Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
FRRR and ANZ have awarded $250,000 in grants to 20 community groups and not-for-profit organisations through the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program.
The program, which is now in its 21st year, provides grants to community groups across remote, rural and regional Australia. The awarded funds will support projects that improve access to housing, financial wellbeing, and environmental sustainability.
ANZ General Manager, Strategic Delivery, Jenefer Stewart said: “During the past 21 years, Seeds of Renewal has helped more than 800 communities in remote and regional Australia to thrive, while promoting community vibrancy and sustainability.
“The program is something we are really proud of and it was very pleasing to see a diverse mix of applications, all with strong alignment to the four focus areas; environmental sustainability, financial wellbeing, housing access and projects that assist local communities to thrive.”
FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton said “Many Australians are presently facing uncertainty and environmental, financial, housing or wellbeing concerns. For people living outside of metro regions, practical support is harder to access and sustainable solutions require both committed funds and local people with the capacity to lead the change.
“Across remote, rural and regional Australia, local organisations continue to show up for their communities, to help address the critical needs of locals that would otherwise likely be unmet.
“Through partnerships such as this one with ANZ, we can support local organisations to fill these gaps. For example, in Bairnsdale, Victoria, the community’s Recycling Enterprise is building local capacity to recycle. With their $10,000 grant, the Enterprise will purchase the machinery needed to process polystyrene and promote waste reduction practices across the region,” Ms Egleton said.
Since 2003, ANZ Seeds of Renewal has awarded $5.75 million to more than 800 community groups for approximately 900 projects. Some examples of the projects funded this year include:
Improving access to housing:
- Office AU Limited, Wilya Janta: Making Bricks on Country, Tennant Creek, NT – Enhance local housing and employment opportunities through supporting a community house build designed for the Tennant Creek climate using locally produced bricks. $15,000.
Improving environmental sustainability:
- ReForest Now Limited, Expansion of the ReForest Now Nursery, Mullumbimby, NSW – Build organisational capacity to increase rainforest regeneration, engage local community in environmental sustainability, and create new local employment opportunities via the expansion of native plant nursery operations. $10,000.
- Trillion Trees Australia Inc., Healing West Australia’s Wheatbelt – One Tree at a Time, Westdale, WA – Restore Indigenous plants and shrubs to regenerate cleared landscape to benefit the environment and the local community with volunteer planting of 20,000 saplings. $14,400.
Improving Financial Wellbeing:
- South West Community Foundation, Financial Know-how in the Digital World, Warrnambool, VIC – Improve financial literacy to reduce vulnerability to digital fraud and increase money management skills through local workshops in South West Victorian communities. $15,000.
Assisting local communities to thrive:
- Warialda Cultural Community Centre Craft Shop, Building Capacity and Helping Volunteers, Warialda, NSW – Enhance community facilities and volunteer safety at the Warialda Cultural Community Centre Craft Shop with kitchen equipment, chairs, tables, a shade tent, and security cameras. $14,932.
- PCYC Innisfail Braking the Cycle (BTC), Innisfail, QLD – A learner driver mentoring program that empowers young people facing barriers to undertake the mandatory 100 hours of supervised driving required to obtain their licence. $15,000.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
| Abbeyfield Australia Limited | Upgrading and Replacing the Flooring at Abbeyfield Narrabri House Improve community housing facilities with an upgrade and replacement of flooring. | Narrabri | $15,000 | |||
| Boys to the Bush Ltd | Money and Sense: Financial Literacy Education at Boys to the Bush Build organisational capacity to support developing financial literacy for Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people through dedicated training of all staff at Boys to the Bush. | Albury | $14,960 | |||
| OZ Green-Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (Australia) Incorporated | Rethink Waste Coffs Harbour Support waste reduction at major events in Coffs Harbour by funding education material promoted by volunteers onsite. | Coffs Harbour | $1,092 | |||
Tenterfield Tourism Working Group (Tenterfield Chamber of Tourism Industry & Business Incorporated) | Tenterfield Tourism & Volunteer Development Program Build the capacity of the new community-run Tenterfield Tourism activities through funding volunteer training, office equipment and signage for the new operations. | Tenterfield | $15,000 | |||
| Warialda Cultural Community Centre Craft Shop | Building Capacity and Helping Volunteers Enhance community facilities and volunteer safety at the Warialda Cultural Community Centre Craft Shop with kitchen equipment, chairs, tables, a shade tent and security cameras. | Warialda | $14,932 | |||
| ReForest Now Limited | Expansion of the ReForest Now Nursery Build organisational capacity to increase rainforest regeneration, engage local community in environmental sustainability and create new local employment opportunities via the expansion of their native plant nursery operations. | Mullumbimby | $10,000 | |||
