FRRR has announced another $78,000 in grants for two exciting projects in the Bay and Basin area. 

The funding is through FRRR’s Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program, which is supported by Bendigo Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation. 

An injection of $30,000 will see Bay & Basin Community Resources (BBCR) engage a part-time project officer to coordinate the Ls & Ps Program, a young-driver education program. The new staff member will liaise with volunteers, oversee day-to-day operations and support collaboration to further develop the program. 

Importantly, this funding will free up BBCR’s managers to develop a plan to ensure the sustainability of the Ls & Ps program. They will engage with young people who will benefit from the program, including local youth at Waminda, Yilbara, Vincentia High School, Youth Insearch, Sussex Neighbourhood Centre, Youth Justice and Ostara. 

FRRR’s IRCF Program Manager on the South Coast, Carolyn Ardler, says that the program was identified as a priority at the youth workshop held last year, as well as by the Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs Transport Committee. 

“The ability to drive is so important for young people in this region, as it opens up many more opportunities for employment, as well as social connection. By supporting a coordinator, who can keep the program running day to day, the BBCR team will have more time to identify partners to maintain the vehicles and pull together the evidence about the critical role of this program, which will help with longer-term funding,” Ms Ardler explained. 

The second grant will not only help deliver an event in Huskisson over Easter, but it will also create employment opportunities, enable people to connect with First Nations culture and generate income within the community. The Blak Markets, to be held on 20 April 2025 at White Sands Park in Huskisson, will be an ethical market that will showcase the work of local Aboriginal artisans and strengthen connections between local businesses, the broader community and the local Aboriginal community. A range of artworks, craft, bushfoods and fashion from local small businesses will be featured, as well as workshops, performances and dancing.  

A pilot event, supported by First Hand Solutions and Djiriba Waagura, held in April 2024, attracted 300 Aboriginal people and a further 3,000 from the broader community. 

Ms Ardler says this is a really exciting project that will deliver broad community benefits. 

“The funding will employ a local trainee, who will build skills in events management and planning through mentoring, as well as engage local cultural services for the Blak Market and support promotion of the market to stallholders and the public.  

“The five years since the Black Summer bushfires have been challenging for many people and we hope that this opportunity will prompt local artisans to re-engage and share their work. We expect the market will lead to increased income and employment opportunities for local Aboriginal people, increase their confidence in their artistic and cultural endeavours and deliver opportunities to engage in broader national and international markets.” 

While the IRCF program in the Bay and Basin is coming to a close, there is still an opportunity to apply for toolbox grants focussed on building the capacity of local NFPs. If your organisation has participated in the IRCF program over the past four years and have a capacity need that aligns with the roadmap, you can apply for up to $15,000. If this sounds like you contact Carolyn Ardler by emailing c.ardler@frrr.org.au. 

Grants up to $10,000 to tackle issues that matter most to rural youth

FRRR has grants of up to $10,000 available to not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) in rural communities to work with local young people to kickstart projects inspired by this year’s ABC Heywire winners.

The FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program, encourages NFPs in remote, rural and regional areas to engage, consult and involve young people to design and develop projects based on one of six ideas identified at the annual ABC Heywire Regional Youth Summit.

The ideas address some of the most critical issues affecting remote, rural and regional youth today, as workshopped by the 38 young Summit participants at the week-long event in early February.

This year, the projects need to adopt, adapt and respond to one of the following ideas:

• Youth Ignite: Rekindling community spirit andimproving trust between young people and their communities
• How 2 Adult: Equipping young people with practical life skills needed for post-school life
• Full Plate Pantry: Breaking down the stigma surrounding food insecurity in regional communities
• HARK (Helping Australians in Rural Kommunities): Making career opportunities more accessible for young people living in the country
• Wellness Wagon: Connecting regional young people with the health support they need
• CommUnity: Using lived-experience to educate and celebrate different cultural diversity

There is $100,000 in funding available nationally, thanks to the generous support of The Sally Foundation, David Mactaggart Foundation and private donors. An additional $17,500 is also available specifically to fund projects in Queensland, thanks to The John Villiers Trust.

Tayah from Pambula Beach, NSW, is a 2025 Heywire Winner and was part of the group that created the How 2 Adult project idea.

