Another year done and dusted, and a new one just begun. For the MAX Solutions team, 2018 marks significant changes and plenty of new beginnings.

2017 Highlights

Christmas Campaign

The 2017 Christmas Campaign ‘My Country. My Christmas.’ ran from October – December 2017 and not only helped 16,318 people find meaningful employment, but donated over $98,000 to local Indigenous charities. The below outlines some of the regions who performed outstandingly throughout the campaign:

NSW

In Sydney’s South West $4,728 was raised for Souths Cares who work extensively with the Indigenous Community of South Sydney and acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, elders past and present and the importance of young people as the future of the community.

QLD

Fitzroy and Mackay raised $5,616 for their chosen charity, the Gumbi Gumbi Drug and Alcohol Awareness Rehabilitation Centre which focuses on culturally appropriate services with residential and non-residential programs available for clients.

VIC/TAS

Providing information and referral services, charitable support and health and well being programs to the Aboriginal community, Willum Warrain received $4,800 from the South Eastern Melbourne and Peninsula region.

WA/SA/NT

Through the incredibly vast region of the Great Southern Wheatbelt, Espereance, Kalgoorlie and South West WA $5,610 was raised for the Breakaway Aboriginal Corporation, a peer support mentoring program coming alongside those going through drug, alcohol and dependency issues.

Indigenous Art Exhibition

This year, the annual MAX Solutions Indigenous Art Exhibition ‘Pathways’ highlighted works created by Indigenous Australians affected by the justice system. Over 22 works were presented in NSW parliament from The Torch Indigenous Arts Program VIC, Borallon Training and Correctional Centre Healing through the Arts QLD and Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison WA.

MAX Foundation

The MAX Foundation supports organisations and programs that promote personal growth and self-sufficiency through improved health and community development and is funded by charitable gifts from the employees of MAX Solutions and supplemented by grants from the Company. In 2017 MAX Foundation donated $47,000 to 14 regional charities including Balunu Foundation, Canberra City Care and Foodbank SA.

What does 2018 hold?

The start of a new year is a time of reflection for many, and a time when we think about how we can do things differently. It could be exercising more, taking more time for your family and friends or finally breaking that bad habit. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can’t stick to these resolutions. And we become disheartened. But creating a new lifestyle or changing a mentality doesn’t happen overnight. It takes practice and patience.

With any new change, there will be stumbles. But you don’t have to wait until next year to start again. Every interaction with others is a chance to be more patient, more mindful, and increase understanding.

From the whole team at MAX we wish you a very happy new year, may it be your best yet.

Image caption: Queensland General Manager Sam Brown presenting MAX Foundation cheque to CEO of Brisbane Youth Service Annemaree Callender with North Brisbane Regional Manager David Avery.