Grants for youth-driven initiatives deliver change in rural, regional and remote Australia

Media Releases, 19 August 2019

The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) today announced that 17 communities will share $135,516 in grants to pilot one of seven innovative ideas, thanks to the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program.

Funded in partnership with The Sally Foundation, Findex Community Fund, David Mactaggart Foundation, Rural Affinity and Private Donors, FRRR awarded the grants at an event held today in Melbourne, hosted by the ABC.

The projects are based on ideas developed by 50 young leaders at the 2019 ABC Heywire Regional Youth Summit in Canberra in February. Thematically, they range from entrepreneurialism, mental health, agricultural education, connectedness, life skills, and reducing stigma around mental health. The communities receiving grants are located across Australia, including Mullumbimby in New South Wales, Longford in Tasmania, Lockington in Victoria, Normanton in Queensland, Karratha in Western Australia and Mount Gambier in South Australia.

Heywirer Elka Devney, from Moree in NSW, was part of the team that developed the ‘Our Place’ initiative which is about creating a safe space where young people between 12-18 can meet, socialise and do homework if they need to. Our Place projects use existing buildings or spaces refurbished or being adapted so that they can be used to their full potential, staying open when other youth centres close.

“In my hometown, youth crime is a massive issue,” explained Ms Devney. “The amount of abuse that businesses receive is disgraceful. I see it regularly at the shop where I work. I believe it stems from a lack of places for young people to go after school. Having somewhere safe and free to hang out would go a long way.”

The ‘Our Place’ initiative proved popular for many community groups, attracting 29% of applications received.

“FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants are a great example of our philosophy that locals – including younger people – know what will affect real change in their community,” said FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton. “It’s fantastic to be able to fund projects where young people have identified the issues, designed the solutions and will be involved in delivering them in their community. We even involve Heywire Alumni in the grant assessment process because we’ve seen time and again that the grants create real and lasting change. That’s a direct result of the insights that these youth leaders have into the issues that impact them.

“The seven project ideas address issues that concern young people in rural and regional Australia, and it’s great to see communities receiving these grants have young people involved in the project to ensure that they are relevant and responsive to their specific needs within the local community,” said Ms Egleton.

Minister for Agriculture, the Hon Bridget McKenzie, in attendance at today’s announcement of the recipients of the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants, said that initiatives like Heywire shine a light on the issues facing young people in rural and regional Australia.

“It’s an important opportunity, not only for politicians, but for everyday Australians to take the pulse of the next generation of rural Australians.

“These grants are about converting the experiences and new thinking into action – taking awareness and turning it into a force for change.”

The full list of grant recipients is below.

Organisation

Project

Location

Grant

C.E.O – Conquer Every Opportunity

Eden Community Access Centre Inc

Provide young people with the knowledge to start their own business through workshops and a business kit.

Bega,

Eden,

Merimbula, NSW

$6,921

National Young Writers’ Festival Inc.

Support emerging writers’ business skills development through a full day of workshops, classes and panel discussion during National Young Writers Festival.

Newcastle, NSW

$9,815

The University of New England

Build project management and community engagement skills of Year 9 and 10 youth by the creation of a social enterprise toolkit.

Tamworth, NSW

$5,443

Walk and Talk

Colac Area Health

Enable youth to access mental health support via an outdoor activity program in the Otways.

Colac, VIC

$10,000

Northern Midlands Council

Build community resilience and strong mental health through outdoor and team building activities at a three-day youth camp. 

Campbelltown,

Cressy,

Longford, TAS

$3,000

Human Nature Adventure Therapy

Build resilience and mental health wellbeing with expansion of outdoor adventure therapeutic program and counselling sessions for disadvantaged youth.

Ballina,

Byron Bay,

Mullumbimby,

Murwillumbah, NSW

$7,550

Shed Happens

Big hART Inc

Digital media and literacy skill development through production of digital workshops and creation of five films featuring stories of rural youth.

Smithton,

Wynard, TAS

$9,800

Our Place

Manna Gum Community House Inc

Reduce social isolation and support increasing youth engagement through a 20-week youth club at Manna Gum Community House.

Foster, VIC

$10,000

Carpentaria Shire Council

Support youth educational and mental health outcomes through the development of a youth chill out and homework room at Normanton Sports Centre.

Normanton, QLD

$10,000

Ask Away

E-Raced

Tackle issues of racism through a series of visits to schools on the Limestone Coast.

Millicent,

Mount Gambier,

Penola,

Port MacDonnell area, SA

$6,000

Students Against Racism through Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning Inc

Increase understanding and support integration via training for youth from multicultural organisations to deliver workshops and host a presentation for 80 school children.

Hobart, TAS,

Bendigo, VIC

$7,400

Adulting

Camp Kulin Charities Inc

Support life skills development through the provision of intensive adulting skills workshop for youth at leadership camp.