“If we want a bright future for our country, we need to empower and educate young people about how to make informed decisions in all areas of their life.

“I’m hoping Pambula Beach charities are just as passionate as I am about our community’s future generations. I’d love to work with one of them to create and deliver a program that teaches life skills to young people. Making this happen would be a dream come true,” Tayah said.

Deb Samuels, FRRR’s People Portfolio Lead said that the success of youth-led programs such as Heywire have been demonstrated through the real impact that funded projects can make.

“It’s a magical thing to see such drive and innovative thinking spring from young people in rural communities right across Australia. It’s so evident that they love living in the places they’re from, and they are passionate about shaping a better, sustainable future for other young people.

“We have seen incredible initiatives and outcomes over the last 13 years of the program. This is a real testament to the value of empowering our youth to lead, to continue developing their skills and to know they are supported to play an active role in addressing issues that are relevant to them as young people in regional areas.

“There is such strength in harnessing the perspectives and lived experience of our young changemakers and it’s a real joy to see how past Heywirers continue to show up for their communities. They do more than advocate for change; they live it, and make it happen.

“I look forward to seeing how the next generation of young rural leaders can work with their communities to deliver meaningful projects,” said Ms Samuels.

Justin Stevens, ABC Director News, said the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program is one way that rural communities can collaborate with young people to create a sustainable future for their towns.

“This work offers a tangible means to motivate the next generation of leaders from remote, rural and regional areas. The projects directly respond to the issues that are most important to them and to their communities,” Mr Stevens said.

To date, more than $1.7 million in community and philanthropic investment has helped to fund more than 210 projects in more than 151 communities.

Applications close 5pm AEST Wednesday 30 April, and recipients will be announced in August.

More information about the six ideas is available at https://www.abc.net.au/heywire/grants, and more information about the available grants can be found on the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants page.

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.

Six community organisations stepping up to support local youth

Six local community organisations are using $48,000 in funding from FRRR to continue to work with Latrobe Valley’s young people to deliver projects that address the issues identified at the ABC Takeover Summit held in Latrobe Valley in September.

Hosted by ABC and FRRR, the Takeover Summit is a week-long, place-based storytelling and capacity building program that empowers young people to share their voices and make a positive impact in their community by working with local organisations to develop youth-led solutions to issues that affect them most.

Funded through the Takeover Youth Catalyst Grants program, the grants will fund the six projects co-designed by 35 of Latrobe Valley’s young changemakers and ambassadors from each of the organisations.

The projects focus on a range of issues, including encouraging positive connections with other local young people and the community; supporting creative and physical expression; and engaging with accessible educational materials to enable young people to make informed decisions for their future.

Deb Samuels, FRRR’s People Portfolio Lead, said the Takeover Summit was an amazing opportunity for the not-for-profit community to connect and work alongside the next generation of community leaders.

“FRRR worked closely with the ABC to identify six local partner organisations that share our vision of empowering young changemakers by giving them a voice and the tools and resources they need to drive change on issues that matter most to them.

“A mentor from each organisation worked alongside young people to bring their ideas to life and start to build these important connections as they become the community-focused professionals, creatives, policy-makers and volunteers of the future.

“With the support of our funding partners, FRRR provided the Takeover Youth Catalyst Grants to fund six youth co-designed projects now being delivered in the Latrobe Valley region.

“This unique granting program inspires hope and confidence in young people and affirms to them that their ideas are worthwhile; that organisations within their community and local leaders believe in them; and that they can have a voice and be agents of change within their community,” Ms Samuels said.

Justin Stevens, ABC Director News, said supporting young people’s ideas through the Takeover program benefited their communities.

“The stories we’ve heard from the Latrobe Valley’s young people demonstrate the incredible diversity of this region.

 “The community connection fostered through Takeover Latrobe and the ongoing community efforts demonstrate the power that young people’s stories can have,” Mr Stevens said.

These grants are generously co-funded by contributions from the Brian M Davis Foundation, the Sally Foundation and Bunnings Warehouse.

Community groups or businesses that want to also support the projects are encouraged to get in touch to help bring them to life.

