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!

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.

Applications now open for $50,000 grants

FRRR and VFFF are inviting applications from eligible individuals for grants of $50,000 through the Backing the Future program. The funding supports people aged 18+ to develop innovative ideas that enhance the lives of people aged 12-30 in remote, rural and regional Queensland.

Unlike many other programs our Foundations offer, Backing the Future funds individuals and doesn’t require the backing of a community or not-for-profit organisation, eliminating one of the barriers that often exists in accessing philanthropy.

VFFF CEO, Jenny Wheatley, said VFFF is excited about the program’s potential to discover and back truly transformative ideas.

“We have already supported 17 incredible community changemakers in QLD through previous rounds of this program, and we look forward to backing 10 new ideas that will create lasting impacts for young people in their communities,” she said.

“Another thing that makes this a unique opportunity is that the focus is on new ideas and initiatives. To be eligible, projects need to have been in development for less than three years. We’ve deliberately put this time-limit on it, as we know that often, the hardest part of getting a project off the ground is securing initial funding to test the idea. This is especially true in rural and remote areas, where high costs and smaller populations make piloting new projects even more challenging,” she explained.

“Backing the Future bridges this gap by trusting communities and leaders to create transformative opportunities for young people when provided with the right resources – both money and capacity-building support.

“The feedback we have had from previous grantees is that they deeply appreciate the unique opportunity that Backing the Future offers, especially the trust and willingness to back an idea in its infancy.

“Providing early-stage support has given past participants the confidence to develop their ideas and deliver real impact for young people. It’s so rewarding to hear about Backing the Future funding leading to the development of new events, social enterprises and charities that continue to benefit young people across QLD,” Ms Wheatley said

One of the inaugural QLD grant recipients, Jameson Harvey, used his $50,000 grant to deliver robotics workshops in remote QLD schools, breaking down barriers to STEM education. Jameson describes the Backing the Future grant as a unique opportunity to resource the deep work needed to support access for very remote communities.

“Access to robotics and 3D printers is hard to come by in regional and remote communities. 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.”

This is the first QLD round delivered by VFFF and FRRR. This partnership leverages VFFF’s ability to fund individuals and FRRR’s extensive reach, ensuring the funding reaches even the most remote parts of the state. Additionally, FRRR provides capacity building support to successful applicants.

FRRR’s CEO, Natalie Egleton, said that FRRR is excited about the potential for Backing the Future to bring new opportunities and activities for young people in remote, rural and regional QLD.

“We know that young people are the future of vibrant, resilient and sustainable rural communities. By providing opportunities that strengthen their connection and open doors to new possibilities, we can empower them to create transformative outcomes for themselves and their communities.”

Applications for the Backing the Future program are invited from anyone aged 18+ who has an idea that will benefit young people in remote, rural or regional communities. Applications close 17 March 2025.

FRRR encourages anyone interested in applying to reach out to FRRR’s Youth Futures team to have a chat about the potential project. To ensure as many people as possible hear about opportunity, FRRR staff will be visiting in the Burnett and Emerald regions. Dates and venues will be shared on FRRR’s social media channels and the team is excited about the opportunity to meet face to face with the hidden gems who are quietly doing work in community.

For those outside those regions, FRRR will host a webinar to explain more about the program and answer questions at 12 noon (AEST) on Wednesday, 5 February 2025. Register at: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-qld-backing-the-future-grants. To learn more, visit www.frrr.org.au/backing-the-future or call 1800 170 020 and speak to FRRR’s Youth Futures Manager, Lauren.

Positive impact of place-based capacity-building pilot program in rural NSW

The significant impacts and lessons of a five-year pilot program aimed at building collective not-for-profit (NFP) sector capability in small rural and regional communities have been revealed in a report recently released by FRRR.

Leeton, Junee and Nambucca Valley NFPs participated in the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) pilot, a partnership between FRRR and the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), which committed $5 million over five years across the three local government areas, with $1 million in funding available to support each of the three pilot communities.

