Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
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.
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.
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
| Coonamble Local Aboriginal Land Council | Kinship Clean Enhance community environments and connection with volunteer-run clean up events addressing rubbish removal cost barriers. | Coonamble | $12,000 | |||
| First Steps Count Incorporated | Grow 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 Ltd | Inverell 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 Limited | Wirree 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 Limited | Redefine 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 Inc | Better 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 Inc | Increasing 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 Association | PCYC 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 Inc | Accessible 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 Inc | Purchase 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 Incorporated | Price 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 Inc | Renewing 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 Inc | Welcoming 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 Limited | Dungala-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 Inc | Digitalising 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 Inc | pARTicipate - 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 Inc | Common 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 Incorporated | Energy 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 Inc | First 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 Limited | Oceania DigitalX Pathways Workshop Empower Indigenous women through training to build digital literacy and entrepreneurial skills. | Kununurra | $6,500 | |||
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/.
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.