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

By Deb Samuels, People Portfolio Lead

One of FRRR’s key strategic priorities is investing in the next generation of community-focused professionals, creatives, policy-makers and volunteers for remote, rural and regional communities across Australia. There is so much energy both internally and externally to bring this to life across all FRRR’s granting activities, from small grants to deeper capacity building. With so much momentum building, we thought it was time to share all our next gen focused activities or what we call our Youth Futures initiatives.

You are likely familiar with FRRR’s OG next gen initiative, the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program, in partnership with the ABC Heywire. Our 10+ years of partnering with the ABC has seen more than $1.5 million in grants awarded to remote, rural and regional communities to fund brilliant ideas for change developed by young people at the annual Heywire Summit in Canberra.

What you may not know is that these grants are reviewed by FRRR Heywire interns and that a Youth Advisory Committee comes together to land on what projects will have the biggest impact and makes recommendations to the FRRR Board on what to fund. These are ideas designed by young people from remote, rural and regional Australia, with funding for projects decided by young people. Last year, thanks to support from our friends at John Villiers Trust, we were able to provide a stipend to both our interns and the committee members. Representation matters and valuing the lived experience and unique perspectives of young people is vital to ensure the opportunity is open to a diverse pool of candidates.

We also have the FRRR ABC Takeover Youth Catalyst Grants, another partnership initiative with the ABC that brings young people and community together to partner with local organisations and co-design youth focused projects. Since Takeover began in Shepparton, VIC in 2022, it has continued to evolve in Mildura VIC, and most recently Takeover Lismore, NSW. Because each community is unique, each Takeover program is also unique and builds on what we’ve learned from each iteration.

What we’re super excited about as this program builds momentum, is the opportunity to help grow a local network of next generation superstars ready to take on the challenges in their region. Like the group of young people who have worked alongside Lismore Council to launch ‘High Schoolers Haven’, a youth-led pop-up event space to foster social connections, support, and skills development for Lismore youth. And the group working with Connect Northern Rivers to make a video at the local career expo that highlights great local career opportunities available for young people. Watch this space for the next Takeover locations in Latrobe, VIC this September, and two more national locations in 2025 where we will continue to evolve the program in partnership with the ABC to meet the unique needs of each community.

Our suite of Youth Futures initiatives also includes the Sally Foundation Trailblazers Development Fund, delivered by FRRR in partnership with the Sally Foundation and the ABC. This is an opportunity for young people to connect with mentors, grow their entrepreneurial skills and present their innovative ideas at Parliament House in Canberra. They are then invited to apply for seed funding to take their ideas to the next level. This program has launched shining stars like Jameson Harvey, who founded Red Dirt Robotics, who was then in a great position to become part of the 2023 VFFF Backing the Future cohort.

Which is a great segue into the newest next gen initiative on the FRRR Youth Futures block – our partnership with the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) to deliver their Backing the Future program! It’s such a unique grant program, offering $50,000 to back young changemakers and kick start a great idea that will have an impact on regional youth in NSW and QLD. This collaboration enables us to help discover and nurture promising ideas and explore the potential for significant impact that results when a great idea meets skill, innovation and start-up resourcing. FRRR is excited to be working alongside the VFFF team and utilising our networks across remote, rural and regional NSW and Queensland to connect with social entrepreneurs. If you have an innovative idea that benefits young people in your NSW or Queensland community, get in touch with us to discuss possibilities.

Did you think that was all? Not a chance! We also piloted a ‘Youth Roadmap’ in Ulladulla this year, as part of our Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program. This was another opportunity to give young people in a community a voice and support to share their ideas for change. As the IRCF program expands into new communities, we plan to make sure young people are at the table.

None of this work happens without the dedication and passion of the Youth Futures team at FRRR, led by Lauren Ryan our Youth Futures Manager. We have also just hired our first ever Youth Futures Program Officer! We look forward to making an introduction soon, and to all the great youth focused granting and activities this growing team will enable.

Whenever we engage with young people in any of our Youth Futures initiatives, we are left with no doubt that remote, rural, and regional communities are in the very best of hands. The community champions we need for the future are ready with brilliant ideas and solutions, they just need all of us to open the door of opportunity.

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.

More than 30 school-aged students will ‘takeover’ Lismore from 20 May to 24 May to share their stories as part of the ABC’s Takeover Youth Summit.

