In the small township of Rocky Gully, the local Country Women’s Association (CWA) House has become a hub for the community. Thanks to a $9,839 grant through Telstra’s Connected Communities Program, the volunteer-run Rocky Gully CWA has transformed this vital space with new digital tools, making it easier for residents to connect with services, training and each other, no matter the distance.
The Country Women’s Association of Western Australia is dedicated to improving the wellbeing of people living in regional and remote areas, and the Rocky Gully branch plays a particularly critical role. After the town hall was removed more than a decade ago, the CWA House became the only communal meeting space in town, hosting local services, events and celebrations.
Rocky Gully is home to around 100 residents spread across a wide geographic area. This makes face-to-face meetings, training, community planning and emergency preparedness challenging. With limited digital infrastructure, the community was also struggling to sustain a gradual increase in families moving to the region in recent years.
FRRR funding enabled the CWA to purchase and install a suite of modern digital equipment, including a large interactive multipurpose screen, a video-conferencing compatible laptop, portable microphones and a camera, along with professional advice on how to use the technology effectively. Together, these tools have significantly improved the digital capabilities of the CWA House and the people who use it.
Today, the space can host online community and CWA meetings, workshops, emergency planning and training sessions. It can also host digital health consultations such as child health nursing and early childhood development services. The branch is also planning a calendar of community workshops, with residents keen to build their digital literacy so they can make the most of the new technology.
The upgraded meeting space is more versatile and welcoming, attracting additional local groups to use the CWA House and access the equipment freely. As awareness grows, a wide range of community members, including young mothers, older residents, farm workers, migrants and First Nations people are benefiting from greater access to education, information and skill-building opportunities.
Community feedback has been excellent, with members saying access to the technology has increased their confidence to plan ahead and host events locally.
“Rocky Gully CWA members are so grateful to FRRR and Telstra Group Limited for their grants offered and their easy communications… it really does make big changes for rural communities.”
This project demonstrates how improved digital access can reduce the impacts of isolation, strengthen social and civic participation and help create more liveable rural communities. Telstra’s Connected Communities program returns for another round soon, with applications opening Tuesday 24 February, 2026.