Media releases: 6 December 2016
ANZ and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) have today announced that $275,000 in community grants and Lenovo IT equipment (9 laptops and 1 tablet) were awarded to 29 community groups from across regional Australia, as part of the 2016 ANZ Seeds of Renewal program.
Since being established in 2002, ANZ’s Seeds of Renewal program, which is administered by FRRR, has supported education and employment projects to help grow prosperous regional communities. In total, ANZ has now donated more than $4 million to 750 projects.
In 2016, more than 119 groups applied for grants, confirming the high level of need for education and employment initiatives in the bush.
ANZ General Manager Regional Business Banking, Christine Linden said: “By focusing on education and employment projects, these grants will help empower community members with the knowledge and skills that are essential to help grow a strong rural community.
“Every year, we are impressed by the innovation and desire that these local groups have for their community. They are all so enthusiastic about their town’s future, and how they can help it progress. This year’s applications, which included projects such as developing a local organic produce farm with community employment opportunities in Kings Canyon, NT and educational, cultural and ecological professional development for primary school teachers in Nowanup, WA hold these same values. We are thrilled to be able to help make these initiatives a reality,” she said.
FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said: “This year’s projects will fund valuable programs which assist the growth of sustainable rural and regional economies. The grants offered through this program can help ease the pressure of fund-raising, and ensure that our rural communities continue to thrive.”
Technology company Lenovo has also donated IT equipment, giving recipients the chance to apply for laptops or tablets instead of a cash grant.
ANZ will also be working with some applicants, including those who were not successful this year, to identify volunteering opportunities for local staff.
The full list of grant recipients is below.
|
ANZ Seeds of Renewal – 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Organisation |
Project |
Location |
Grant |
|
New South Wales | |||
|
Bonalbo & District Community Hall Assoc Inc |
Computer Literacy Basic Skills Base Gain computer skills and confidence for computer illiterate residents by providing technology mentoring and tutoring. |
Bonalbo |
$8,200 |
|
North West Plains Sustainability Group Inc |
People and Pastures for Prosperity Improve local understanding of modern grazing techniques and build resilience during drought conditions for 18 local family grazing businesses by running a 12 month Lifetime Ewe Management Course. |
Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri, Burren Junction, Cumborah, Come by Chance and Carinda |
$10,560 |
|
Singleton Council |
Growing Local Tourism Talent Strengthen the local economy and provide new opportunities and contacts by holding tourism information sessions, workshops and work placement programs for local community members wanting access into the industry. |
Scone, Muswellbrook, Singleton, Denman, Merriwa and Aberdeen |
$13,000 |
|
Coolamon Shire Council |
Big Dreams, Small Business Provide skills and training for local community members to discover new sources of income through the facilitation of free micro-business and events management workshops while strengthening the local economy. |
Coolamon |
$1,450 |
|
Playgroup Association of NSW Inc – Deniliquin Group |
Playgroup Employment Links Program Enable and provide playgroup volunteers with certification to seek paid employment. |
Deniliquin |
$12,790 |
|
Northern Territory | |||
|
Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation |
Hidden Valley Artists – Growing our Business Support social enterprise expansion to create further arts and culture self-employment opportunities for Aboriginal women by developing project management, design and leadership skills. |
Hidden Valley Town Camp |
$11,100 |
|
The Outback Spirit Foundation Inc |
Kings Canyon Bush Tomato Project Create local Aboriginal employment with unique connections to country and knowledge by improving infrastructure and expanding the Bushfoods Farm economic enterprise. |
Kings Canyon |
$15,000 |
|
Queensland | |||
|
Napranum PAL Group Ltd |
Reaching Out Through Innovation Enhance educational knowledge and access for local tutors, families and parents in remote areas by developing a training package. |
Napranum |
$5,800 |
|
New Life Community Services Ltd |
E-Hub Recycle Centre Provide new skills and potential employment for local community members through the purchase of a plastics granulator at the E-hub recycling Centre. |
Sarina |
$15,000 |
|
The Development Academy Inc |
Keystone Skills for Remote Leaders Boost employment and training opportunities for local Aboriginal Communities by training five local mentors in Certificate IV Leadership and Management. |
Camooweal |
$15,000 |
|
