Some of Australia’s leading philanthropists and representatives from corporate Australia came together on 19 March to mark 25 years since the formation of FRRR. The event was hosted by the Myer family at their family home, Cranlana, in Melbourne.
FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton, speaking to guests at CranlanaProminent guests including Neville Bertalli, Bill Kelty AC, Tim Fairfax AC, Will Myer, Helen Morris AM, current and past board members, current and past CEOsWill Myer and Tim Fairfax AC
Established in 2000 to support remote, rural and regional communities, FRRR brings together funding from philanthropy, business and government and directs it towards charitable, community-led projects that create more vibrant, resilient, sustainable and empowered communities. Since its inception, FRRR has awarded more than $200 million via more than 15,000 grants to grassroots not-for-profit organisations in around 1,700 places across the country.
The creation of FRRR came from the recognition that, in the late 90s, rural and regional Australia was in decline. After years of intense drought, small towns were shrinking, as shops, bank branches and schools closed, forcing families to move to larger centres.
At this time, the Sidney Myer Fund was looking to make a number of large grants to mark the 100th anniversary of Sidney Myer’s arrival in Australia. Sidney’s son, the late Bailleu Myer AC, a primary producer himself, supported by the Executive Officer of the Sidney Myer Fund, Helen Morris AM, had been researching how philanthropy supported rural communities in other countries. At the same time, the Australian Government was convening the Regional Australia Summit, seeking to identify ways in which it could respond to the rural decline by adjusting policy settings.
Following discussions with the Hon. John Anderson AC, then Deputy Prime Minister, one of the ideas discussed at the Summit was the creation of some kind of philanthropic entity that could support the renewal of rural and regional communities – and thus FRRR was born. The Australian Government committed $10M in seed funding, which was augmented by contributions from the Sidney Myer Fund, Pratt Foundation and ANZ.
In welcoming guests to Cranlana, Will Myer, the current representative of the Myer family to sit on the FRRR board, said that for his family, FRRR has always been more than just an organisation.
“It has been a mission, a commitment, and a source of great pride. From the very beginning, we have believed in the power of this foundation to strengthen rural and regional communities and seeing what has been achieved over these 25 years has been nothing short of extraordinary.
“The past 25 years have proven that when we invest in rural and regional Australia, we invest in the heart of this country. A thriving rural and regional Australiais a thriving Australia. I have no doubt that FRRR will continue to play a vital role in ensuring that these communities thrive,” Mr Myer said.
FRRR Chairman, Tim Fairfax AC, said that it is vital to the future prosperity of Australia that FRRR continues to receive the support of philanthropy, government, business and individuals.
“For 25 years, FRRR has played a critical role in backing remote, rural and regional communities to create and sustain vibrant places to live, work and invest. We are proud that we have become a trusted partner enabling local solutions with lasting impact. But there’s more to be done to sustain and grow the heart of the nation so communities can be on the front foot of disruption, navigate transition and seek sustainable futures for themselves and Australia. We invite those who are passionate about empowering vibrant, resilient and sustainable communities to join us.”
Located in the Indian Ocean, far off the WA coast, Christmas Island is known for its diversity of wildlife, coral reefs and cultures. With an ageing population, predominantly made up of Australians with Chinese or Malay heritage, many elderly residents live alone or with primary carers who work away from home. Limited access to public transport means that this demographic has become isolated and lonely – a feeling compounded in the last few years by the confusing and upsetting COVID restrictions.
The Shire of Christmas Island, in collaboration with Indian Ocean Territories Health Services, is the only organisation offering valuable programs to support the wellbeing of the island’s senior community.
These programs include the Stay on Your Feet program on Friday night’s, an initiative by the Australian Health Department designed to help seniors maintain balance and confidence through activities like Tai Chi, dance and aerobic exercises.
A respite program at the Senior Citizens Centre is another avenue for providing engagement activities such as games, arts, crafts and music to foster social interaction and mental stimulation.