| Lions Club of Pambula-Merimbula Incorporated | Multi-generational Inclusive Recreation Area (MIRA) – Stage 1 Concept Design Enhance community outcomes in Tura Beach for multi-generations through supporting a concept design to create an inclusive community site in a currently neglected community space. | Tura Beach | $11,646 | |||
| NORTHERN TERRITORY | ||||||
| Office AU Limited | Wilya Janta: Making Bricks on Country Enhance local housing and employment opportunities through supporting a community house build designed for the Tennant Creek climate using locally produced bricks. | Tennant Creek | $15,000 | |||
| The Trustee for Karrkad-Kanjdji Trust | Mimal LiDAR Scanning and Training Program Develop the capability of local Indigenous rangers by contributing to the purchase of a survey kit and equipment to monitor herbivores' habitats for species conservation. | Bulman Weemol | $15,000 | |||
| QUEENSLAND | ||||||
| Weipa Community Care Assn Inc | Financial Counselling Education, Budgeting and Debt Support Build lifelong financial literacy skills for vulnerable community members through a program of financial counselling and life skills training at the Weipa Community Care Centre. | Weipa | $10,000 | |||
PCYC Innisfail (Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association) | PCYC Innisfail Braking the Cycle (BTC) Support young people to obtain their licence by matching young drivers with volunteer mentors to complete the supervised hours driving requirement. | Innisfail | $15,000 | |||
| Towers Players Inc | Sound Equipment for the Future Build the capacity of the local theatre facility with a new sound system to support local connection, events and provide a shared resource for community activity. | Charters Towers | $4,500 | |||
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Ozfish Unlimited Limited | Fishers for Fish Habitat – Growing Waterway Stewardship Improve environmental outcomes for waterways through engagement and training of local community volunteers to participate in seagrass seeding habitat restoration projects. | Goolwa | $11,350 | |||
| The Trustee for Nature Glenelg Trust | Natives are Good in Gardens Too! Improve biodiversity in Mount Gambier through establishing 1,000 local native plants with staff and volunteers in high profile public spaces / gardens to promote the benefits of growing native plants for local biodiversity and increase awareness and educate the local community on native propagation. | Mount Gambier | $12,120 | |||
| VICTORIA | ||||||
| The Growing Abundance Project Inc | A Year of Abundance Build community resilience to improve food security and reduce food waste through a series of events to share food and educate on local food systems, production and preserving. | Castlemaine | $15,000 | |||
| South West Community Foundation | Financial Know-How in the Digital World Improve financial literacy to reduce vulnerability to digital fraud and increase money management skills through local workshops in South West Victorian communities. | Warrnambool | $15,000 | |||
| Bairnsdale Recycling Enterprise Inc | BREI Polystyrene Recycling Project Build community capacity to recycle by purchasing machinery to process polystyrene and activate waste reduction practices with local councils. | Bairnsdale | $10,000 | |||
| WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation Limited | Healthy Country, Healthy Community: Developing the Next Generation of Martu Caretakers Preserve local Martu lore and knowledge of Country through funding camping equipment, food and the appropriate clothing for participation in an Indigenous Youth Ranger Program learning from Elders. | Wiluna | $15,000 | |||
| Trillion Trees Australia Inc | Healing West Australia's Wheatbelt – One Tree at a Time Restore Indigenous plants and shrubs to regenerate cleared landscape in WA to benefit the environment and the local community with a volunteer planting of 20,000 saplings. | Westdale | $14,400 | |||
| The Country Women's Association of Western Australia Inc | Darkan CWA Building Restoration Project Build the capacity of the Darkan CWA by restoring their hall facility to benefit the organisation and the community with a functional meeting space and local evacuation centre. | Darkan | $15,000 | |||
Applications are now open for the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program, with grants of up to $15,000 available for not-for-profit organisations in remote, rural and regional areas to support the ongoing prosperity of regional Australia.
The program, which is now in its 21st year, is administered by FRRR, and has provided more than $5.5 million to more than 800 community groups for approximately 900 projects to help build vibrant and sustainable communities.
This year, the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program is again offering a share of $250,000 to community organisations in remote, rural or regional locations for projects aligned to four focus areas:
- Environmental sustainability: initiatives that restore and conserve the natural environment or which contribute to lower carbon emissions, water stewardship and waste minimisation;
- Financial wellbeing: particularly for under-represented and disadvantaged people in the community, including initiatives that improve economic participation. For example, building financial literacy and vocational skills and providing access to meaningful work;
- Housing access: initiatives and programs that support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness or that provide supports for people living with disability; or
- Projects that assist local communities to thrive: by either enabling vibrant communities where everyone can participate and build a better life, or creating sustainable communities that help deliver demonstrable medium to long term economic sustainability.
