South Australia Launches Week to Inspire Giving

When Kay Burton launched South Australia's first Giving Week, she had one simple message: everyone has something to give.

The Adelaide philanthropist founded the May 4-8 event to bring together charities, businesses, and everyday South Australians around a shared mission of generosity. She's backed by heavy hitters including mining billionaire Andrew Forrest's Minderoo Foundation, South Australian businessman Geoff Day, and the Nunn Dimos Foundation.

Burton wants people to think beyond just writing checks. "Giving takes many different forms," she told InDaily, introducing her "three t's": time, talent, and treasure.

The week features 17 free events designed for everyone from business leaders to people just exploring how they can help. Topics range from volunteering strategies to collective giving approaches that pool resources for bigger impact.

Kathryn House, who chairs Impact 100 SA and presents at Friday's collective giving session, points to a powerful example. "At the Zoo, we have more volunteers than staff," she said. "Without volunteers, we couldn't exist."

The timing couldn't be more urgent. New figures from OzHarvest reveal that 69 percent of South Australian food charities report increasing demand, while two-thirds don't have enough food to meet it.

The need is hitting families never before in crisis. Nearly one-third of people seeking food relief in South Australia are first-timers, including mortgage holders and double-income households.

Children now represent one of the largest groups accessing food aid as living costs squeeze Australian families. One in five people seeking help are being turned away because charities simply don't have enough resources.

"For the first time in OzHarvest's history, our waitlist is longer than the list of charities we can currently reach," said CEO James Goth.

The Ripple Effect

This is where Burton's vision matters most. When more South Australians discover their capacity to give (whether that's serving meals, sharing professional skills, or donating funds), the support network grows stronger.

House found this herself: "Giving gave me a sense of purpose. People do that because they really care about the kind of society they want to live in."

The initiative recognizes that building community resilience takes all forms of contribution working together.

SA Giving Week proves that even in challenging times, the solution starts with neighbors helping neighbors.