In 2022, The Shire received an $8,979 Strengthening Rural Communities grant through the Rebuilding Regional Communities stream, which funded by the Australian Government to support COVID recovery, to enhance and expand their programs and activities on offer to the community.
The respite sessions at the Senior Citizens Centre are now more vibrant than ever, with new arts and craft materials bringing creative activities like clay moulding, painting and crafting to life. A newly installed arcade table featuring 60 classic games adds a fun, social element while also helping to sharpen cognitive skills.
Meanwhile, the Stay on Your Feet program has been revitalised with fresh exercise equipment, including exerciser steps and pool noodles, which replace the worn-out gear and add variety to workout options. Grant funds also went towards the development of bright new program t-shirts, giving participants a sense of belonging and appreciation for their group and wider community.
Challenges are always involved when delivering an initiative in a very remote location such as Christmas Island, particularly when it comes to the cost of freight and couriers to deliver new products. The Shire reported that every purchase was made with careful deliberation, ensuring the most value was attained from the grant.
It is clear that the senior community on Christmas Island looks forward to the Shire’s activities every single week. With their new and exciting additions, The Shire continues to create enriching and inclusive programs that support seniors in staying active, connected and inspired.
Remote, rural and regional women truly are amazing, as are those who are metro-based and work and volunteer with our partners. While we recognise this every day, International Women’s Day (IWD) is the perfect opportunity to publicly celebrate and reflect on the incredible women who dedicate themselves to supporting their families, colleagues and communities.
At FRRR, we work with women every day, whether that be our wonderful team or by supporting projects led by women – some of which benefit their whole community, while others are designed for women. We see firsthand how their dedication, innovative thinking, compassion, expertise and endurance are creating a more vibrant and resilient remote, rural and regional Australia for us all.
This year’s theme for IWD is accelerate action. It calls for swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality and for increased momentum in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.
Below are several projects that we are proud to support that showcase the value of – and critical importance of – targeted action in communities in accelerating progress towards a more equitable tomorrow by empowering women today.
The Mallacoota Wilderness Collective: Digital Workshops for Women
By empowering isolated women with digital skills and confidence, Mallacoota Wilderness Collective Inc in eastern Victoria has improved access to technology for older women. They did this by creating a comfortable and supportive environment in which to learn and share.
In addition, there were more than 34 free workshops in technology, leadership, and online safety, coupled with younger women mentoring older and more vulnerable participants who were still feeling the impacts of bushfires. The drop-in IT help sessions were supported by a $9,804 Strengthening Rural Communities grant and fostered hands-on support, connection and independence among attendees.
The project involved tangible steps to improve an older generation of women’s digital literacy. By facilitating intergenerational learning, these workshops have helped to ensure that rural women of all ages feel empowered and confident in their use of technology sooner rather than later.
Enterprise Partnerships WA is a First Nations ally organisation, empowering remote First Nations women in the Kimberley through community-led enterprise, entrepreneurship and leadership initiatives. They used a $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities grant to support The Piriwa Hub in Balgo, which provides a safe space for skills development, wellbeing support and cultural preservation.
The funds were used to purchase and transport a 20-ft watertight sea container from Kununurra to Balgo. Collaborating with Wirrimanu Aboriginal Corporation enabled Piriwa to obtain a land lease for the new container. The women of the Piriwa Hub were most proud of this collaboration and how it proves they have continued support from the local community.
The new storage container has been a game-changer, making it easier to manage donations, run the shop smoothly and cut down on waste. It has also boosted the women-led leadership team’s confidence in governance and negotiation. Through this project, Enterprise Partnerships WA is helping to drive change by creating opportunities for women to lead, learn and thrive, ensuring their voices and contributions shape a stronger, more inclusive Balgo.
In their final report they said: “The most successful achievement of this grant is the additional infrastructure it has provided to Piriwa to enable the women to continue their focus on young women, keeping culture strong and providing an op shop to the community.”
