Bupa Asia Pacific Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Roger Sharp, said a big part of Bupa’s mission of helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world is increasing access preventative health care for vulnerable people.

“We’re extremely proud that we can support The Big Issue vendors across Australia by providing flu vaccination vouchers to help them stay healthy during the colder winter months when the flu is most prevalent.

“The Big Issue does amazing work in help people going through challenging times with employment and livelihood opportunities and this is just one small way we can lend support,” Roger said.

This support comes amidst concerns from the Government about declining uptake of influenza vaccines among all cohorts, with children, the elderly and First Nations people amongst the most vulnerable^[2].  

CEO of The Big Issue Steven Persson said the program continues to be valuable for those living on the margins.

“The Big Issue vendors work rain, hail or shine, so keeping them safe and healthy while on the street is one of our biggest priorities. People who experience homelessness and marginalisation may not have access to health resources such as vaccinations, so we are grateful that initiatives like this from Bupa can continue to reduce this barrier and make staying well during the flu season easier.”

Since 1996, The Big Issue has enabled over 7,500 vendors around Australia earn a meaningful income, build their confidence and connect with their community through selling the magazine with over $40 million collectively earned by vendors to date.

Bupa urges Australians to support The Big Issue vendors by buying a copy of the magazine if they can, and to book their own flu vaccination at their local GP or pharmacy to protect themselves and their loved ones from the flu.

For more information about The Big Issue visit here.

^{[1] NSW's flu season is on track to arrive early. But who's at risk, and should we be concerned? - ABC News
[2] RACGP - Be prepared for flu season 2025}

Bupa’s Customer & Brand Director Matt Prowse said that expanding access to sport at a grass roots level would help remove some of the barriers for participation.

“Sport is a cornerstone of Australian culture, but access isn’t equal for everyone, particularly for those with a disability. The work done by Disability Sports Australia to remove those barriers to make it easier for people to get involved, as well as making it fun, has created pathways and greater awareness to ensure no one is left behind,” Mr Prowse said.

“The partnership between DSA and Bupa is now in its third year and we are so proud of the work we have done together to not only increase the number of people with a disability participating in sport, but also raise awareness around the importance of grassroots sporting communities. Sport supports physical and mental wellbeing, and you never know, we might even help discover the next elite para-athlete.”

DSA’s CEO, Ayden Shaw, shared his enthusiasm and gratitude about the ongoing partnership that continues to grow and achieve impactful outcomes.

“Sport has the power to transform lives—and everyone should have the chance to experience that. Through our continued partnership with Bupa, we’re breaking down barriers so more Australians with a disability can be active in ways that are meaningful to them,” Mr Shaw said.

“From come-and-try days to lifelong participation, we’re creating real opportunities to connect, thrive, and belong. Together, we’re helping more people get their start in sport, and supporting communities to become more inclusive, welcoming, and active every day.”

The Abilities Unleashed program, now in its third year, has been key to raising awareness of local sport and recreational opportunities for people with disability. To date, DSA has delivered 104 events nationally, supporting more than 6,000 adults and children with disability to try new sports, develop skills, and connect with their communities.

The Accessibility Champions course was established in 2022 and is an online resource designed to help grassroots sporting clubs and leisure providers make their facilities and programs more accessible to people living with a disability. The increased support from Bupa will help expand the program to include in-person workshops in several states.

Disability Sports Australia is also supported by Paralympics Australia and other sports organisations who all share the same aim of increasing opportunities for participation while also raising awareness and education on how to make the world more accessible.

Abilities Unleashed events will continue across Australia from March to December and are open to individuals aged 10 and above. For more information or to register for an event near you, visit here. 

^{[1] ParaSport_Facts-final.pdf}

The Bupa Foundation’s Community Grants program will give selected charities access to up to $10,000 as part of an initiative that has provided more than $2 million to support communities across ANZ since 2019. 

Roger Sharp, Bupa Asia Pacific's Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer, said the program is designed to support community organisations in implementing practical health-focused initiatives that genuinely benefit local communities. 

"We know the impact that passionate grass-roots organisations can have on the wellbeing of people and local environments. That’s why supporting charities is a key part of Bupa’s sustainability strategy. 

“Partnering with the right people and institutions to make a meaningful impact is vital because we know we can’t do it alone,” Roger said. 

In 2024, the Bupa Foundation awarded close to $520,000AUD to a mix of 54 community groups across ANZ which were diverse in terms of their location and purpose, with all Australian States and Territories represented along with both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. These included Tough Guy Book Club, Conservation Council of WA and Dementia Wellington, 

"We look forward to following the progress of these organisations who continue to inspire us through their desire to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. We also hope the program encourages our own people to seek out ways to support these organisations through volunteering and workplace giving donations and be active in their own communities,” Roger said.   

Community organisations can apply for a grant here with applications closing Friday 6 June 2025. 

More information about the Bupa Foundation can be found here.

#BeYouAtBupa is a series of stories and inspiration from within Bupa Health Insurance, Bupa Aged Care, Bupa Dental, Bupa Optical and Bupa Therapy.

Read more from the #BeYouAtBupa series here. You'll also find our stories on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Children’s health charity Royal Far West and the health & care group Bupa will match dollar-for-dollar money raised by the community to fund the telecare services, providing up to $50,000 worth of specialist services to the Nambucca Valley community. The services will focus on areas of speech and language development, occupational therapy and mental health support.

According to the NSW Child Health Survey, 20% of children in NSW are vulnerable on one or more developmental needs and 21% have trouble accessing health services. In the Nambucca Valley, a major health screening program conducted by Royal Far West found that 81% of children required referral to a health service.

Brad Griffith, Principal of Macksville Public School and Chair of the community committee, urged local residents to learn more about the trial and to get involved in the exciting initiative.

“This project will bring great benefit to our kids here in the Nambucca Valley. What’s special about this project is that our community has a really significant role to play in making sure that our kids get the right support to improve their health, wellbeing and education outcomes.

“It will help break down the barriers for those families who are finding it difficult to access health and wellbeing services for their children. By adopting a community approach we can work together to ensure we give those children greater opportunity to meet their educational goals,” Mr Griffith said.

Local Mayor Rhonda Hoban, who is fully supportive of the pilot, said “We would love to see our community get behind this initiative. Nambucca is the first trial site and that’s something we can all be very proud of.”

Zoe Wainer, Clinical Operations Lead at Bupa, said: “This is a great opportunity to see how technology and community leadership could be combined to target specific, local health and care needs.

“We see so much potential in what Royal Far West is doing to help kids improve their long-term health, and are delighted to be able to lend our support."

Richard Colbran, Royal Far West Business Director said: “We are very proud of this model, where partners from many sectors come together to support the health and wellbeing of country kids.”

The trial is a pilot project model, which if successful, may be rolled out to other regional and rural communities across Australia.

Following the official project launch in Bowraville, Nambucca Valley residents held a community launch celebration and fundraising event in Macksville.

To find out more and to donate to the Nambucca Community Access Trial, visit: http://caringfornambuccavalleykids.gofundraise.com.au/