In partnership with the Sally Foundation and ABC, FRRR has awarded $40,000 in grants to nine youth-led community projects in remote, rural and regional Australia to support initiatives driving change.
The ABC Trailblazers program provides leadership and personal development opportunities, as well as national exposure and the chance to broaden their networks, to young people who are driving change in remote, rural or regional Australia. Those who become part of the program also become eligible to apply for funding to help them take their project ideas to the next level, build their skills, networks or boost their capacity to strengthen their community.
This year’s recipients’ projects involve increasing accessibility for young people, improving mental health and wellbeing support networks, and conservation work.
FRRR’s Youth Futures Manager, Lauren Ryan, said these grants from the Sally Foundation Trailblazers Development Fund contribute to a network of support for young leaders and innovators and help them to increase the sustainability of their projects.
“There are so many inspirational young people working hard to make a difference in their communities and we are grateful to the Sally Foundation for partnering with us to help them bring their ideas to life.
“It’s wonderful to see just how far some of these young leaders have come. For example, one of this year’s projects, We Are Not Alone, was conceived and developed at a Heywire Regional Youth Summit in 2023 and piloted using a Heywire grant. They are now using the Trailblazer support to formalise a not-for-profit organisation, so that We Are Not Alone can continue into the future.
“This program also provides more than just grants, as the Trailblazer assessment panel is also made up of Trailblazer Alumni. Not only do they make funding recommendations, but they provide tailored feedback and suggestions for the applicants, using their learnings and experiences from when they received their grant.”
The Sally Foundation partners with FRRR through a Giving Sub-Fund, which helps to ensure that their funding reaches groups and young people in all corners of the country.
Co-founder of the Sally Foundation, Geraldine Roche, says this program is all about supporting young people to live up to their potential.
“They have the ideas and the passion to do incredible things – they just need some help making it happen. Whether it’s financial or through mentoring, this program is about supporting young people to lead projects that will enhance our communities and help young people to thrive in them.
“We are thrilled to be part of the origin story of so many incredible young people across rural Australia, giving their projects a kickstart to ensure that they can continue to create impact.”
Applications for the 2026 ABC Trailblazers program are currently open. To find out more and apply, visit abc.net.au/trailblazers.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
| Ability Agriculture Foundation Limited | Ability Agriculture Online Peer Support Program Deliver online peer support sessions to build resilience, boost mental health, and strengthen inclusion for people with disability in agriculture, their supporters and farm accident survivors. | Kempsey | $3,000 | |||
| Sonder Youth Ltd | 4 Me 4 You Equip young people with mental health resources and peer support tools to foster resilience, reduce stigma and create more compassionate communities. | Nowra | $5,500 | |||
| NORTHERN TERRITORY | ||||||
| Vibrant Diverse Cultures Inc | VISION for Impact Develop a custom CRM system to streamline program delivery and position the organisation to deliver enhanced services to strengthen community impact. | Palmerston | $4,000 | |||
| QUEENSLAND | ||||||
| Perseverance Street Theatre Company Limited | Pirates, Cowboys and Aliens - A Regional Queensland Tour Deliver a regionally made theatre production combining storytelling and animation to celebrate imagination and foster creativity and connection across four Queensland communities. | Bundaberg | $2,391 | |||
| We Are Not Alone | Our Accessible Future: Building "We Are Not Alone's" Youth Capacity Build a strong, sustainable foundation for We Are Not Alone by investing in training, governance, and digital storytelling to amplify the voices and leadership of young people with disability in regional Australia. | Toowoomba | $5,109 | |||
| TASMANIA | ||||||
| Prevention United | Winter Challenge TAS Activate regional communities through an inclusive winter event combining multisport challenges and family-friendly fun to boost physical activity, mental wellbeing and social connection. | Orford | $7,500 | |||
| THEIRS Inc | THEIRS: From Big Things, Bigger Things Grow! Strengthen THEIRS’ organisational capacity and program delivery through research, financial advice, professional branding and equipment to direct the organisations efforts for their mental health supports and build long-term community impact. | Smithton | $5,000 | |||
| VICTORIA | ||||||
| Now I Can Run Inc | Social Vision for Young Adults Develop a community of 18-30 year olds who are blind or have low vision to discuss issues and enhance independence, mental health and community engagement through events, podcasts, and professional support. | Ballarat | $3,000 | |||
| The Wattle Fellowship at the University of Melbourne | Bolstering Bees: from the Burbs to the Bush Inspire regional youth by delivering hands-on pollinator workshops that combine conservation and storytelling through the production of Bee Hotels. | Nathalia | $4,500 | |||