Wimmera Women Connect: Consolidating the way forward
After COVID, many women in the Wimmera region of Victoria faced isolation, increased domestic responsibilities and limited professional support. In 2022, Wimmera Women Connect was founded to combat these challenges, aiming to foster connections, reduce isolation and promote gender equality to support women in the community.
WWC used a $7,374 Strengthening Rural Communities Prepare and Recover grant to enhance their organisational capacity, so they could expand their reach and effectiveness. The funds were invested in strategic planning, digital resources, branding, leadership development, volunteer engagement and financial sustainability – all working to create a sustainable and well-resourced organisation that connects and empowers women in Wimmera.
The project supported a range of events that worked to elevate women’s voices and contributions in the community, including:
Equity in the Wimmera – a panel discussion about cultures and drivers that contribute to gendered violence, and
Not Just a Farmer – a frank and open discussion about one local woman’s quest to address rural mental health and suicide through an independently funded film she wrote, produced and starred in.
By fostering meaningful relationships and providing leadership opportunities, WWC is helping women build confidence, feel a sense of belonging and actively contribute to a more inclusive and supportive regional community.
The Nintirri Centre Incorporated: Midwife Services in the Inland Pilbara
Nintirri Centre is a not-for-profit located in Tom Price in the Pilbara region of WA. It iscommitted to supporting remote and rural women by delivering essential health, education and wellbeing services. Recognising the urgent need for accessible antenatal care in non-birthing towns like Tom Price and Paraburdoo, Nintirri launched a FIFO midwife program in 2022. The service ensures women, especially First Nations people living on Country, receive vital reproductive healthcare despite ongoing travel barriers exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.
A $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities grant supported their initiative, enabling essential antenatal and postnatal care, including regular home visits. Without this kind of early intervention, many women in remote communities would face late diagnoses of complications, increasing risks to both mother and baby.
Nintirri’s FIFO midwife program is an essential step toward equitable healthcare for rural women and improving access to reproductive healthcare has always been, and continues to be for many, a crucial step towards gender equality. When women can safely navigate pregnancy and birth within their community, it not only reduces strain on local health services, but they experience better health outcomes, greater empowerment and improved family stability.
These four projects offer just a glimpse into the efforts underway – led by and for women across remote, rural, and regional Australia – to accelerate progress toward gender equality. We’re excited for the journey ahead and look forward to contributing to many more initiatives in the future.
This story was submitted as part of FRRR’s 25th birthday celebrations.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. It is always difficult to fundraise, and then on top of that to apply for grants. Not only in time taken, but in the aspect of rejection – or rather rejections. So, thank you for taking an interest in country affairs and helping those you can.”
Jakob Gamertsfelder, Treasurer
“Morgan is a small country town of some 500 people. We have a group called Morgan Volunteer Support Group and we provide the Meals on Wheels SA service to Morgan and surrounding towns. The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal provided us with a grant of $10,000, which we used to buy a community car to replace our 22-year-old vehicle – built in September of 1998.
“Our replacement car has let us continue these last three years quite happily, delivering meals. We currently deliver eight meals every day, involving eight delivery drivers on rotating shifts. Also engaged are five cooks and supply workers, with admin workers being mainly down at Adelaide headquarters of Meals on Wheels SA. We delivered all through COVID, all through the high river of 2022-23 that inundated 2,500 homes in our Council area, and on every public holiday. We have a good relationship with community and in this last year we have helped three customers in distress, waiting with them while they sought medical attention. Our numbers are not large, but what we do counts.
“I also want to thank FRRR and Kellogg Australia Charitable Foundation again for the further help they provided in the way of breakfast cereals and snack bars to Morgan Primary School. Every day Foodbank provides breakfasts for students who ask, which is about fifteen students. Kellogg’s did this not just once in 2022 but also in 2023. It was a splendid help. Thank you for helping not just us, but all of us.”
