ANZ Seeds of Renewal grants $250,000 to rural and regional communities

Media releases: 12 November 2024

FRRR and ANZ have awarded $250,000 in grants to 22 community groups and not-for-profit organisations through the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program.

PlusCommunity Limited, in Orange, NSW, will use their Seeds of Renewal grant to repurpose the Wirree Crisis Refuge laundry space

Now in its 22nd year, the program provides grants to community groups across remote, rural and regional Australia. The awarded funds will support projects that align with one of four key areas: improving access to housing; increasing financial wellbeing; advancing environmental sustainability; or helping communities to thrive.

ANZ Head of Agribusiness, Mark Bennett said, “For over two decades, Seeds of Renewal has provided more than $6 million to approximately 930 projects, helping around 870 communities in remote and regional Australia build their resilience, sustainability and vibrancy.

“We are proud to provide funding for a diverse mix of projects that will support lasting economic and social growth for rural communities. These targeted and well-informed grants allow local organisations to implement initiatives that will have a meaningful impact and ensure the ongoing prosperity of regional Australia.”

FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton said, “Across remote, rural and regional Australia, not-for-profit organisations play a vital role in helping address the critical environmental, financial, housing or wellbeing needs of their communities.

“Through partnerships, such as our longstanding association with ANZ, we can support and fund these groups to lead local initiatives and continue to strive for, and celebrate, the liveability, sustainability and vibrancy of Australia’s remote, rural and regional communities,” Ms Egleton said.

Some examples of the projects funded this year include:

Improving access to housing:

  • Gnowangerup Community Resource Centre on behalf of GNP360 Co-operative Ltd, Universal Access for Gnowangerup Accommodation and Family Hotel Precinct, Gnowangerup, WA – Redesign and construct an all-abilities-access entrance and provide correctly-designed toilet facilities at the 100-year-old Gnowangerup Hotel. $15,000.
  • PlusCommunity Limited, Wirree Crisis Refuge Laundry Upgrade, Orange, NSW – Repurpose the existing laundry space at Wirree Crisis Refuge, allowing people sleeping rough to access private, free, and safe laundry, shower and bathroom facilities. $15,000.

Improving environmental sustainability:

  • Dalby Family Support Association Inc, Increasing Sustainability, Reducing Footprint, Dalby, QLD – Install solar panels in the office building to increase organisational sustainability and decrease electrical expenses, releasing funds to benefit the local community. $15,000.
  • Trentham Sustainability Group Inc, Energy Resilient Trentham, Trentham, VIC – Construct an energy resilience hub, so that key businesses and residences in the Trentham township have electricity during extreme weather events. $15,000.

Improving Financial Wellbeing:

  • Mooghalin Performing Arts Incorporation on behalf of Kids Get Money Pty Ltd, Increasing Financial Literacy in the Brewarrina Shire, Goodooga, NSW – Deliver a school holiday financial literacy program for First Nations children and families in Brewarrina Shire, teaching skills that will directly improve financial wellbeing. $15,000.
  • Oceania Indigenous House of Ecommerce Limited, Oceania DigitalX Pathways Workshop, Kununurra, WA – Provide women from the Kimberley region with digital literacy and entrepreneurship skills to enable informed business decisions and enhance economic participation. $6,500.

Assisting local communities to thrive:

  • Great Lake Community Centre Inc, Renewing Comfort: Empowering Our Community Hall with Smart, Sustainable Heating, Miena, TAS – Replace the more than 20 year-old heating systems, increasing capacity to open the meeting hall throughout the sub-Alpine winter months for community activities and special events. $15,000.
  • Price Progress Association Incorporated, Price Community Club Shed Upgrade, Price, SA – Upgrade existing facilities into an inclusive and accessible community hub that will cater for multi-purpose use and benefit the wider Price community. $15,000.

The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.

