Giving back to the community

CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences' community contributions are manifested in many ways, some significant, some subtle, by the organisation as a whole and by individual staff members. They include:

Support of Foodbank Australia
CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences is pleased to provide office space for Foodbank Australia, a non-denominational not-for-profit company which seeks and facilitates donations of food and grocery products for distribution to welfare agencies via its state branches.

Winner of community business awards
CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences' Werribee site is a three-time finalist and two-time winner at the annual Wyndham Business Awards in Victoria. These local community awards are presented in recognition of business innovation, business excellence and good corporate citizenship.

Provision of free consumer information
CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences regularly responds to public enquiries on healthy diets and safe handling practises, and provides a series of fact sheets to frequently asked questions via its public website.

Support of charities and public welfare associations
Staff members regularly organise and participate in site-based charity events, assisting well-know organisations such as The Cancer Council, the Smith Family and the Leukaemia Foundation. In the past, CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences has also used charity donations as an incentive for consumers to provide information about themselves for market research purposes. For example, CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences made a $2 donation to charity for questionnaires returned with ideas about the future of food-related innovation.

Student supervision and work experience
CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences understands the importance of mentoring young and upcoming scientists and food innovators for the future. This is why we regularly welcome students into the workplace, both from within Australia and around the world. Many of these relationships have been very successful, leading to long-term appointments either within CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences or with an associated partner organisation.