The Arid Lands region in Central Australia is vast, with a small, dispersed population. Its climate is characterised by extreme temperatures. Huge geographical distances pose major challenges in accessing essential services and infrastructure, as well as establishing and maintaining a social support network.
Add the pressures of everyday life and the impacts of increasingly frequent droughts, floods and bushfires, and it is often difficult for community members and agricultural workers in the region to find ways to connect.
The Red Centre Rural Ladies Day, held in Alice Springs on International Rural Women’s Day (October 2024), was a wonderful opportunity to highlight and celebrate the contribution that rural women make to life on the land. It also meant more than 80 women (and men) had the opportunity to network and strengthen relationships.
The celebration was the first in a series of community events under The Arid Lands Agricultural Community Connections Project, which is funded by a $50,000 grant via the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund through the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative Small Network Grants.
Delivered collaboratively by Landcare NT and the Centralian Land Management Association (CLMA), the overarching project is designed to initiate and encourage social and community connection between agricultural workers in the region, helping them to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought.
The events are all about celebrating the people that call the Arid Lands home and that’s exactly what last years Red Centre Rural Ladies Day achieved. A variety of musical performances and a special show from cabaret dance masters Desert Diamonds had everyone up on their feet, dancing the night away. A series of exercises and games gave complete strangers the chance to bond and create memories, while guest speakers inspired the audience and opened discussions between attendees. Finally, the night closed with the celebration of three local rural women’s contributions to their communities during the awards ceremony.
Events Manager for Red Centre Rural Ladies Day, Danyelle Haigh said, “I am extremely proud of the entire event. It was fantastic to see so many friendships made throughout the night from the interactive games and activities that they participated in.”
Rural Ladies Day is an annual event and its continued success shows how important community-driven initiatives are for strengthening the resilience, networks and wellbeing of those living and working in the Arid Lands region.
This story was submitted as part of FRRR’s 25th birthday celebrations.
“Congratulations FRRR on 25 years of community support and grant making. First Steps Count has been fortunate to work alongside FRRR in the delivery of several grants over the last few years. FRRR recognises the value and the power of place-based, community-led projects, funding and supporting the hard work of people on the ground in rural and regional areas who have the passion and drive to make a difference for their communities. Thank you FRRR for your dedication to rural and regional communities and we wish you all the best for the next 25 years!”
Clare Brennan, Director
“First Steps Count received a $25,000 Investing in Not-for-Profit Capacity grant to engage the community with the co-design and development of our amazing centre for families with children aged 0-12. An additional Strengthening Rural Communities grant enabled us to engage with children and families local to the community to create artworks that feature on the internal and external walls at First Steps Count Child and Community Centre.
“Without FRRR funding, we would not have been able to work with an artist to coordinate the art project which enabled us to engage over 250 children and women in the community to create the art. The community’s involvement in the project has had a significant impact on their sense of belonging and ownership of the hub.
“We would also not have had sufficient resources to engage in genuine co-design to ensure that the way in which our hub operates truly meets the needs of the community.”
First Steps Count’s vision for the future
“Babies born today will be in their mid 20s in 2050. It is my hope that more of the children born today successfully finish their education and are supported by their families and community to engage in meaningful study, employment or work. It is my hope that more children have positive childhood experiences that ultimately influence the way they parent and manage relationships. It is my hope that the statistics show better developmental outcomes across all domains for children starting school.”
This story was submitted as part of FRRR’s 25th birthday celebrations.
“FRRR funds that are small and vital play a huge part of allowing community groups to undertake works and programs that otherwise wouldn’t happen. While the big grants are rare and wonderful, it’s the smaller grants that allow activities and purchases to occur. Without philanthropy many small volunteer groups would not function or survive.”
