Media releases: 16 April 2025
Providing targeted support in Colac, Maryborough and Swan Hill
Work in the three Victorian communities partnering with FRRR on the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) Victoria program – Colac, Maryborough and Swan Hill – will soon be getting underway.
Designed to build the capacity of not-for-profit (NFP) organisations and strengthen the community sector, FRRR’s IRCF program starts by bringing together local community groups.
At the one-day workshops in each area, representatives from local NFPs will work together to identify their strengths, their shared vision for their community and agree priorities to make the groups stronger and more sustainable. The output of each session will be a roadmap, which will guide future grants, workshops and planning processes. The roadmap will become a living resource that will evolve throughout the five-year program.
The program’s ultimate aim is to enable the local NFP sector to work collectively, so it can more effectively advocate on shared issues, contribute to a thriving community and achieve long-term impact.
IRCF Victoria Program Manager, Jo Kemp, said the roadmap process will draw out local knowledge and insights, which are critical to lay the foundations for the future.
“Local leaders, staff and volunteers are best placed to identify and share what will make a meaningful difference in their community. That’s why we want to see as many groups represented as possible come along and help answer the question “What can we achieve together in Colac, Maryborough and Swan Hill?,” Ms Kemp said.
“Each workshop will consider the question through the lenses of the four key capacity building pillars of FRRR’s IRCF program – strategy, people, systems and efficiencies.
“We know that building a network, sharing ideas and tackling challenges together will reveal so many opportunities for learning and growth as a community. I’m really excited to be co-facilitating the workshops and getting a deeper understanding of how our program can best support our Victorian partner communities.
“So, it would be great to see as many people as possible from a variety of local groups and organisations come along. You will be helping to ensure the IRCF program best meets the local priorities of the community and shape a shared vision for the future,” she said.
The three Community Roadmap Workshops will be held from 12 – 15 May. Those wishing to attend can register online.
Who should attend?
Staff, committee members and volunteers from NFP organisations and community groups in each place, as well as other interested stakeholders such as local Council, business chamber and First Nations organisations. Representatives from smaller nearby towns are also encouraged to attend.
FRRR’s IRCF program is made possible in Victoria through the generous support of four philanthropic organisations – Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Jack Brockhoff Foundation, The Ross Trust and William Buckland Foundation.
