This story was submitted as part of FRRR’s 25th birthday celebrations.

“We feel very grateful to have had the support of FRRR and for the work it does in generating and distributing financial support for regional organisations and communities.”

Natalie Woods, Grants and Fundraising Coordinator

“We have been fortunate to receive a number of grants through FRRR. In 2024, a Strengthening Rural Communities grant enabled us to provide six weeks of meal support to 10 Indigenous mothers and their families, relieving the financial burden and stress of the postpartum period, while also nourishing mother and baby and creating a strong health foundation. In the same year, an ABC Heywire grant supported the establishment of a pilot program to take disengaged high school Indigenous girls out of the classroom and out on Country once a week for eight weeks. The girls reconnected to Country, culture and community, learning about their traditional bush foods, how to grow them and how to cook them. This pilot program has gone on to be funded for 2025 and 2026, thanks to the early support of FRRR. In 2025, a grant from the In A Good Place program will support the delivery of four Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Community Days, providing free resources and support for maintaining good physical and mental health.

“Without this funding, we would not have been able to get both our Indigenous Postpartum Care Program and our pilot Doobai Youth Bush Food Program off the ground. We’re grateful for the trust that FRRR shows in us and the belief in our programs and the impact we have for our local Indigenous community here on Bundjalung Country (Northern NSW).”

The Returning Indigenous Corporation’s vision for the future

“In 2050, we hope we have a strong and resilient community on Bundjalung Country – where all people, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, are connected to Country, connected to each other and living healthy and resilient lives. We hope that the roles of women and mothers are valued and supported, and that our Matriarch Elders are given the support and care they deserve. We hope that everyone has access to strong local food systems, clean water and fresh air, and that our community has the strong social networks to support each other through times of disaster and crisis.”

With a long career teaching STEM in regional Queensland high schools, Sarah Chapman understands first-hand the significant gender disparity in STEM fields. In Australia, women remain underrepresented in STEM education and careers, making up only 27% of STEM-qualified professionals. Sarah knew that addressing this gender imbalance would be essential, as industries are increasingly facing shortages in skilled, diverse workers, impacting Australia’s future growth. She also recognised that there were few opportunities specifically for her students.

Sarah believed that engaging young people in STEM, especially those from underserved groups – girls, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and regional students – would foster aspirations for a lifelong STEM journey. To achieve this, Sarah applied for and received a $50,000 Backing the Future grant to establish STEM Changemakers. After decades of meaningful conversations with a diverse range of young people, Sarah was able to design a concept that was informed by the needs of regional girls. The initiative connects young regional girls to transformative STEM experiences and mentorship, equipping them to envision themselves in impactful STEM roles in the future.

Supported by the grant which was funded by Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), Sarah took extended leave from teaching to dedicate herself to STEM Changemakers, securing an additional $18,500 from other sources to amplify its reach. From August 2023 to June 2024, STEM Changemakers unfolded in regional Queensland, beginning with a STEM Faire in Townsville. Attended by 4,100 people, the event included a youth forum for idea generation, leading to three Girls in STEM Youth Forums and collaborations with local STEM experts. Between September and December, 22 girls participated in weekly STEM activities, including a project that secured $10,000 in funding to repurpose PVC pipes for aquaculture, a circular fashion collaboration, and fully funded scholarships for national STEM programs.

By mid-2024, Sarah launched the STEM Changemakers Pilot Program for 33 girls from rural areas, culminating in a youth-led celebration where participants shared their STEM journeys. One participant reflected, “STEM Changemakers has brought me from a girl interested in science to a girl interested in a career in science.”  Sarah credits the Backing the Future Grant with bringing her vision to life, saying, “The trust VFFF had to fund this idea and see what it could grow into is pretty unique.”

As a result of the program, the proportion of participants seeing STEM as a potential career grew from less than 40% to 91%, with 95% showing an increased awareness of STEM pathways.

From the work catalysed by VFFF funding, Sarah hopes to see STEM Changemakers grow to have national reach into regional, rural and remote Australia. She sees the format of STEM Changemakers influencing other organisations across Australia, to address and sustain the engagement of underrepresented girls in STEM.

“The main aim is changing the narrative for regional girls engaged in STEM.  It’s really important as a lot of STEM talent lies in the regional and rural areas of Australia.” 

Excited for the future, the project pilot has affirmed to Sarah the need for a program like this to continue: “I’m excited to continue to find new funding partners to continue to ensure that young regional females are able to see themselves as the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians.”

You can see STEM Changemakers in action below!

This story was submitted as part of FRRR’s 25th birthday celebrations.

“FRRR has had a profound impact on Camp Quality by enabling us to extend our programs into regional Australia, reaching children who would otherwise miss out. We are incredibly proud to have partnered with FRRR to deliver our Cancer Education Program to communities that rarely receive such initiatives. As FRRR celebrates 25 years of empowering rural and remote communities, we want to acknowledge the incredible work they have done in strengthening local resilience, education, and well-being. Their commitment has truly transformed lives, and their support has been nothing short of extraordinary. The impact they have made will be felt for generations to come. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and finding new ways to bring joy, education, and support to more children and families across Australia. Happy 25 years, FRRR! We wish you continued success in the years ahead and may your next 25 years be filled with even more impact, innovation, and community transformation.”

Claudine Habib, Fundraising Coordinator

“Camp Quality, a charity dedicated to supporting children impacted by cancer through education, fun, and resilience-building, used FRRR funding to expand its Cancer Education Program into regional Australia. The Cancer Education Program is a unique, interactive puppet show designed to educate primary school children about cancer in a way that is engaging, age-appropriate and fun. The program helps dispel common myths, reduce fear and bullying, and foster a supportive school environment for children impacted by cancer – whether they are diagnosed themselves or have a family member affected.

