Community partnerships
We strive to make a positive impact for our customers, the environment and all Victorians. With this vision in mind, MCEC partners with leading Australian charities who share our values of sustainability, inclusivity and unconventional thinking. Together, we innovate and create meaningful change.
Good Friday Appeal
Since 1931, the Good Friday Appeal (GFA) has raised money to help The Royal Children's Hospital provide children with world-leading care.
For 10 years, MCEC has supported the event by donating millions in venue hire, tech, catering, resources and volunteering time.
Victoria’s 93rd GFA at MCEC raised an incredible record-breaking $23 million for the hospital and welcomed over 94,000 visitors.
Our partners
Our partners
Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, OzHarvest delivers excess food to more than 1,300 charities in Australia.
MCEC is proud to be an ‘Awesome Partner’ of OzHarvest and has supported this incredible organisation since 2014 through food donations and workplace giving.
Since 2022, MCEC has provided a home for OzHarvest's Cooking for a Cause program in Melbourne and has donated up to $130,000 in resources and services.
Launch Housing offers housing, education and employment services to thousands of people across Melbourne. Their goal is to end homelessness and create lasting societal change for those who need it most in the community.
We have supported the community organisation since 2012 through financial donations, workplace giving and in-kind support.
And in 2018, we launched an employment program that offers casual work opportunities to Launch Housing's youth clients. The pilot has helped young people gain work experience while finishing their studies.
In 2019, MCEC introduced tap donation machines at our cafes; Goldfields Café + Bar and Shed Café.
Starlight's mission is to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families. Their annual Starlight Five Chefs Dinner raises vital funds to support these efforts.
Since 2012, we have been honoured to support the Starlight Children's Foundation event in Melbourne. MCEC donates over $200,000 annually in event space, food and beverages, technology, and marketing.
In 2023, the Five Chefs Dinner raised enough funds to support Starlight's hospital programs for over two months and grant 26 life-changing Starlight Wishes.
Our kitchen has proudly hosted many leading Victorian chefs who come together to create five-course degustation's for this special event. The dinner unites MCEC's kitchen with some of the country's top culinary leaders to collaborate for a very special cause.
Variety Australia, the Children's Charity, supports children and families facing challenges due to sickness, disadvantage, or special needs. As our longest-standing community partner, we proudly hold the Variety Top Hat Partner title.
Since 1997, we have partnered with Variety and hosted their annual Children's Christmas Party 25 times. This event welcomes over 5,000 children and their carers to our venue each year.
MCEC proudly donates to the event space, and hundreds of volunteers come together to create an inclusive day filled with fun and festivities.
The Yarra Riverkeeper Association advocates for the health of the Yarra/Birrarung, the river that runs past our venue.
Working with local communities, government and Traditional Owners, the non-for-profit, community-based organisation aims to restore biodiversity and cultural significance to the river.
MCEC is a proud Platypus Partner of the YRKA, supporting conservation efforts and providing engagement opportunities for our employees.
Together, we work to build stronger connections and a sustainable future for the Yarra/Birrarung.
The Banksia Foundation's National Banksia Sustainability Awards are Australia's most prestigious sustainability awards, celebrating innovative individuals and their contributions.
MCEC is proud to be the home of the National Banksia Sustainability Awards, hosting and sponsoring the event for the third year in 2024. Sponsoring the Circular Economy Award reaffirms our commitment to sustainability and our dedication to positively impacting our planet.
Our National Banksia Sustainability Awards sponsorship illustrates our ongoing efforts to create a sustainable future. We aim to continue leading by example, demonstrating that businesses can thrive while prioritising social and environmental responsibility.
MCEC's rooftop car park in Melbourne CBD has been transformed into a thriving urban oasis.
Melbourne Skyfarm sits atop the Siddeley Street rooftop car park, showcasing sustainable and regenerative farming, ethical food production, and captivating educational experiences.
In 2023, this innovative urban farm donated an impressive 837 kg (1,674 meals) of fresh produce to our food charity partner, OzHarvest, making a tangible difference in our community.
MCEC has partnered with Bright Sparqe to donate leftover and unwanted items to the local community.
Since joining the platform in mid-2020, we have donated over 11,000 items that would have otherwise gone to landfill.
Team building with purpose
We’re proud to provide a home for OzHarvest's Cooking for a Cause program - a truly unique team building experience.
Join OzHarvest chefs to rescue ingredients into gourmet meals that support vulnerable communities. All the while you’ll learn zero-waste cooking skills to take home.
The cost is $175 per person and it’s tax-deductible.
