Roche Australia's Response to Australian Bush Fires

Sydney, 13 January 2020. Roche is pleased to announce a donation of AUD $250,000 to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. The donation is being made on behalf of all three Roche businesses - Roche Pharma, Roche Diagnostics and Roche Diabetes Care. Globally, Roche has had a long-standing relationship with the Red Cross and has supported the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for over 100 years.

The donation from Roche will support the Australian Red Cross emergency team who are providing support to thousands of people in evacuation and recovery centres across the country in the wake of these devastating fires.

The funds will be directed to assist those impacted by the bushfire disaster, including providing shelter, psychological first aid, information, emergency grants and practical support through the months and even years it may take to recover. Funding also provides Australian Red Cross volunteers with training, equipment and transport, as well as support for the coordination effort to ensure emergency teams are where the community needs them to be

“Roche employees in Australia and around the world have been shocked by the fires ravaging our country,” said Roche Pharma General Manager, Mr Stuart Knight. “As an organisation with such a long history in Australia, we want to make sure we are doing all we can to support the community.”

Along with the donation to the Red Cross, Roche’s bushfire response includes the following:

1. Matching employee donations from the beginning of December, with funds to be distributed to relevant agencies supporting the relief efforts. Roche employees have supported a wide range of charities, including those that support the ‘firies’, communities and wildlife. 

2. Supporting employees in affected areas with risk assessments; emergency disaster leave; emergency accommodation; emergency equipment; recovery health assessments for employees and their immediate households.

3. Leave for those who wish to volunteer with emergency and other services.

4. Counselling services available to all employees.

“The bushfires we are currently facing have devastated communities across the country. Our thoughts are with all those affected and our heartfelt thanks goes out to the fire fighters and all emergency services for their incredible bravery, dedication and tireless efforts in protecting lives and homes. Through this disaster, we are seeing the true Spirit of Australia,” said Stuart.

Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.

Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.

Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. Thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the tenth consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as the most sustainable company in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2018 employed about 94,000 people worldwide. In 2018, Roche invested CHF 11 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 56.8 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit

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