Baking for brain health - the power of giving together

This June, Workplace Giving Month is encouraging Australians to Double Your Impact - highlighting the power of matched giving and the incredible difference small acts of generosity can make.

At UNSW, staff already have a unique opportunity to do exactly that through the University’s Workplace Giving program, where donations to UNSW causes are matched dollar-for-dollar by the University.

One staff member showing just how meaningful workplace giving can be is Jessica Chak from the Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy team.

A passionate baker, Jess created an incredible range of homemade treats for colleagues, running a bake sale to raise funds for a cause close to her heart. In her first fundraising initiative of this kind, Jess chose to support the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), helping advance vital dementia and brain ageing research at UNSW.

Thanks to the enthusiasm - and appetites - of colleagues across the University, Jess raised an impressive $530.

“Seeing people come together over something as simple as baking was incredibly rewarding,” Jess said. “It felt great knowing the funds would support research making a real difference in people’s lives.”

According to UNSW Chief Advancement Officer Lindsay Robinson, Workplace Giving Month is an important reminder that collective generosity can create lasting impact.

“Matched giving is one of the most effective ways staff can support causes they care about because every donation immediately goes twice as far,” Lindsay said. “What’s especially powerful about workplace giving is that it enables people to contribute in a way that’s simple, sustainable and connected to the UNSW community.”

The impact of supporting dementia research has never been more important. Dementia is now the leading cause of death for Australians and places an enormous emotional, social and economic burden on families, carers and the health system. With an ageing population and no cure currently available, investment in prevention, early intervention and better care is critical.

Through world-leading research, CHeBA is working to better understand how to prevent cognitive decline, delay the onset of dementia and improve quality of life for people living with the condition. Support from initiatives like Workplace Giving helps accelerate discoveries that could improve brain health outcomes for future generations.

CHeBA is one of many UNSW initiatives staff can support through Workplace Giving, alongside scholarships, Indigenous programs, student equity initiatives and groundbreaking research projects across the University.

Jess’s story is a reminder that giving can take many forms. For some staff, it’s donating a few dollars each fortnight through payroll giving. For others, it’s rallying colleagues around a creative fundraising idea, whether that’s a bake sale, morning tea, trivia event or team challenge.

Importantly, regular payroll donations to UNSW causes are matched by the University, doubling the impact of every contribution. Even small donations can quickly add up to meaningful support for students, researchers and programs making a difference in our communities.

For dementia research in particular, every contribution helps support efforts to reduce risk, improve diagnosis and develop better support and care for the hundreds of thousands of Australians affected by dementia today - and the many more expected in the decades ahead.

The UNSW Workplace Giving program enables staff to make pre-tax donations directly from their salary, making giving simple and impactful.

This Workplace Giving Month, why not join colleagues like Jess and help double your impact?

Whether it’s a regular fortnightly gift or a creative community fundraiser, every contribution helps shape a brighter future for UNSW and beyond.

To learn more about Workplace Giving and the UNSW Gift Matching scheme, visit: UNSW Staff Giving