Swan Hill, Maryborough and Colac not-for-profits to benefit

FRRR today announced that three regional Victorian communities have been selected as partners in a $5M not-for-profit (NFP) sector capacity building program.  

Swan Hill, Maryborough and Colac were chosen after a comprehensive community consultation process and will soon begin a five-year program to strengthen local grassroots NFP groups to respond to local community needs with greater impact, supported by a locally based facilitator and funding. 

FRRR’s Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program is coming to Victoria for the first time thanks to a collaborative partnership involving four Victorian philanthropic organisations – Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Jack Brockhoff Foundation, The Ross Trust and William Buckland Foundation. 

FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton congratulated the selected communities and thanked the partner organisations for their commitment to the program in the regions. 

“We’re thrilled to be starting this journey with these communities, knowing the immense impact that targeted yet flexible support can have in strengthening the capability and resilience of NFPs and the vital services they provide,” Ms Egleton said. 

Given the increasing pressures that rural communities are facing, the program will enable local NFPs to better collaborate and empower them to improve the sustainability, vibrancy, and liveability of their communities, ultimately enabling them to thrive, not just survive. 

“Having been delivered successfully in eight NSW communities, FRRR knows the program will lead to higher-functioning NFP sectors in these communities that are ready to advocate for themselves into the future.  

“This community-led approach has demonstrated such wonderful long-term impacts in other IRCF regions and we are excited and confident that Swan Hill, Maryborough and Colac will embrace the opportunities this program offers,” Ms Egleton said. 

Louise Kuramoto, Executive Officer of the Jack Brockhoff Foundation spoke on behalf of the collaborating funders of IRCF about the belief they have in the program. 

“This is an exciting opportunity for these communities and we are delighted to be part of the initiative. We believe the program will help build more effective and capable organisations that contribute to a vibrant NFP sector and look forward to engaging with these communities in the coming years and seeing the outcomes of the hard work that’s ahead,” Ms Kuramoto said. 

A range of demographic, environmental and NFP sector indicators were considered during the selection process to identify communities ready to gain the greatest impact through the program. Five shortlisted communities were invited to information sessions, submit an expression of interest, and join local workshops as part of the process.  

Ms Egleton said the chance to leverage FRRR’s experience of delivering the program in NSW and continue learning alongside these Victorian communities was a real privilege.  

“We’ll also work with two communities not progressing into the program to resource some local activity aligned to their unique priorities.”  

Learn more about FRRR’s IRCF program at www.frrr.org.au/IRCF. 

When the Centre for Participation (CP) purchased a food van, named the ‘Harmony Van,’ they knew straight away that with the right tools they could address a lack of job ready hospitality trainees in a new and innovative way.

A lack of job ready hospitality trainees was a big issue for the community. Whilst tourism and hospitality are identified as key drivers of economic development in the Council and Regional Strategic Plans, local businesses were impacted by a shortage of trained cooks, chefs, baristas and food service assistants. By providing training and experience in hospitality, food handling and barista skills to marginalised groups, CP would able to address a skills gap and ensure that trainees were likely to gain employment in the community.

The Harmony Food Van allows CP to deliver workshops and training that supports migrant and refugee families in the region. This enables them to contribute financially to their families, to assimilate into the community through work and volunteering, and to express their culture through food, art, and service. Even better, participants get to go on the road and cook food from their cultural roots- so everyone gets to try something new!

A $4944 grant from FRRR, funded by The Ross Trust and the Portland House Foundation meant that the van could be equipped with a coffee machine, milk jugs and other accessories to allow trainees to gain barista skills alongside their hospitality training.

With the funding, CP was able to hold weekly training from April 2019 as part of their Hospitality Workforce Pathway Program. They attended over 40 community events, with eight volunteers supporting paid staff at a total of 97 trainees; 85 migrant community members and 12 young people with a disability. Project Coordinator Robert Millar said; “Whilst there are multiple benefits to our rural community as part of this funding, the most successful to us was that 8 migrant ladies and 2 young people with a disability who have gained employment as a result of taking part in the program.” Not only is the project is still running, and the early success has enabled them to open their own social enterprise café, ‘The Laneway.’ Migrant women and young people with a disability are welcome to take part in working at the cafe, creating opportunities particularly for disadvantaged people to break into the workforce, grow their skills, make new social connections, and get involved in the community.