The IRCF program set out to develop and trial a collaborative model that would work to strengthen local NFPs, so they could better service their communities. Through this co-designed, multi-year program, each community came together to learn, identify strengths and common challenges and then work collaboratively to lift up each organisation for the benefit of broader community.

On-the-ground support from a local facilitator was coupled with a rigorous, regular ‘roadmapping’ process through which local NFPs agreed on gaps and opportunities and prioritised activities. Grants and flexible funding were then available to enable agreed priorities to be actioned.

Running alongside the entire program was an evaluation program, delivered in partnership with Matrix on Board. In November 2024, this robust evaluation process was announced as the winner of the 2024 Social Impact Measurement Network Australia (SIMNA) Awards.

Through this evaluation program, FRRR identified several factors as critical to successful place-based NFP capacity building, including:

• Investing in people and leadership capability enables fundamental improvements in governance, processes, equipment and systems;
• Face-to-face support and engagement is essential;
• A collaborative approach focusses community and guides funding;
• NFP organisations need to be ready, willing and able to participate actively to extract full value and optimise the investment required to make place-based change; and
• Building trust and changing habits takes time – a five-year commitment was needed and elevated thinking from immediate needs to strategic capability.

Natalie Egleton, FRRR CEO said the ultimate goal of the program was to help organisations “fit their oxygen masks first”, so they could maintain their critical community work well into the future.

“As we walked alongside these organisations, we saw them grow in confidence, as well as develop strategic partnerships and networks that have led to advocacy efforts to advance local and systemic issues,” Ms Egleton said.

“The evaluation we’ve undertaken confirms that IRCF has been a significant contributing factor to the growing impact of these organisations and the vitality of these communities. Early work indicates that the $5 million investment has leveraged a further $8.7 million across the three communities.

“We have learned that providing flexible support and funding targeted at the capacity and capability of NFPs leads to more collaborative and resilient organisations. We also confirmed that change in not linear, takes time, and is the work of many working together on common goals.

“Or, to put it another way, time, trust and tenacity are essential to a thriving community-led, not-for-profit sector in local communities.

“None of this would have been possible without the willingness of VFFF to work with us – to take a leap of faith on this pilot and to engage with us, and with community groups directly, over the last five years,” Ms Egleton said.

Following its success as a model, the IRCF program has extended to numerous other regions across rural New South Wales and is about to launch in three further communities in Victoria. Click here to read more about the impact of the pilot program.

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.”

Applications now open for $50,000

FRRR and VFFF are now inviting applications for grants of $50,000 from individuals and groups of individuals working to enhance the lives of people aged 12-30 who live in remote, rural and regional NSW. The funding is through the Backing the Future program.

The grants are a rare opportunity for individuals to test out a new “big idea” to support young people in their community, without having to first prove the concept. The money can be used to assist in researching, piloting or accelerating early-stage ideas and can be used for a range of purposes such as paying a salary, purchasing technology or covering rent for office space, as long as it supports the approved initiative.

VFFF CEO, Jenny Wheatley, said this is the third round of this program in NSW, but the first where VFFF is partnering with FRRR.

“It is fantastic to have FRRR onboard. Not only will more people know about the program, recipients will have access to FRRR’s capacity building support throughout the duration of the grant term for example, training on impact measurement, developing sustainable projects, or good governance.  

“In the first four rounds of Backing the Future, we’ve seen passionate people make wonderful progress on youth-related issues that matter to them and their community and have enhanced the lives of young people.”

For example, Jae Brieffies had a vision to inspire young people in central NSW to think more broadly about their career opportunities, boost their aspirations and provide support to create practical plans for their future careers and lives. She and her team delivered the Bright Generation program to students in years 9-12 at five central NSW high schools, with 86% reporting increased confidence in making decisions about their future. They also hosted a three-day trip to Canberra, connecting them with mentors but also running workshops on financial literacy and job applications, alongside exploring the Australian National University and Parliament House.

