Qatar Airways is continuing its partnership with not-for-profit organisation StreetSmart Australia, announcing that it has extended its local donation efforts throughout winter. As part of the collaboration, the airline has launched a nation-wide winter donation drive to support communities in need, donating thousands of amenity kits, sleepsuits and blankets.
The expanded donation drive has seen Qatar Airways work closely with StreetSmart Australia to connect with local organisations in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, with 17 charities in total receiving support. The charities cover a range of services for communities in need, including homelessness support, youth and women’s services, and support for Indigenous communities.
Qatar Airways’ Vice President Australasia & North Asia, Mr. Thomas Scruby, said: “We are honoured to be working with StreetSmart Australia to provide support to local charities doing vital work in our communities. The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing challenge for charities around the country, and we know that they face increased demand and strain on resources during the winter months. Through this initiative, we want to take the opportunity to provide additional comfort and warmth to those in need, and hope to play a small part in supporting the critical work of these local organisations.”
Qatar Airways has donated 2,500 Business Class pyjamas, 2,500 amenity kits and 2,500 blankets as part of this donation drive. The airline first partnered with StreetSmart earlier this year, marking its first local charitable partnership in Australia. Qatar Airways’ overall donation efforts alongside StreetSmart so far have seen 26 charities being supported, with 12,000 pieces of material aid being donated. Each charity has received a mixture of the blankets, pyjamas and amenity kits from the airline, to help them continue assisting communities in need.
StreetSmart Australia, CEO, Geoff Hills, said: “The pandemic highlighted the critical role the community sector plays in supporting the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable, so we are very fortunate and thankful for the amazing material aid support from Qatar, providing the high quality comforts to very vulnerable Australians during a very tough time”.
With the goal of ending homelessness around Australia, StreetSmart is focused on supporting the work of smaller, community-based organisations and projects that provide critical frontline services. Since launching in 2003, the charity has supported over 785 organisations distributing more than $8 million through community grants, SleepSafe kits and meals.
One charity partner based in Perth, Indigo Junction, provides frontline support to people experiencing homelessness. Sharon Gough, CEO at Indigo Junction said:
“Due to the rise in demand for our services, we’ve been relying on donations, both from individuals in the community and corporate partners, since COVID-19 began. We’ve noticed a significant increase in the volume of people requiring homelessness support, and we know this is being reflected across the sector. Generous donations such as those from Qatar Airways have been essential to help bridge the gap in resources.”
The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations. With more frequencies being added to key hubs, Qatar Airways offers unrivalled connectivity to passengers, making it easy for them to change their travel dates or destination as required.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ in the latest World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. The airline’s hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), was recently recognised as the ‘Best Airport in the World 2021’, ranking at number one in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2021.
In addition to this, Qatar Airways has become the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax. This follows the success of Hamad International Airport (HIA) as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. These awards provide assurance to passengers across the world that the airline’s health and safety standards are subject to the highest possible standards of professional, independent scrutiny and assessment. For full details of all the measures that have been implemented on board and at HIA, please visit qatarairways.com/safety.
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