essential funds, strengthen their capacity, and advocate for systemic change. By working collaboratively, we can ease the strain caused by rising living costs and build a more equitable, compassionate, and resilient Canberra.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Media Partners!
Our media partners are at the heart of amplifying our stories and inspiring generosity across Canberra.
A special thank you to OneX and Region Media for their unwavering support and powerful storytelling, and to TalkForce for bringing their energy and creativity to the Canberra Day Appeal.
We’re proud to be part of the Southern Cross 10 Embrace program and grateful to 666 ABC, Mix 106.3, FM 104.7, Canberra Daily, Radio 1RPH, and Valley FM for ensuring our message reaches every corner of the community.
With their support — and the backing of our community — the Canberra Day Appeal grew beyond our expectations, and as we approach its 8th anniversary, we know the future will be even more impactful.
Canberra Day Appeal
The final Canberra Day Appeal results for 2025 were nothing short of outstanding. Thanks to a whole community full of generous donors, we pumped more than $850,000 into the charity community in Canberra, raising funds directly and boosting donations with matched funds.
Thank you to the 102 charities who participated in the CDA. This was a magnificent community effort, from major corporate giving to every single fun run participant who sweated it out for our community. It was powerful and inspiring to witness people coming together to give each other a hand up, especially in hard times.
This year the ACT Government, in partnership with Stromlo Running Festival, Damsel and Sprout and Hands Across Canberra, organised the Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run around Lake Burley Griffin. Hands Across Canberra provided communications support, medal designs and 20+ volunteers to support the event. A total of 700 runners came out in support and proceeds of the event amounted to $5,000 and supported the Appeal. HAC hopes to grow this event in years to come.
“It has always been the ambition that the whole Canberra Day celebrations include a range of activations which cement the Canberra Day Appeal into the fabric of the city, from businesses holding events through the year intended to boost their support of the appeal; to charities creating awareness as to how the benefits of the appeal are embedded in their budgets allowing them to do even more great work with our most vulnerable. The Fun Run introduced us to 700 new ambassadors who all contributed and hopefully will be back again next year. We also had over 20 wonderful and cheerful volunteers who are new advocates for Hands Across Canberra. “ – Peter Gordon, former CEO of Hands Across Canberra
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