“Not only was this a great outcome for young people, but Jae, as a young person, was empowered to carry out her vision. This is the kind of initiative that we are keen to support and I look forward to seeing this year’s applications,” Mrs Wheatley said.

FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton, said that FRRR is excited to have the opportunity to support the next generation of leaders in remote, rural and regional NSW to bring their ideas to life.

“From our work over the last nearly 25 years, we know that young people living in the regions have some wonderful ideas. But often they can’t access the funding to get started. That’s what is really special about this program – we’re backing young people and, together, we’ll provide more than just money to help them step into these leadership roles and be a catalyst to real change.

“The exciting thing about this program is that while the project must benefit younger people, anyone who has an idea that supports young people can apply for the funding,” Ms Egleton explained.

Applications from people in NSW open today (26 July). FRRR and VFFF encourage anyone who is interested in the program to join a free webinar on 7 August, where more information about the program will be shared, including some case studies on the impact of past grants. Register at: https://events.humanitix.com/backing-the-future-webinar.

The 2025 QLD round will be opening early next year.

In the meantime, to learn more, head to https://frrr.org.au/backing-the-future/ or call 1800 170 020 and speak to FRRR’s Youth Futures Manager, Lauren Ryan.

FRRR and VFFF today announced their partnership to expand the reach and impact of the Backing the Future program, which VFFF launched in 2022.

Backing the Future supports individuals and groups of individuals working to enhance the lives of people aged 12-30 who live in remote, rural and regional NSW and QLD. It offers grants of $50,000 over 12 months to support projects that align to one or more of four focus areas.

The grants are designed as seed funding for new ideas that support young people in their community. The funds can be used to assist in researching, piloting or accelerating early-stage ideas and can be used for a range of purposes such as paying a salary, purchasing technology or covering rent for office space, as long as it supports the approved initiative.

FRRR and VFFF have a history of collaborating for greater impact in remote, rural and regional communities, and are joining forces again to ensure that more young people benefit from the Backing the Future program.

VFFF CEO, Jenny Wheatley, said that by working together, the organisations know that they can enable more great ideas to come to fruition.

“VFFF established Backing the Future to provide focussed support for youth. In our first three rounds, we’ve seen some passionate people make wonderful progress on issues that matter to them and their community and which enhance the lives of young people. By partnering with FRRR, we want to extend our support into more remote, rural and regional communities.

“By working together and leveraging FRRR’s network, we hope to see more applications from more individuals who can make a difference in the lives of young people. In addition, with a larger team than VFFF, FRRR will be able to provide more support to those leading these projects, building their capacity and strengthening community for the future,” Ms Wheatley explained.

FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton, said that the timing is great, as FRRR has recently committed to doing more to support the next generation of remote, rural and regional leaders.

“Young people want to make a difference to their communities and to the success of regional Australia, but they don’t always want to do it in the traditional ways.

“Great ideas are often hindered by funding that requires a proof of concept. In contrast, this program emphasises great ideas and the enthusiasm and energy of the individual pitching the concept. It allows them to take on leadership roles and can be a catalyst to real change.

“It’s not just open to young people though – anyone who has an idea that will benefit young people in remote, rural and regional communities can apply,” Ms Egleton explained.

A great example of how FRRR and VFFF are already having an impact on young people together, is through Backing the Future grant recipient, Jameson Harvey, founder of Red Dirt Robotics.

Red Dirt Robotics had received funding through the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants to deliver two STEM workshops in remote schools. After seeing the impact of that program, Jameson used his Backing the Future grant to undertake a three-month intensive tour across rural and remote QLD teaching robotics and coding to young people.

The next round of the Backing the Future program will be for projects that benefit young people in NSW, with the grant round opening 26 July. The 2024 QLD round is currently being assessed, with the 2025 QLD round opening early next year.

