Below is a summary of how we distribute the wealth we create.  Further details on our financial performance for the year can be found in our 2018 Annual Report.  1. Calculated as percentage of net profits including discontinued operations and excluding the following significant items (pre-tax): $931m of impairments, write-offs and store closure provisions in Bunnings United Kingdom and Ireland (BUKI); a $375m loss on disposal of BUKI; $306m of non-cash impairments in Target; and a $120m gain on disposal of Curragh.

Directly and through support from our customers and team members, our community contributions were nearly $150 million.  Reflecting the Group's divisional autonomy, our approach to community engagement is driven and managed by our businesses to ensure that contributions are made in ways that best fit with their operations and geographic spread. Wesfarmers has a local footprint in many communities. Many of our divisions have major, long-term partnerships at a national level, such as the enduring partnership between Kmart and The Salvation Army through the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, or Coles’ relationship with national food relief charity SecondBite. In addition to these major partnerships, a significant part of our community investment is directed to smaller, not-for-profit organisations operating locally. For example, Bunnings has supported thousands of local community groups throughout the year by participating in activities such as fundraising sausage sizzles, hands-on projects, community workshops and product contributions. Our retail businesses all support local community groups through the provision of gift cards, products or facilitating the collection of customer donations for local fundraising initiatives. As a result of these locally driven activities, there are a significant number of community groups and programs who have received the support of our businesses across a wide range of areas. The Coles Nurture Fund launched in April 2015 is continuing to provide $50 million in grants and interest-free loans over five years to businesses in the food and grocery sector to help fund the development of new products, technologies and processes. So far the Nurture Fund has supported cutting-edge projects, from the development of chickpea tofu and early-season blueberries to the installation of cloud technology and automation equipment, with more innovation to come.

In addition to the millions of dollars invested in community programs by our various businesses, Wesfarmers also supports a number of organisations philanthropically. The Wesfarmers Board approves partnerships focused on five areas: medical research and health; Indigenous programs, particularly targeting education and employment outcomes; education initiatives; community programs; and the Wesfarmers Arts program. In 2018, approximately $9 million was contributed to our partners, the majority of which are long-term commitments with West Australian-based organisations. This year marked the start of our renewed contract with Telethon Kids Institute, with an increased funding contribution from Wesfarmers to $1.5 million per annum. Wesfarmers has had a long partnership with Telethon Kids, most recently through the establishment of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases. We have supported The Clontarf Foundation since 2001 to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects for young Indigenous men using football as a foundation. In 2015, we increased our financial contribution to assist the Foundation’s national expansion. A number of our businesses are also engaged with Clontarf across Australia. Read more about our Indigenous programs here. In 2018, Wesfarmers continued to be a major partner with Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Australian Alzheimers Research Foundation, Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience, the Graham Farmer Foundation, Reconciliation WA, Teach for Australia, WA Parks Foundation, Surf Life Saving WA, the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Mission Australia,  and Leadership WA.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art curatorial team of the National Gallery of Australia.  Left to right:  Curators Kelli Cole and Tina Baum, with Senior Curator, Franchesca Cubillo. Wesfarmers has supported the arts in Australia for more than three decades. Our engagement in the cultural life of the community embraces our long-term support for a wide range of premier performing and visual arts organisations and the ongoing development of The Wesfarmers Collection of Australian Art. From rare watercolours of the earliest years of European settlement, to the art of today across painting, photography, sculpture and digital media, The Wesfarmers Collection reflects the diversity of creative Australia through the work of our country’s defining artists. During the year, we shared works from our collection with museums and galleries throughout Australia and online via Instagram, Facebook and the Wesfarmers Art Collection app, available free from the Appstore here. In 2018 the Wesfarmers Arts sponsorship program provided $3.3 million in support of the activities of 14 leading arts organisations, including the National Gallery of Australia, Perth Festival, Art Gallery of Western Australia, West Australian Ballet, West Australian Opera, West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO), Black Swan Theatre Company, Co3 Contemporary Dance, Awesome Children’s Festival, Form Contemporary Craft and Design, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, through the nationally touring ACO Collective, as well as the Western Australian tours of Bell Shakespeare Company and Musica Viva Australia.  A highlight of our Indigenous arts engagement is the commitment we make to respecting and supporting Indigenous culture through our relationships with the National Gallery of Australia and new partner, Yirra Yaakin Aboriginal Theatre. Wesfarmers Arts was the Presenting Partner of the National Gallery of Australia's Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial. This landmark exhibition brought the works of 30 contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country into the national spotlight.  In 2018, we celebrated milestone 20-year anniversaries with two of our long standing national arts partners: Bell Shakespeare Company and Musica Viva Australia and two Western Australian flagship arts companies: WASO and West Australian Opera.  New research into international models of arts philanthropy has identified Wesfarmers’ partnership with WASO to be the most long standing, ongoing relationship between a corporate entity and an orchestra anywhere in the world. The depth and longevity of our partnerships in the arts received recognition in July 2017, with Wesfarmers Arts announced as the winner of two Western Australian State Arts Partnership Honours and an award for Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility in the 2017 AIM Pinnacle Awards.