Co-Curricular Activities > Social Responsibility Program > Oaktree

The Oaktree Foundation is a national organisation which was established in 2003 by Hugh Evans (2004 Young Australian of the Year).

Hugh lived and worked in the rural valley communities of the Kwazulu-Natal province in South Africa. Here he witnessed immense poverty and on returning to Australia he joined with a group of passionate young people to establish an organisation.

This organisation would aim to combat some of the inequalities that he witnessed, and so the Oaktree was born. St Margaret’s became a seed group member of the Oaktree Foundation in 2006 initiated by Senior, Phillipa Thompson.

It is through this organisation and in accordance with the values, ideals and mission of the Sisters of The Society of the Sacred Advent, St Margaret’s aims to empower developing communities on a local, national and international level.

This will be achieved through a membership program, by which students participate in workshops, fundraising activities and community service projects.

The Oaktree Foundation works on three key areas:

Local Community

It is our belief that that a ‘hands on approach’ helps students learn valuable skills and builds character that will last a lifetime.

National Community

By providing support to our own country's needs we can keep the community aware of the issues closer to home which are often forgotten.

International Community

The Oaktree Foundation will continue to support St Anne’s through providing funding for the ‘SMILE’ literacy program which aims to develop literacy skills of Year 5 students from the province of Kwazulu-Natal. The Oaktree Foundation will also raise funds for its national body, specifically focusing on the ‘One Day’ campaign which designates September 1 as the national fundraising day.