The Summit is a partnership between the ABC, the Office for Youth; Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and FRRR.

Thirty-four students have been selected to have their stories and ideas featured on the ABC during the Summit and beyond. The winning stories showcase the diversity and bravery of young people in the region.

To further back these ideas, FRRR will be offering support to community organisations to adopt and adapt the ideas developed by Summit participants.

Natalie Egleton, FRRR CEO, said, “FRRR is inspired to be part of their journey and to invest in the local community so young people can have a powerful say in the future of their region.”

Takeover Lismore winners will be featured across the ABC during the week of 20 May 2024.

To read the full media release and find out more information about the program please visit: abc.net.au/takeover-lismore.

Grants available to fund youth-focused community projects

FRRR is encouraging not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) in rural communities to work with local young people to adopt or adapt one of the six project ideas developed at this year’s ABC Heywire Youth Summit. The ideas emerged in response to the concerns identified as being most current and critical for youth in remote, rural and regional Australia.

Funded through the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program, grants of up to $10,000 are available to kickstart initiatives that promote equitable access to local services and foster a sense of belonging and connection to peers and to the land.

The six ideas developed by the 35 young Summit participants during the week-long youth leadership and skills development event are:

• Bussin’: How might we create more accessible transport options for young people in regional and rural communities?
• MEE (Mentoring Educating Empowering): How might we close the gap in accessing quality education for young people in regional, rural and remote communities?
• A Place for You: How might we improve accessibility to mental health services in remote and regional areas of Australia?
• The Bigger Picture: How can we empower young people in regional towns to celebrate their differences and foster connection among themselves?
• Safe Sphere: How might we ensure that young people in regional and remote communities receive relevant and comprehensive sexual education?
• Youth 2 Grassroots: How might we promote a stronger connection between individuals and their land by fostering a culture of environmental protection and stewardship?

There is $100,000 in funding available nationally, thanks to the generous support of The Sally Foundation, David Mactaggart Foundation and private donors. An additional $17,500 is also available specifically to fund projects in Queensland, thanks to a partnership with The John Villiers Trust.

Amy from Mount Isa, Queensland, is a 2024 Heywire Winner and was part of the group that developed the Youth 2 Grassroots project. Amy said, “I love living in rural Queensland, and it was incredible being given this opportunity through Heywire to come up with an idea to improve life for other country kids. I’m so excited to see what comes from our idea.”

Deb Samuels, FRRR’s People Portfolio Lead, said the Foundation’s long-term partnership with ABC has led to significant outcomes for young people and communities.

“Having run the Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program for 12 years, we have been lucky enough to witness the impact that these young leaders, their ideas, and the funded projects have had on rural Australia.

“From mental health first aid training and career open days, to events that foster social and cultural connection and understanding, each project ensures young people have an active role in fostering a place that they are proud to call home.

“It gives me hope for the future of rural Australia when I see young people working to tackle issues, many of which echo the concerns we see in rural Australia more generally, head on. The projects that these grants fund help young leaders to address issues of equity and wellbeing and change the underlying narrative of what rural communities “don’t have”, by creating a future where we can celebrate all that rural Australia can offer its young people,” said Ms Samuels.

Justin Stevens, ABC Director News, said the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program empowered young people to turn their ideas into reality.

“The ideas generated at the ABC Heywire Summit are developed by young people in regional communities, for young people.

“The grants that contribute to this help provide remote, rural, and regional communities a tangible means for encouraging the next generation of leaders to have a voice and act on issues that matter to them and their peers,” Justin said.

To date, more than $1.5 million in community and philanthropic investment has helped to fund more than 190 projects in more than 142 communities.

Applications close 5pm AEST Wednesday 29 May, and recipients will be announced in August. More information about the six ideas is available on ABC’s Heywire website, and more information about the available grants can be found on the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program webpage.

By Deb Samuels, People Portfolio Lead

With the rates of volunteering on the decline, how will we replace these tireless volunteers with a new generation of community leaders? It’s encouraging to know the Australian Government is making an investment in the future of volunteering. The recent press release from Minister Andrew Leigh’s office ‘Getting more young people back into volunteering’ provides some targets and strategies for engaging with and encouraging more youth volunteering and developing an open source ‘playbook’ for the sector.