Ronda Manhire, Operational Manager and all-rounder Volunteer
“The Omeo Community Hub was established in Omeo in 2023. FRRR grants have allowed us to purchase furniture and infrastructure, enabling us to support a variety of services to community members, including a co-working space, community connectedness activities, online VCE and tertiary education.
“We are not entitled to State or Federal funding as a community centre, so philanthropic funding is one of the most important means we have of enabling our community to expand and grow.
“Our recent successful grant, combined with additional funding from East Gippsland Shire Community, allowed us to upgrade our digital systems at the hub, facilitating online wellness activities for community members of all ages. It’s a whole new world of opportunity for our remote Victorian town.”
Omeo’s vision for the future
“Moving towards 2050, we’ll be aligning with our Shire’s current investigation into the future and how we’ll use technology to offset the tyranny of distance in rural and remote Victoria. Recent FRRR funding towards our large digital screen will enable this to occur, which will be wonderful.”
In 2021, 18-year-old school captain Mason Black stood in front of his all-boys school assembly and called for ‘the boys’ to put an end to the sexual assault and harassment of women. What started as a powerful speech encouraging his peers to stand up, be better men and advocate for equality became transformative – empowering young men with the tools, knowledge, guidance and support to become “BetterMen”.
Mason realised that while his speech resonated nationwide, words alone were not enough. He wanted to make sure that his message truly reached and impacted young men. With VFFF’s support and a $50,000 Backing the Future grant, Mason launched his mission to inspire and mentor boys to rise above accepted societal norms and cultural misogyny. “This isn’t about condemning young men but helping them understand what it means to be a better man,” Mason explained.
The Betterment Project aims to reshape unacceptable behaviours in young men. “Our mission is to inspire and mentor boys to raise their standards and unlearn the harmful ideas of the past. Ultimately, we want to create a new generation of gentlemen.”
By addressing disrespect in youth, the project aims to prevent the development of dangerous behaviours such as sexual violence, coercive control, and domestic violence. “Rather than focusing on specific issues, I want to guide young people onto a positive path simply by answering the question: How can we become better men?”
In July 2024, The Betterment Project embarked on a 20-day tour across regional Queensland, engaging more than 1,450 students from the Sunshine Coast to Rockhampton. The tour aimed to cultivate a culture of respect among rural and regional youth through interactive workshops on consent, domestic & family violence and mental health. The “Respect Workshop” sessions, tailored for co-ed or all-male audiences, received enthusiastic, positive feedback from students and school staff, demonstrating their impact on shifting perspectives and fostering early positive behaviours.
The tour also launched the “My Story” campaign, which featured local community champions whose stories inspire resilience and positive change. The team interviewed three influential role models: Leon Stensholme, founder of Lockout07 for at-risk youth; Ashton Wood, founder of DV Safe Phones; and Wil McIntyre, who runs a mental health initiative for young men. “We wanted to show these students that role models don’t have to be celebrities or public figures – they can be the people in our towns making real differences every day,” Mason says. Their stories are now shared widely to motivate and support young people across Queensland. WATCH these powerful stories on their YouTube channel.
Based on the tour’s success, they plan to expand their reach, with another regional tour scheduled in May 2025 in partnership with Rotary, as well as additional programs in Brisbane schools. They also plan to establish an advisory group to guide ongoing development and education initiatives, aiming to create a statewide campaign for respectful relationships, early intervention and a safer future for Queensland youth.
Reflecting on the tour, Mason noted that the biggest conversations with boys revolved around the importance of strong male role models. “For many young men, they had no positive male role models in their lives,” he says. “Through these workshops, we’re not only strengthening the character of these boys, but we’re setting them up to be a network of strong male role models for the next generation growing up in the community.”
For Mason, the VFFF grant was an invaluable opportunity to test and refine his vision. “I didn’t realise how unique this grant was, supporting individuals and ideas at their infancy without the red tape of forming an organisation,” he shared. “I wish there were more opportunities like Backing the Future.”