A webinar will be held on 7 August, where VFFF and FRRR will share more about the program, including some case studies of the impact of past grants. Register for the webinar at: https://events.humanitix.com/backing-the-future-webinar.

In the meantime, to learn more, head to frrr.org.au/backing-the-future-by-vfff-and-frrr/ or call 1800 170 020 and speak to FRRR’s Youth Futures Manager, Lauren.

On Gumbaynggirr Country

The Nambucca Valley in NSW was one of the first participating communities in the Investing in Rural Community Futures Program, which FRRR has been running with the support of VFFF since 2019. The program aims to help local not-for-profit organisations build their capacity so that they can better support the communities they serve.

One such group is Mujaay Ganma Foundation, which was established in memory of two strong, proud Gumbaynggirr women – Mardi Walker, Mujaay and Florence Ballangarry, Ganma. The Foundation grew from the need to bring back cultural strength and trust to people and families who are dealing with cancer. But it’s grown to offer far more than that, supporting Aboriginal people and their families with culturally friendly, emotional, physical and spiritual support. Through culture and sustainable practices Mujaay Ganma also endeavours to support a healthy lifestyle in the modern Nambucca Valley.

One of Mujaay Ganma Foundation’s goals is to create the Yuraal Guunumba Ngurraay: Gumbaynggirr Native Foods Community Garden Project, which will improve the wellbeing of local Gumbaynggirr Country and community. The garden will be a space where Elders can share cultural values and pass on traditional knowledge and skills to younger generations. It will also encourage students and youth to learn about native forest and riverbank regeneration and ecosystems. There is also a plan to help young people learn the identification and properties of native plants needed for regeneration of degraded country, seed collection and propagation and nursery management skills. Ultimately, this will ensure the passing on of cultural knowledge from Elders and promote its value to the wider community. In addition, the hope is that the garden will help to connect young Gumbaynggirr people to Country, strengthen a sense of community and build the skills of local community members, leading to meaningful employment and freedom from welfare dependence, which contributes to community wellbeing. Importantly it will contribute to a healthy lifestyle, culturally, physically and collectively.

Ultimately the project aims to build the capacity of young Gumbaynggirr people, encouraging them to contribute to a more collaborative and cohesive community. This will be achieved by strengthening the passing on of cultural knowledge between Elders and the younger generations, strengthening pride in culture and in the identity of the young.

Furthermore, the wider Nambucca Valley community would have the opportunity to learn from the custodial people enabling more respectful appreciation for the original culture and abundant natural resources, so sustaining a healthy environment into the future.

However, with only being established in 2019, the organisation recognised that it needed to build its capacity before it could embark on such an ambitious project. By training local Gumbaynggirr coordinators, the project will support community leadership. These trainees could become well versed in project management and able to constructively give back to community in the future. These trainee project coordinators could learn these contemporary skills through being mentored by experienced project managers, learning how to negotiate resources, funds and engaging with other organisations by working with their mentors, learning ‘on the job’, at the same time as being supported in their culture by the custodial Elders of Country. This approach was chosen, as successful learning experiences for community people have involved learning while observing and engaging in doing.

This fit well into the priorities of the IRCF program, which included people, strategy systems and structure and sector efficiencies. They therefore applied to FRRR for a grant to enable them to hire and mentor two Gumbaynggirr people as trainees, who could then take on management of all the complex logistics involved in implementing the Yuraal Guunumba Ngurraay garden project. This was also an opportunity to help ensure that young Gumbaynggirr people are safe, connected to Country and have meaningful work.