For rural, regional and remote communities, harnessing the energy and social consciousness of young people represents an incredible opportunity – and unique challenges – to do things differently when it comes to local community leadership and volunteerism. The work we do at FRRR supports so many volunteer-run groups providing critical services across these communities that may not otherwise exist. As the Government funded work unfolds to inspire future volunteers, developing a targeted strategy for engaging young people living in rural, regional and remote contexts will be so important to ensure the viability of these essential volunteer-run resources.

My work at FRRR provides an up-close view of the hopes, dreams and frustrations of young people living in rural, regional and remote Australia, through our partnership with the ABC Heywire, Takeover and Trailblazer programs. Young people who care deeply about fairness, diversity and equity, who are keenly aware that they will be emerging into adulthood in a world suffering the impacts of climate change, and who have grown up with technology and access to instant information at their fingertips. Young people who have lived their formative years impacted by a series of traumatic events – bushfires, drought, floods and a global pandemic – missing much anticipated milestones and often feeling unsure about what opportunities might still be open to them in the future. Young people who want to make sure the voices of diverse and marginalised people are heard, and who value flexibility and investing in wellbeing. Young people who, when given the opportunity and voice, are a source of innovative and practical solutions to some of the biggest challenges Australia’s rural, regional and remote communities are facing.

What I’m also seeing in our place-based capacity building programs, like Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF), is that the volunteers who have been the backbone of small community organisations for decades are now looking to retire and pass the baton. They are exhausted because so much of the recovery work, from the series of disasters in recent years, has fallen on their shoulders. They know the answer lies in engaging young people as the next generation of leaders but are often not quite sure how. We also see that young people want to connect and help, but they struggle to see themselves in the same roles their parents and grandparents have held, doing things the way they have always been done.

Instead of inviting regional young people to take a seat at the existing community leadership table, what if we first co-design a new ‘table’ with them? To hear and really listen to the ways they are inspired to connect. I couldn’t agree more that taking on a volunteer role can be empowering and career building for young people, but first we need to make sure we get the ecosystem right.

Could some volunteer opportunities be done remotely or more flexibly? Could a broader model of shared leadership be adopted? Could some traditional volunteer roles become paid or partially paid roles, so that young people without the means to donate their time, can still be involved in their community in meaningful ways and become inspired for a lifetime of connection to the sector? And definitely not to be left out – how can we make sure there’s a healthy dose of fun in volunteering?

There is sometimes an assumption made that because they are not showing up in familiar ways, young people don’t want to show up for community. What I see and hear is the exact opposite. Young people in regional communities are looking at complex problems, with fresh eyes, and coming up with entrepreneurial solutions. Like the volunteer Youth Leadership Committee at Heywire grantee Human Nature, who shaped their alumni program with the flexibility for young people to participate in activities that interest them and suit their personal life goals. And like the Regional Education Support Network (RESN), a youth volunteer-led organisation that has connected 1,400 school students with over 400 online peer tutoring volunteers across regional NSW and Victoria.

As young people imagine their futures, wouldn’t it be great if they had a career with a social impact focus on their radars as an exciting and viable one? To see staying in their rural, regional or remote community as a first choice to do work that aligns with their values, and not one that comes with a long list of compromises.

It brings me so much joy in my work at FRRR to know that we are committed to deeper engagement with regional young people. We are adding meaningful opportunities for their powerful voices to be present and truly heard in decision making that values their knowledge and reflects their values. This year, with generous donor support, we are embedding paid youth advisor roles to work alongside NFP’s implementing youth-designed projects funded through the Takeover Mildura program. We have also shifted a volunteer ABC Heywire Youth Internship role to a paid position, along with offering an honorarium for our Youth Advisory Panel who assess grant applications. This will ensure that all eligible young people have the opportunity to take a leadership role in deciding what projects best meet the needs of young people.

We never want to lose the opportunities for unpaid volunteering. However, when we are asking young people to share their expertise and lived experience, we need to make sure those unique skills are valued. Re-imagining how small volunteer-centred NFPs in remote, rural and regional communities might survive and continue to operate as vital community resources and services in the future is no small challenge. The answer lies with the young people who will both lead and need these programs and services. They are the solution, so let’s take every opportunity to listen and learn.