Sydney Airport is committed to supporting our local community through purposeful partnerships, sponsorships, engagement and meaningful initiatives.
SYD School Tours
Sydney Airport’s free SYD School Tours give local public primary school students a behind-the-scenes look at one of Australia’s busiest and most important pieces of infrastructure. Since launching in 2024, the program has combined hands-on learning with real-world insights into aviation, sustainability and airport operations. The tours help Year 5 and 6 students better understand how the airport works while introducing them to the people, careers and opportunities that keep Sydney connected to the world. The airport also provides complementary buses to and from school.
Taronga Habitat Positive
We are proud to be the first partner in Taronga’s Habitat Positive initiative, a 10-year program restoring over 3,000 hectares of Box Gum Woodlands, critical habitat for koalas and other threatened species. This collaboration combines Taronga’s conservation expertise with Sydney Airport’s commitment to sustainability - aiming to protect iconic Australian wildlife, generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) and help the airport achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030 (scope 1&2).
SIMS seagrass restoration
We have a five-year partnership with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) to help restore seagrass meadows in Botany Bay (Gamay). The project will support hands-on restoration, scientific research and community and school education sessions. With a $576,000 investment from Sydney Airport, the team from SIMS will be working with experts from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the Gamay Rangers to help bring seagrass back to areas where it has declined over time.
Seabin
Sydney Airport has partnered with environmental technology leader Seabin™ to tackle plastic pollution in waterways surrounding the airport. Seabin uses advanced technology to capture and analyse litter, providing data-driven insights to reduce pollution and improve waterway health. Sydney Airport volunteers and Seabin™ scientists dedicate time in the Ocean Health Lab to sort, count and categorise the waste.
Gujaga Foundation
Sydney Airport works closely with the Gujaga Foundation to bring the culture and language of the Dharawal People of Coastal Sydney, the Traditional Custodians, into our terminals and precinct. Since our partnership began in 2018, Gujaga has also provided ongoing guidance on our Reconciliation Action Plan, delivered workshops and training for our people and have played a key part in major celebrations and events across the airport.
Wildflower
The Wildflower team began working at the airport in 2022 planting more than 12,000 natives in our T1 international terminal forecourt. Wildflower is a First Nations led social enterprise that specialises in premium sustainable horticulture, landscape and ecology services while providing meaningful work for young people. The Wildflower team continue to care for the gardens, are undertaking a long-term bush regeneration project at the airport wetlands and take a leading role in teaching local primary students about On Country land management and the uses of native plants as part of our popular school tours.
Community funding through councils
We work with local councils on delivering multi-million-dollar initiatives and projects that benefit local residents living in communities near the airport.
In 2018, Bayside Council and Sydney Airport established the Community and Environment Projects Reserve Fund, which will fund a variety of community and environmentally focused projects over the next 10 years. A major upgrade to Botany Aquatic Centre is the first major project to benefit from the partnership. We also committed over a $1 million in funding to create a pump track at Sir Joseph Banks Park.
In 2024, the Inner West Council and Sydney Airport established a Community, Environmental and Sustainability Projects Fund, which will support projects and initiatives that benefit inner west local residents and also improve environmental or sustainability outcomes.
Sydney Airport has also partnered with Inner West Council to deliver the Community Water Safety program, giving eligible children the chance to learn swimming as a vital life skill, completely free.
Raise Foundation
Since 2020, Sydney Airport has partnered with the Raise Foundation, and our staff have volunteered as mentors to high school students in our local community. Young people who are mentored through this program have lower levels of depression, higher sense of wellbeing, know where to go for support and are more likely to find employment.
Bayside Women's Shelter
Sydney Airport proudly supports Bayside Women’s Shelter through ongoing donations and community initiatives, including helping to fund the launch of the Jacaranda Women's Hub in Pagewood. This welcoming space provides women and families who have experienced adversity with access to practical programs and trauma-informed support services, helping build a stronger, safer community.
Cook Community Awards
Sydney Airport proudly sponsors the Cook Community Awards, celebrating individuals and groups making a positive difference in the local area. These awards highlight our shared values of leadership, sustainability and community spirit.
Cronulla Life Saving Club
Sydney Airport’s three-year sponsorship of Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club strengthens community safety and celebrates coastal culture. Our support helps fund lifesaving programs and the iconic Shark Island Swim, ensuring volunteers have the resources to keep beaches safe for locals and visitors alike
Rotary
Sydney Airport and Rotary have forged a strong relationship through various fundraising initiatives at the airport since the 1960s. Botany, Marrickville, Randwick and Mosman Rotary clubs collect donations from 11 collection bins across our terminals to directly fund local and international community organisations and causes.
University of NSW
The SYD100 scholarship, announced as part of the airport’s centenary celebrations in 2019, sees one full scholarship awarded every year for the next one hundred years at the University of NSW (UNSW). It covers tuition and accommodation for a UNSW student to complete a Bachelor of Aviation Management or a double degree of Bachelor of Aviation Management and Commerce.The scholarship focuses on bringing more diversity to the next generation of aviation leaders.