Now in its seventh year, the Officeworks Make a Difference Appeal raises money and awareness for charities and special organisations around Australia. Each June, we invite our customers to make a donation of any amount, both in-store and online, which could be tax-deductible. 

In 2024, the Officeworks Make a Difference Appeal will be raising funds for local children's health, education and environmental organisations right across the country. We’re supporting 16 incredible organisations that promote inclusion and enable children to learn, create and connect for a sustainable future:

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Together, we can help make a positive difference and change the lives of children in our local communities. Here, we talk to some of the organisations set to benefit from the campaign. 

CaringKids, New South Wales

A young girl sitting cross-legged on a bright green carpet holding a doll of Mirabella from the movie ‘Encanto’. She is surrounded by CaringKids cardboard boxes filled with toys.

CaringKids is on a mission to bring more joy into the lives of young carers. “Young carers are children who provide care for a family member living with a disability or chronic illness,” says CEO Margaret Skagias. “[They] take on adult responsibilities at a young age and many feel like they miss out on their childhood. They can experience social isolation and financial hardship [and] need our support and recognition.” This is where CaringsKids’ Joy Boxes come in.

“Based on a profile supplied of each young carer, we assemble a box of different items such as games, toys, school stationery, books, sporting equipment, a soft toy, and art and craft items. Each Joy Box is personalised to each young carer, put together by our volunteers with a lot of love and care.”

CaringKids helped 509 young carers in 2023 and is hoping to increase its reach and support more kids across the country in 2024. “Our success is driven by how many young carers we can reach and bring joy to,” says Margaret. “Year on year we have increased the number of Joy Boxes sent. There are more than 235,000 young carers across Australia. We have a long way to go but we are committed to recognising their contribution. 

“Our inclusion in the Make a Difference Campaign allows us to spread awareness of our charity by highlighting the work of CaringKids and what we do. We find that once we explain our mission for young carers a lot of people realise they know a young carer.”

SEE ALSO: How Officeworks’ Tree Planting Is Restoring the Environment

Stationery Aid, Queensland

Four high-school students standing in front of black and red plastic boxes that are labelled and filled with stationery items sorted by Stationery Aid. 

Stationery Aid strives to support local communities and environments by finding homes for second-hand and unused education resources and stationery. The organisation was born when founders Jan and Alison Schutt struggled to find a new home for some “perfectly good” stationery that was headed to landfill. “After finding no organisation to take used and unused excess school stationery, [we] founded the non-profit organisation in 2020,” says Alison.

They’ve since made a monumental difference; from saving 60 tonnes of stationery and educational items from ending up in landfill to supplying resources to over 1500 students across 85 schools in Queensland. And they’re just getting started. 

“Our data indicates that annually, there are approximately 96,000 Queensland school students experiencing poverty and disadvantage, requiring some form of assistance with educational resources. Our future plans are to grow our organisation to achieve maximum nationwide impact with positive environmental, social and educational outcomes for our children and communities,” says Alison.

Through their partnership with Officeworks’ Make a Difference Appeal, Jan and Alison hope to support more students nationwide. “The funds may also give us an opportunity to build our relationships and partnerships with organisations in rural, regional and remote communities of Australia to assist disadvantaged school students that need it most in these areas,” says Alison.

Backpacks 4 VIC Kids, Victoria

A from-behind view of two children wearing backpacks, walking side by side in a schoolyard setting. They are smiling and looking towards each other. 

Backpacks 4 VIC Kids has been offering resources to children in foster or kinship care since its inception in 2014. The charity’s central goal is to offer comfort to kids feeling displaced by donating backpacks filled with everything they need to feel more at home, such as toiletries, clothing and toys.

“Since inception, Backpacks 4 VIC Kids has consistently increased our capacity and our impact year on year delivering more aid and changing more lives,” says founder Sally Beard. “We continue to grow and thereby support more babies, children and youth in crisis, and we aim to meet 65 per cent of the identified need by 2026 (we’re currently delivering to about 47 per cent of the children entering new out-of-home care placements). 

“Our operational goal for the coming financial year is to deliver 3300 My Essentials Packs to children experiencing displacement and relocation or protection services. This is our core program and the primary reason we exist.

“Being chosen as a charity partner with Officeworks for the Make a Difference Appeal is an incredible milestone for Backpacks 4 VIC Kids. This partnership opens many possibilities for us to expand our impact and reach even more children in need across Victoria. It is not just about the immediate support and resources this collaboration provides; it’s also about the long-term potential to create lasting change and awareness for our cause. With Officeworks’ support, we can continue our mission, spreading hope, comfort and joy to even more vulnerable children and families in our community.”

SEE ALSO: Electronic Recycling: Everything You Need to Know

Waalitj Foundation, Western Australia

Three First Nations teens who have received support and mentoring through the Waalitj Foundation. They are wearing AFL team singlets and standing together on a football field.

Based in Western Australia, the Waalitj Foundation provides education, employment and business opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Since its start in 2001, the Foundation has supported more than 40,000 First Nations people across Australia. 

One of the Waalitj Foundation’s many successful programs is Deadly Sista Girlz, which supports the education of young female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. 

“The Foundation identified there were programs for First Nations boys, however, there was a gap in support tailored to First Nations girls and supporting them through education,” says Josie Janz-Dawson, General Manager of Education at the Waalitj Foundation. “Empowered First Nations women are the heartbeat of our community, leading the charge to improve our mob's health and education opportunities.

“Through Deadly Sista Girlz, students from all year levels in high school take part in a specialised empowerment and educational curriculum designed specifically for First Nations girls. Activities include in-school sessions, sports carnivals, health programs and art activities, all focused on empowering young Indigenous students to make informed choices about their education and wellbeing, while maintaining a connection to culture and identity. Our hopes for the girls we are supporting is that they reach their year 12 attainment and go on to further study or employment.”

How to Make a Difference

By taking part in this Appeal, you’ll positively impact the lives of children in communities across the country. To find out more about all 16 organisations being supported, and to make a donation to one or more of your choice, visit Officeworks Make a Difference Appeal.

Because, together, we can truly make a positive difference. 

This article was originally published in 2023 and has since been updated.