Toowoomba Clubhouse Assoc Inc |
Regional Communities Job Ready Initiative Improve skills, self-esteem, social connections and employment networks and prospects for jobseekers with mental illness or disability barriers through a four-week Job Ready Initiative. |
Oakey |
$9,032 |
|
South Australia | |||
|
Milang and District Community Assoc Inc |
Growing a Lakeside Garden Centre Improve business diversification of the community-based nursery in response to changing local needs and priorities, through planning and training activities. |
Milang |
$6,000 |
|
Limestone Coast Work Options Incorporated |
Keeping Them Home Increase employment opportunities and local care options for the elderly and disabled by supporting local community members to gain their Certificate III in Home & Community Services. |
Naracoorte |
$4,750 |
|
Tasmania | |||
|
Glenhaven Family Care Inc |
Employ-Me Experience Program Improve skills and knowledge for unemployed community members by delivering a training program to develop their capacity to find work and successfully engage with the workforce. |
Devonport |
$14,850 |
|
Victoria | |||
|
The Growing Abundance Project |
Greengage To build a viable local food system and a more resilient, connected and sustainable community, the Growing Abundance Project is establishing a social enterprise to generate income. |
Castlemaine |
$9,770 |
|
Bona Vista Primary School |
Bright Bots – Robotics and Code Club Supporting the local school students’ interest in science and technology through the purchase of electronic and robotics materials and equipment. |
Bona Vista |
$3,874 |
|
Heyfield Community Resource Centre Inc |
Ready Set Grow Boost skills and capacity for local community members who are not engaged in education, training or employment, by offering training in hospitality and horticulture to gain employment or undertake further study. |
Heyfield |
$9,720 |
|
Maffra & Districts Landcare Network |
Growing Resilient Farms, Farmers and Rural Communities Assist local farmers to build more resilient businesses through capacity building activities and workshops. |
Maffra |
$8,460 |
|
Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (A.C.R.E.) |
Leading the Way with Social Enterprise Enhance future economic participation and employment opportunities for local community members by providing an entrepreneurial skills development program for primary school students. |
Beechworth |
$15,000 |
|
Cohuna Neighbourhood House Incorporated |
Developing Skills For Dairy Kids Support school leavers to engage in the workforce and achieve a level of economic independence, by providing work-related training options. |
Cohuna |
$8,440 |
|
Stawell Neighbourhood House Inc |
Job Ready in Stawell Increase economic participation for disadvantaged community members by providing accredited employment training opportunities. |
Stawell |
$15,000 |
|
Western Australia | |||
|
Beverley Community Resource Centre Inc |
Customer Service and Local Knowledge Supports Small Town Economic Growth Build knowledge and awareness of local and regional attractions, and grow regional economic capability, by training volunteers at the visitor centre. |
Beverley |
$6,795 |
|
Gondwana Link Ltd |
Nowanup ‘Bush University’ Schools Program Support and increase student engagement, stewardship and understanding of local indigenous culture through the implementation of Noongar-informed educational, cultural and ecological professional development for primary school teachers. |
Nowanup |
$12,500 |
|
Kimberley Group Training |
Hospitality Program – Unlocking the potential of Future Stars Increase youth employment in the region by adopting culturally appropriate and nationally accredited pre-employment skills training for Indigenous youth in hospitality and tourism. |
Kununurra |
$13,000 |
|
Pemberton District High School P&C Assoc |
Paddock to Plate Strengthen future aquaponics employment opportunities and increase science, technology and maths learning though by adding aquaculture equipment to the school’s agricultural and kitchen garden program. |
Pemberton |
$15,000 |
|
South West Women’s Health & Information Centre |
Woman Made.com.au – South West Western Australia Create business opportunities for local producers of artisan products by training women in e-commerce sales via www.womanmade.com.au. |
Bunbury
|
$14,909 |
| Total: | $275,000 |
Lenovo Grant Recipients
|
Organisation |
Project |
Location |
Value of Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The World Incubator |
Charters Towers Entrepreneurs Program Laptops and tablets to support the delivery of entrepreneurial support, encouraging the diversification of the local economy. |
Charters Towers, QLD |
$7,097 |
|
True Trails Community Programs Assoc Inc |
Ride It! Laptops to increase organisational capacity to deliver educational programs supporting disadvantaged locals, particularly children and young people. |
Marion Bay, TAS |
$7,197 |
|
Gellibrand Community Group |
Biz Know How Laptops, enabling disadvantaged local residents to participate in small business training courses. |
Gellibrand, VIC |
$9,596 |
|
|
$23,890 |