“Thanks to FRRR’s support, in 2024 we successfully toured regional Northern Territory, delivering this vital program to 14 schools and early learning centres in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Ti Tree. The impact was profound, with more than 2,060 children learning about cancer in an inclusive and supportive way, helping to build more compassionate and resilient school communities.

“Without FRRR’s generous support, this vital regional tour would not have been possible and many children in remote communities would have missed out on crucial education about cancer. These areas often lack access to specialised programs like ours, leaving children with limited understanding of what cancer is and how it affects their classmates, families or even themselves. Without the Cancer Education Program, misconceptions and fear around cancer could persist, increasing the likelihood of social isolation or bullying for children affected by cancer. Schools in these remote areas may not have the resources to address these sensitive topics, leaving both students and educators without the tools to foster a compassionate and supportive environment.

“Thanks to FRRR’s funding, we reached 14 schools and early learning centres. This program not only delivered vital education but also created spaces where children could ask questions and develop empathy, helping to break down stigmas and foster a stronger, more inclusive community. Camp Quality is incredibly grateful to FRRR for making this possible and for ensuring no child, no matter how remote, misses out on the support they deserve.”

Camp Quality’s vision for the future

“At Camp Quality, our vision is to become the most valuable support network for kids and families impacted by cancer. By 2050, we aspire to create a future where every child facing cancer, and their families, have unwavering access to positivity, fun, and laughter, regardless of their location. We aim to build a resilient community where our programs and services are seamlessly integrated into every facet of support, ensuring that no family endures the challenges of cancer alone. Through continuous innovation and dedication, we hope to foster an environment where optimism and resilience are the cornerstones of every family’s journey through cancer.”

In 2022, young engineer Jameson Harvey founded Red Dirt Robotics with a vision to bring hands-on, innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) experiences to young people in remote, rural and regional Australia. Recognising the disparity in STEM education between metropolitan and rural areas – with students in regional communities are an average of 1.5 years behind – Jameson set out to empower, inspire and engage the next generation of young engineers. His journey has since evolved into a story of resilience, new connections and a growing momentum for equitable education across the outback.

Jameson’s efforts were first recognised through the ABC Trailblazers program, through which he received an initial grant to build Red Dirt Robotics’ organisational capacity. Following this, he secured an FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grant and, most recently, a Backing the Future Grant, supported by the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF). With these funds, Jameson has made significant strides in breaking down barriers to STEM education for remote youth.

“We all know that working in regional and remote communities, where access to robotics and 3D printers is hard to come by, is challenging,” Jameson shared. “To see students walk into the classroom a bit nervous and unsure about these fancy technologies, and then, by the end of the session, walk away confident in programming and design skills – even skills that were tricky for me to learn – is incredibly rewarding.”

In 2024, Jameson launched a three-month tour throughout rural and regional Queensland, supported by his Backing the Future Grant. Red Dirt Robotics visited 34 schools and organisations, delivering 64 interactive workshops, giving more than 900 young people the opportunity to build and program their own robots using 3D printing technology and the Micromelon Rover robotics platform. For many of these students, it was their first experience with STEM beyond a textbook.

The tour wasn’t just a learning experience for students; it also engaged nearly 100 teachers and school staff, equipping them with the tools and confidence to incorporate STEM into their own classrooms. With this hands-on experience, teachers are now better prepared to sustain STEM education within their schools. “It’s so important for me that schools and libraries don’t have to pay anything. Being able to remove that extra barrier to access STEM and technology is really exciting,” Jameson noted.

A particularly rewarding aspect of the tour was the partnership Jameson formed with Georgie Arnold of Aviatrix Australia, whom he met at the ABC Heywire Trailblazer Summit in Canberra. Together, they brought a unique combination of aviation futures, robotics, 3D printing, and drones to rural Queensland.

“After our presentations in Canberra, a lady handed me a sticky note saying, ‘I would love to see a partnership between Aviatrix and Red Dirt Robotics,’” Jameson recalled. “Georgie and I had already been brainstorming how to make it happen and it was fantastic to see it come together.”

Through these collaborations, Red Dirt Robotics’ workshops exposed students to a broad array of technologies and career pathways in fields that are often under-represented in rural areas. The impact is tangible; several schools have since committed to prioritising STEM education, ensuring that these introductory experiences are just the beginning of an ongoing journey. For Jameson, it’s a powerful reminder of the importance of consistent support and resources in sparking interest and building skills.

Reflecting on the support he received, Jameson expressed deep gratitude for the programs and funding that have helped him reach communities across Australia.

“I owe a lot to the Trailblazer and Backing the Future programs in helping me get to where I am today,” he said. “The FRRR ABC Heywire Innovation Grant allowed me to visit two really remote schools, including One Arm Point and Groote Eylandt, where I ran workshops and provided gear to have that follow-on effect once I leave.”

Jameson’s story is a testament to how a passionate individual, with the right resources and support, can drive meaningful change – even if his trusty Land Cruiser has seen better days. Red Dirt Robotics isn’t just about teaching students to build robots – it’s about building confidence, bridging educational gaps, and inspiring young people across the outback to envision a future where they can thrive and shape their communities in innovative ways.

Hear more about this project on VFFF’s Stories of Giving and Receiving podcast here.

Applications for the next round of Backing the Future – QLD grants, which help individuals bring to life ideas they have to enhance the lives of people aged 12-30, close 17 March 2025.