OrganisationProjectLocationGrant
NEW SOUTH WALES
Coonamble Local Aboriginal Land CouncilKinship Clean
Enhance community environments and connection with volunteer-run clean up events addressing rubbish removal cost barriers.
Coonamble$12,000
First Steps Count IncorporatedGrow In Our Community
Support community to thrive with a therapeutic community garden for social connectedness and learning about environmental sustainability.
Taree$9,966
Mooghalin Performing Arts Incorporation on behalf of Kids Get Money Pty Ltd Increasing Financial Literacy in the Brewarrina Shire
Develop financial literacy across three Indigenous communities in remote NSW by supporting a program to build core financial knowledge.
Goodooga$15,000
Percolab Coop LtdInverell Listening Festival
Support a community to thrive with a Listening Festival to strengthen connections, vibrancy and sense of community in Inverell.
Inverell$14,200
PlusCommunity LimitedWirree Crisis Refuge Laundry Upgrade Project
Upgrade community facilities to ensure a clean and functional space that supports the alleviation of homelessness in a regional community.
Orange$15,000
Regional Counselling LimitedRedefine Your Future
Enhance financial wellbeing of young adults by delivering workshops focussed on improving financial literacy, management and independence.
Bathurst$15,000
QUEENSLAND
Better Together Community Support IncBetter Together Community Garden
Strengthen community ties with a community garden project to foster learning and promote long-term health.
Atherton$6,816
Dalby Family Support Assn IncIncreasing Sustainability, Reducing Footprint
Build community sustainability with solar panels to enable local family support to afford greater opportunities.
Dalby$15,000
Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare AssociationPCYC South Burnett Community Development Officer
Engage and support young people by employing a development officer to program regular activities and provide structure and support for the organisation.
Murgon$10,000
Weeroona Association IncAccessible Community Day Centre Facility
Enhance facilities for people with a disability with an accessible community day centre facility.
Gympie$10,000
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Generations in Jazz IncPurchase of Landscape Equipment - Commercial Zero Turn Mower
Build community capacity with a ride-on mower to maintain grounds at a local facility and festival site.
OB flat$14,300
Price Progress Association IncorporatedPrice Community Club Shed Upgrade
Boost community sustainability and vibrancy by upgrading facilities to ensure volunteer safety and event functionality.
Price$15,000
TASMANIA
Great Lake Community Centre IncRenewing Comfort: Empowering Our Community Hall with Smart, Sustainable Heating
Support development of a community hub and improve visitor comfort by purchasing heating systems.
Miena$15,000
Lower Barrington Community Hall IncWelcoming Community Kitchen Revitalisation Project
Enhance the community's social wellbeing and lessen isolation by helping with the kitchen renovation project.
Lower Barrington$5,000
VICTORIA
Kaiela Institute LimitedDungala-Kaiela Indigenous Business Project
Improve sustainability of First Nations organisations and lift community aspirations by delivering financial training.
Shepparton$15,000
Omeo Community Hall and Hub CoM IncDigitalising Omeo Hall for the Future
Improve community connections and create digital opportunities by upgrading technology at a community centre.
Omeo$10,000
Orbost Exhibition Centre on the Snowyriver IncpARTicipate - A Better, More Accessible and Financially Sustainable Centre for Creative Arts and Venue Hire in East Gippsland
Improve accessibility and sustainability of a centre for creative arts and community events by upgrading infrastructure.
Orbost$10,000
Ovens Landcare Network IncCommon Myna Action in North East Victoria
Protect natural environment and support local organisations to proactively manage pest numbers within the local area.
Wangaratta$3,193
Trentham Sustainability Group IncorporatedEnergy Resilient Trentham – A Community Climate Resilience and Adaptation Project
Boost community preparedness for extreme weather events by supporting development of a business plan to establish an energy resilience hub.
Trentham$15,000
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Doors Wide Open IncFirst Aid Training
Support volunteers by delivering first aid training so they can safely provide medical support to community members accessing the organisation's critical services.
Bunbury$3,025
Gnowangerup Community Resource Centre on behalf of GNP360 Co-operative Ltd Universal Access for Gnowangerup Accommodation and Family Hotel Precinct
Improve all-abilities access to a community facility that supports wellbeing and connection amongst community members.
Gnowangerup$15,000
Oceania Indigenous House of Ecommerce LimitedOceania DigitalX Pathways Workshop
Empower Indigenous women through training to build digital literacy and entrepreneurial skills.
Kununurra$6,500