With the support of a $38,443 FRRR IRCF grant, funded by VFFF, two trainee project coordinators were recruited and have been learning on the job. Their work has included:

• learning about workplace expectations and creating a culturally safe working environment;
• strengthening their connection to Country and culture, with Elders taking them on Country and experiencing ceremony;
• setting up systems and administrative work, including writing policies and keeping records of the planning and implementation of the many components of this complex project;
• creating a food garden under guidance of a horticultural mentor with experience working in the Aboriginal community at Miimi Aboriginal Corporation, where they learnt about garden preparation, irrigation, planting seeds and transplanting seedlings in preparation for establishing the Yuraal Garden;
• learning about caring for Country from a Traditional Custodian with land management skills; and
• managing a successful Golf and Bowls Day fundraising event, which was successful not just in raising money but in creating an event where community could come together, learn more about Mujaay Ganma Foundation and have a good healthy time together.

The training of the coordinators and the future establishment of the Garden is highly collaborative and involved several community organisations, including:

• Miimi Aboriginal Corporation, who provided continual support of resources and consultation;
• Earth Trust and Yarranbella, with support from Miimi, who mentored the trainee coordinators as they learnt to negotiate and navigate between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal systems, between organisations and students and teachers;
• Bowraville Innovative Social Enterprise Precinct (BISEP) who helped them negotiate Western institutions and regulations;
• Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative who provided continual support of resources and consultation, in particular around language and culture;
• Gagu Land Services will took participants onto Country to help learn about caring for Country and land regeneration;
• Yarranbella Environment Services who provided the horticulturist and registered teacher, who will help develop the training package needed for the garden to be created; and
• Nambucca Valley Council who provided land for where the garden project will occur.

The Foundation was able to leverage the grant to secure wage subsidies and additional funding that meant the trainees have, with guidance, developed job descriptions, run recruitment information sessions, established a viable workplace for new recruits and learnt to supervise new staff.

Janette Blainey, Project Manager says they are proud to still be operating and to have succeeded in expanding.

“This grant we received under FRRR’s IRCF funding gave us the support and improved capacity to successfully apply for a further grant to establish a Native Seedbank and to train other young Gumbaynggirr people in custodial land management.

“While we still face challenges from the impacts of dispossession, racism and continuing colonising attitudes within the community, Mujaay Ganma Foundation has become stronger and better able to contribute more to the community. Our young trainee coordinators are growing in confidence and have pride in their culture and community, and are learning more about their culture and their Country. They are ready to step up when needed. Other young people have acquired knowledge, skills and a positive attitude to gardening an extensive food producing garden for the community to access. We also have two employees who are gaining project coordination skills. It’s also great to see improved relationships between Elders and younger community members.”

For more inspiring stories like this, head to our FY 2021/22 Annual Review.

FRRR has awarded another $286,318 in grants to four Leeton not-for-profit organisations (NFPs), in partnership with the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF). These grants will continue to build the capacity and sustainability of NFPs in the Leeton area, allowing them to better support their community.

The grants are part of FRRR’s Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program – an ongoing multi-year program that works to strengthen the NFP sector and inter-organisational relationships in Leeton, helping the community to thrive and achieve long-term stability.

As part of the IRCF program, FRRR facilitated sessions with community groups to create Roadmaps to document the organisational needs that exist in the Leeton NFP community and how FRRR can support local NFPs to maximise opportunities for a stronger and sustainable NFP sector and community.

Nancy Sposato, IRCF Program Manager for Leeton, said that each of the four initiatives being funded meets a need outlined in the Leeton Roadmap.

“The applications we received confirmed what we saw in the results of the FRRR’s recent Heartbeat of Rural Australia study, which showed, overwhelmingly, that after nearly two years of constant disruptions, volunteers are fatigued. In fact, many organisations have lost their volunteers due to the impacts of COVID-19.

“This round of grants will see new and continued employment of people for Leeton NFPs, taking pressure off volunteers and allowing these organisations to continue building resilience and capacity and doing what they do best – providing vital support for their community.

“A real strength of the IRCF program is that it provides a framework for these local NFPs to collaborate and support one another while also playing to their individual strengths. We can see such a sense of community in this round of applications, with intention for almost all of the roles funded through these grant funds working from the Leeton Connect offices. This will give the broader sector much greater access to their capacity building services.

