Social contribution

In 2024, we continued regular engagement with a variety of local stakeholders including First Nations communities, government representatives, community partners, industry and local suppliers and contractors. We also participated in forums hosted by community and non-government organisations.

We held quarterly Community Liaison Group meetings in Karratha. Operational and project updates were provided and key topics discussed and indicators monitored during the year included: housing and accommodation, local content efforts, environment plans and approvals, social impact management and social investment programs.

We co-hosted three Energy Industry Exmouth Community Liaison Group meetings in 2024. This forum provides an opportunity for community members to provide feedback on activities and discuss issues of common interest or concern. Key topics discussed at the meetings included: environment plans, operator activity updates and community partnerships.

There is an ongoing focus on stakeholder consultation with Australian coastal communities to build awareness of Woodside’s activities for which the company is seeking environment plan approvals.

Recommendations from the 2023 Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) for Karratha, Roebourne, Exmouth and Onslow continue to be implemented, including the establishment of a new Karratha community newsletter and increased presence at community events to share community updates and information about our activities.

In 2024, we continued implementation of the North West Social Investment Strategy. The commitment by Woodside and its joint venture participants to spend up to A$65 million includes new opportunities as well as extending current partnerships. Investment areas include support for areas of need in the regional towns, including education, youth, sporting clubs and not-for-profit organisations.

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In 2024 we announced Woodside’s social investment commitment in Louisiana through to the end of 2025, reinforcing our commitment to supporting the region and our local host communities. The investment funds five community grant programs and enables initiatives supporting a broad range of needs across communities in the Greater Bayou area, including environmental preservation, coastal protection, education, workforce development and capacity building. Woodside also provided emergency funding in response to Hurricane Beryl. In 2025 we plan to provide additional community funding for the Lake Charles area supporting education, first responders and local community organisations around Louisiana LNG.

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Stakeholder engagement continues to be a priority to support the Trion Project during the development phase. As we progress with the execution of the first ultradeep-water approved project in Mexico, community liaison meetings were held quarterly in Tamaulipas with social investment partners and local government stakeholders. This includes engagements with key national cabinet members and the Governor of Tamaulipas. Key topics discussed included project updates, community priorities and social investment initiatives. These engagements are part of our ongoing commitment to stakeholder engagement.

During 2024, we delivered the first year of the Social Impact Management Plan endorsed by the Ministry of Energy for Trion's development phase. The social investment programs being implemented in the region are focused on three key pillars: education, economic diversification and social wellbeing. In 2024 we worked with Teach 4 Mexico to support teacher training and improve teaching effectiveness in classrooms.

We developed scholarship programs in partnership with Tec of Monterrey to support female leaders of Tamaulipas who want to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees . We are also partnering with Cáritas de Tampico to deliver meals for those most in need in the communities south of Tamaulipas. This program also provides medical support and medicines for older and more vulnerable community members.

Woodside has also established a program of support to enhance economic opportunity for local fishers. This program has established three experimental oyster farms to assist with economic diversification. Also, in seeking to build and create strong relationships with the communities where we operate, we sponsored the local soccer team Jaiba Brava of Tampico for the next three years. Our community partnership initiatives seek to improve the health, education and wellbeing of the places where we live and work, as well as continue raising awareness of Woodside’s activities.

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In 2024, community engagement was undertaken in keeping with the company’s values, in support of the continued safe operation of the shallow water Angostura asset, and also in support of the safe execution of Woodside’s fourth annual offshore geological and geophysical survey of the potential deepwater Calypso Project. To inform our work and ensure we understand community expectations, we undertook a Community Perception Survey, that was finalised in December 2024. Crime was noted as the top concern, with stakeholders also expressing concerns about lack of mentorship, educational programs, skills training and insufficient job opportunities.

As part of social investment in community, we focused our support on: education, including safety, environment programs and entrepreneurial and skill building programs. Education programs including the ARROW schools educational program, safety at sea training, defensive driving training and first aid training. Environmental programs included turtle protection, conservation and agricultural aquaphonics through Turtle Village Trust and Coral Reef Restoration Program. Additionally, our entrepreneurial and skills building programs featured projects such as the Mayaro Movement Skills Training (La Savanne), ERIC Smoked Fish and Sustainable Fisheries Programme, and Safety at Sea Boat Engine Repair Programme.

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Our approach prioritises engagement with fishing communities and enhancing safety standards through regional information sessions and community initiatives, courtesy visits to engage with local authorities, and field visits to assess the effectiveness of our programs. These engagements have provided valuable insights and visibility into our community efforts, enabling direct feedback from community members.

Our social investment initiatives in 2024 were delivered across three key regions in Senegal: Dakar, Thiès and Fatick. In Fatick, our investment focuses on building community resilience in the Saloum Delta through ecosystem restoration, conservation efforts. In Dakar and Thiès, the emphasis is on improving the living environment and promoting sustainable waste management at fishing docks and within households. The aim is to enhance the capacities and socio-economic empowerment of women in the fishing sector through programs that support diversification of their activities and improve access to services, including financial services.

A highlight in 2024 was a collaboration event with PanAfricare, bringing together all program beneficiaries to showcase the impact of our work within the community.

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In 2024, Woodside continued to engage relevant stakeholders on our proposed new energy projects in the Asia-Pacific and United States regions. These engagements have provided an opportunity for stakeholders to learn about our proposed projects and share feedback as we mature project concepts and seek regulatory approvals.

Woodside completed social scans and impact assessments to better understand our host communities, and identify impacts and opportunities associated with our proposed New Energy projects. Findings are anticipated to inform future social performance activities, including stakeholder engagement, local content activities and social investment.