ANZ General Manager Business Banking Jenefer Stewart said: “ANZ is committed to enhancing the wellbeing and prosperity of the communities where our people live and work, and where our business operates. One way we do this is by reinvesting in communities through programs like Seeds of Renewal. This year we are proud to once again contribute to the long-term growth and sustainability of small rural communities,” Ms Stewart said.
FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said: “In the current financial environment, we know there is a heightened need to support and strengthen the sustainability of rural Australia. We believe local leaders and community groups are best placed to identify and address the environmental, financial and housing concerns in their region, and to know first-hand what their communities need to thrive. Programs like ANZ Seeds of Renewal mean we can support these types of meaningful and community-led projects that promote the sustainability and liveability of remote, rural and regional Australia. We look forward to seeing what projects local groups put forward this year,” Ms Egleton said.
Last year, ANZ and FRRR provided grants to 20 community groups for projects including preserving Anbinik Rainforests through Indigenous Fire Management in Arnhem Land, NT; building capability and confidence by providing practical financial literacy skills and awareness training to women in East Gippsland, Victoria; providing fit out of accommodation to support women at risk of domestic violence and homelessness in remote WA; and delivering key skills training to increase the employability of young people in agriculture in Crookwell, NSW.
Applications open on 12 July and close 5pm AEST, 10 August 2023.
A grantseeker workshop will be held online from 1 – 2pm AEST, on Wednesday 19 July, 2023.
For more information about ANZ Seeds of Renewal, or to apply for a grant visit: https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/anz-seeds-of-renewal/.
In the last 12 years, the beloved community garden in Devonport, Tasmania has become a hub for local residents, where they come together for a range of activities. The garden is very popular among volunteers, seniors and the elderly, schools and people with disabilities in the community. For these groups in particular, the Community Garden is a place to socialise, grow and harvest local produce and get some fresh air.
Devonport Community House (DCH) has overseen the care and maintenance of the garden and surrounding areas since 1938. When they noticed the deteriorating condition of the wooden sleepers containing each of the more than 30 garden beds, they knew it was time for an upgrade.
With a $10,909 donation by the Thyne Reid Foundation, the DCH were able to purchase “ewood” sleepers to replace the rotten wooden sleepers. The ewood sleepers are more durable and are made of recycled plastic that will ensure at least 50 years of garden bed life, making them a sustainable investment for the Community Garden.
The process of replacing the wooden sleepers took only a few weeks and has helped to give new life to the Community Garden that has already given so much to the residents of Devonport. These improvements have not only increased the longevity of the garden but have also increased food security for the 20-50 people a week who access the garden through FoodShed, a food distribution organisation that helps farmers make profit.
In the 12 years that the garden has been operational, DCH has been able to see the joy it has given many of the residents. With the long life expectancy of the ewood sleepers, the success and activity around the garden looks set to continue long into the future.
Applications are now open for ANZ’s Seeds of Renewal program, with grants of up to $15,000 available for not-for-profit organisations in remote, rural and regional areas to support the ongoing prosperity of regional Australia.
Established in 2003 and administered by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), the program has provided more than $5 million to more than 800 community groups to support local projects and help build vibrant and sustainable rural and regional communities.
In 2021, the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program is offering a share of $250,000 to community organisations in remote, rural or regional locations for projects that improve:
- Environmental sustainability: initiatives that restore and conserve the natural environment or which contribute to lower carbon emissions, water stewardship and waste minimisation
- Financial wellbeing: particularly for under-represented and disadvantaged people in the community, including initiatives that improve economic participation. For example, building financial literacy and vocational skills and providing access to meaningful work
- Housing access: initiatives and programs that support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness or that provide supports for people living with disability
ANZ General Manager Business Banking Jenefer Stewart said: “The ANZ Seeds of Renewal program has been providing grants to regional and rural Australia for nearly 20 years. Each year I look forward to seeing the difference the grants are able to make in these communities, many of which find it difficult to access the resources they need to grow, develop and prosper,” Ms Stewart said.
Last year, ANZ and FRRR provided grants to 26 community groups for projects including regenerating bushfire affected land in Kangaroo Island, crisis accommodation for at risk indigenous communities in Gunnedah and supporting the economic empowerment of refugees placed in Bendigo. These were some of the projects that shared in $250,000 cash, and a further $18,000 in IT equipment provided by ANZ’s technology partner Lenovo.
FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said: “With the cumulative impacts of drought, fires, floods and COVID-19, raising funds locally is extremely challenging in smaller communities, so access to grants is more important than ever. We encourage community groups to consider the funding opportunity that Seeds of Renewal can provide to address local issues such as improving the facilities that are available locally. This aligns with the Housing access theme that seeks to enable people to live well in place, particularly people with a disability” Ms Egleton said.
Applications open on 8 July and close 5pm AEST, 11 August 2021.
