About us...
Alcoa Point Henry recognised there were synergies between their very successful ‘Making the Link’ Program and the BacLinks Program. Both shared a commitment to building a stronger local community through in-kind support business contributions such as employee volunteering, donations of goods and cash, sponsorship, as well as pro bono professional services and a sharing of skills and resources.
They both recognised that contributions from the business sector not only helped meet local community need but also provided significant personal and professional benefits for the employees involved.
The “Making the Link’ Program, along with the Alcoa Bravo! and ACTION initiatives, work toward creating volunteers for life and encourage employees to volunteer in both work and personal hours.
Portland Aluminium Operations Manager, Mr John Osbourne, when based at the Point Henry Smelter, saw how the Alcoa 'Making the Link' initiative and the BacLinks Program worked well together to achieve great outcomes in the Geelong region.
When he made the move to Portland he recognised that a similar union would be beneficial in the Portland community.
BacLinks Portland began operations in 2005 with the seed funding for its setup provided by the Alcoa Foundation.
Since then the partnership between Portland Aluminium and BacLinks has proved very successful in meeting various community needs. One project has been undertaken every month since its inception, engaging Portland Aluminium employees in environmental, social and labour support volunteer roles in projects that have involved renovations and handy man services, gardening, environmental restoration works, and social support. A number of these, as well as other projects, have involved contributions from other local businesses, forging mutually beneficial partnerships and further developing on the strengths of the local community.
In 2009 BacLinks Portland initiated the 130 Community Link Network to provide an opportunity for bringing the community together on a regular basis, as well as strengthening and expanding existing associations between business and community in the region.