“We’re also pleased to be funding a Leeton Jumpstart Coordinator who will oversee mental health first aid training. This training will be delivered to the Leeton Jumpstart Fund assessors, as well as members of the wider NFP sector. It’s these kinds of inter-organisational initiatives that will have a widespread impact on the entire Leeton community,” said Ms Sposato.

The four funded initiatives are:

• Leeton Business Chamber – Leeton Community Digital Hub Initiative – Support the not-for-profit sector and develop, build and engage the community in a new Digital Hub for Leeton. $40,000
• Leeton Connect Inc – Leeton Continues to Connect – Build capacity of the not-for-profit sector across Leeton and develop a plan towards a secure future by continuing to employ the coordinator for Leeton Connect over a two-year period. $147,600
• Leeton Jumpstart Fund Incorporated – Leeton Jumpstart Coordinator – Build capacity in fundraising, marketing and the delivery of mental health first aid training for Jumpstart’s volunteer panel and other local NFPs dealing with crisis through the employment of a coordinator. $44,718
• Leeton Shire Council – Community Grants Support Coordinator – Help not-for-profits in Leeton apply for and strengthen their own capability to attract funding and resources by employing a Grants Support Officer. $54,000

In addition to Leeton, the IRCF program is also working in Junee and Nambucca Valley in partnership with the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, and in Nowra, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla with the support of The Snow Foundation, and in Bay & Basin in partnership with Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation.

For more information about the Investing in Rural Community Futures program visit – https://frrr.org.au/ircf-program/.

Nearly $700,000 in funding awarded to local community groups

Funding announced by FRRR today, is helping local community groups in Junee and Nambucca Valley to carry on their operations, despite multiple disruptions, by funding staff, developing efficient processes and boosting their capabilities through collaboration and technology.

Fourteen local not-for-profits (NFPs) are sharing $695,166 in grants, which will strengthen how their organisations function, and bolster the ways in which these groups can support their communities.

Funded by FRRR, in partnership with Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) is a five-year program designed to provide local NFPs with the tools and support they need to make lasting impacts in their areas of focus for the community. As part of the program, FRRR worked with the groups to create a tailored NFP sector roadmap, reflecting their shared goals. This funding and other ongoing support, including local facilitators on the ground, is helping bring these plans to life.

Nancy Sposato, FRRR Program Manager, said that the IRCF program, now in its third year, gives participating not-for-profits the opportunity to identify common issues and develop local strategies that will support their long-term sustainability.

“Through these grants, we have supported six organisations we’ve previously funded, alongside eight new organisations. This package really shows a deeper understanding and sophistication in how organisations are approaching capacity building,” Ms Sposato explained.

“At this point in the program, it is fantastic to see collaborations and sector alliances building within each community. A great example of this is support for Unkya Local Aboriginal Land Council in the Nambucca Valley, who will deepen First Nations NFP sector collaboration and support key leaders to develop a cultural-competency induction package.

“Local employment continues to be a key capacity building measure in supporting stability and sustainability, particularly considering COVID related disruptions. For example, Junee Business and Trades will be able to employ a part-time grants officer, which will make it easier for local NFPs to apply for funding to support local projects. These grants also respond to the need for technology system and small-scale infrastructure upgrades, further enhancing organisational efficiency.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Junee and Nambucca Valley NFPs, and continuing to support them as they implement their unique roadmaps,” Ms Sposato, said.

In addition to Junee and Nambucca Valley, the rural community of Leeton is taking part in the VFFF-funded IRCF program. FRRR has also partnered with The Snow Foundation to expand the program into the Shoalhaven communities of Batemans Bay, Nowra and Ulladulla. In June, FRRR partnered with Bendigo Bank’s charitable arm, Community Enterprise Foundation to further expand the IRCF program into the Bay and Basin region.

For more information about the Investing in Rural Community Futures program visit – https://frrr.org.au/ircf-program/.

The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.