While initially set up as a sole trader, Mason soon recognised the need to formalise the project’s structure. To open it to future philanthropic donations, he restructured the organisation and applied for charitable status from the ACNC. “The VFFF grant was key in helping me turn my idea into a transformative initiative,” he reflects.
Mason and the team at The Betterment Project are now planning to host their first event next year, aimed at engaging young student leaders in the conversation to end gender-based violence. It will be the first event of its kind, marking the first time the project directly engages other young people in this important discussion.
Mason expresses his gratitude to VFFF for turning his words at that school podium into a life-changing experience for thousands of students across regional Queensland. He encourages others with ideas for supporting young people to explore this funding opportunity. “The Betterment Project is a testament to the power of belief in a mission and the resources to make that vision a reality,” he says. “We’re creating real, systemic change that builds stronger young people and enriches our communities far into the future.”
The Broome Community Resource Centre (CRC) has been supporting the local community since 1991. As part of their mission, they aim to provide high quality, modern and up-to-date technology for use by all members of the community, with friendly staff on hand to help with anything people are unsure of how to do themselves.
However, the CRC’s technology and equipment was becoming dated and obsolete, and would soon be no longer fit-for-purpose. The CRC set in place an asset replacement plan to phase out the old computers and replace them with new technology to meet the community’s needs and expectations.
They received a $10,000 Telstra Connected Communities grant from FRRR that went towards purchasing ten new PCs. Funding from other sources enabled the CRC to also upgrade their video-conferencing equipment and peripherals for use with the new Windows 11 machines.
Franky O’Connor, who coordinated the grant on behalf of the Broome CRC said that it seemed like the replacement of the old PCs was just in time!
“In the lead up to the project, we were starting to find them lacking in speed and performance and even receive negative comments about them. The new PCs are much more fit for purpose and will serve our needs for several years to come. We have had a very positive response from our customers, and the new equipment makes our work much easier.
“We were thrilled to receive this grant from FRRR with Telstra’s Connected Communities. Our project was essential to our ongoing services, and with the grant funding from FRRR, as well as the other programs involved, we were able to complete the full project and upgrade our Centre without compromising on equipment specifications in any way. That is so gratifying and ensures our technology platform will serve us and the community well for quite some years.”
Locals can now access the new technology for social, educational and economic purposes, and the computer training courses and workshops that the CRC runs for community members are now using the latest and current operating systems and software.
Limestone Coast Multicultural Network (LCMN) is a new community organisation run by local people from various cultural backgrounds in Naracoorte, in regional South Australia. They received a $4,952 grant from the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grant program to develop a five-year Strategic Plan that will draw on their cultural backgrounds.
Naracoorte has experienced significant growth in its multicultural population over the last decade. The demographic shift has been largely driven by the availability of work and affordable living. Naracoorte has the second largest Hazara Afghan community in SA and community members from Laos, Philippines, China, Malaysia and various Pacific nations.
LCMN is a platform that enables multicultural community members to represent themselves and their interests within the wider community, providing effective links between ethnic groups, local services and other community groups.
FRRR funds were used to bring in a local facilitator to deliver capacity development training for the network through two half-day workshops. This process included defining organisational goals and identifying key performance indicators to enhance the group’s effectiveness in supporting and connecting the multicultural community of Naracoorte.
The workshops also prioritised bonding activities designed to build trust within the network, laying a solid foundation for a collaborative approach that promotes diversity and conversation.
The lasting impact of the project can be seen in the creation of LCMN’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, which identified three key priorities: building strong community support for the migrant population, creating a thriving migrant community, and establishing LCMN as a valued organisation within Naracoorte.
The project has empowered the committee and provided them with the tools to engage more effectively with and within the wider community. The completion of their banner, an additional component of the grant, also helped promote the organisation at community events such as Refugee Week, strengthening LCMN’s presence in Naracoorte and ensuring their ongoing commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding and social cohesion in the region.