Kulin, WA

$8,724

Charlton Neighbourhood House Incorporated

Support youth transitioning to independent living through the provision of fortnightly ‘Life Skills for Charlteens’ programs at the Charlton Neighbourhood House.

Charlton, VIC

$10,000

Kuruma Marthudunera Aboriginal Corporation Registered Native Title Body Corporate

Develop and implement a culturally appropriate financial literacy program for Robe River Kuruma youth.

Karratha,

Roebourne, WA

$10,000

headspace Rockhampton through Live Better Services Limited

Adult Survivor will provide young people with practical skills to confidently transition into young adulthood and independent living.

Rockhampton, QLD

$7,163

Lockington District Business Centre

Build youth capacity to navigate independent adult living through a six-month skills-based training program offering first aid, job readiness, cooking, and budgeting and basic car maintenance for 25 youth.

Lockington, VIC

$6,700

headspace Wagga Wagga through Relationships Australia Canberra and Region Incorporated

Develop a support network to assist youth of Wagga Wagga and surrounding areas to transition into adulthood.

Wagga Wagga, NSW

$7,000

Share
Back to News
Follow Us
Support the future of remote, rural and regional communities
Giving
Grantseeker resources: I am looking for information about…
Explore
X

Amy Crawford

Amy Crawford has an extensive career in complex public policy and its intersection across government and communities.

Amy is the Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), representing 537 councils across the nation. Amy holds over 20 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service. She has a deep understanding of federal government policies and structures, with over 10 years’ service in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and has worked for the federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. Amy has shaped a wide range of policies and programs including regional development, telecommunications, immigration, emergency management, social policy and pandemic preparation.

Amy is a Board Director of Austroads and represents ALGA on the Public Skills Australia Industry Advisory Group, and the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee. She is also a Board Director for the Canberra Youth Theatre which provides voice for Canberra’s youth through intelligent and challenging theatre.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) from the University of Queensland, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumnus of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. Amy was appointed to the FRRR Board in January 2025.

X

Kylie Hansen

Kylie brings leadership and management experience from across academic, corporate, not-for-profit, social enterprise and impact investment sectors, having deep dived into a myriad of specialisations and systems. Her six tertiary qualifications are equally as diverse and complimentary, covering commerce, politics, international development, community development, project management and law. Her breadth and depth of experience enables her to draw on a number of disciplines and innovative ways of working and thinking, and she is well recognised as consistently delivering work and services of a high quality.

Kylie uses her strong background in sustainability, governance and impact measurement to support collaborative initiatives across sectors oriented at improving social outcomes, and to support socially conscientious businesses to articulate their social impact. As founder and director at Impact Seed she has been instrumental in developing the impact measurement, evaluation, learning and ESG practice which advises numerous corporates, and is passionate about supporting First Nations empowerment particularly in the context of regional economic development.

Kylie is also a Director of the WA Social Enterprise Council, a member of the B Council (B Lab Australia and New Zealand), and a Governor of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

X

Hon. John Anderson AC

The Hon. John Anderson AC is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from NSW, who served in the Australian Parliament from 1989 to 2008.

He was a senior Cabinet minister in the government led by John Howard (1996 to 2005), including six years as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister.

In the latter role, Mr Anderson played in important role in FRRR’s history, working closely with Baillieu Myer AC and others on a proposal to establish a philanthropic organisation to benefit rural Australia. The concept was discussed at the National Regional Summit in 1999 and FRRR was established shortly thereafter.

Mr Anderson currently hosts a regular podcast, where he is in conversation with thought-leaders from around the world, and is a regular media commentator.

X

Regina Cruickshank

Partnerships Specialist (WA)

Regina supports FRRR as the WA Partnerships Specialist. With over two decades of experience in partnerships and marketing, she has a deep understanding of Western Australia’s social impact landscape. She brings a strong passion for leveraging purpose-built networks to create positive change.

Regina previously worked with Playgroup WA and founded a Health Promotion Charity dedicated to supporting Social Emotional wellbeing for underserved communities. She’s excited about the opportunity to connect with partners and explore ways to make a meaningful difference in WA.

She lives in Perth with her family and enjoys mindful moments of connection to Country, whether on horseback, on foot or underwater.

X

Anna Palmer

People and Culture Manager

Based in Central Victoria, Anna is a senior Human Resources, Organisation Development and Industrial Relations professional, with significant private and public sector experience across every facet of people and culture leadership.

Her most recent roles have been with Don KR in Castlemaine and Mount Alexander Shire Council. She has also held senior HR roles with Victoria Legal Aid and the TAC among many others.

From Mildura originally, Anna has postgraduate qualifications in Change Management and a Masters in Organisation Dynamics.

Anna is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts to balance her creative pursuits and work as an HR professional.

X

Philippa Twaddle

Management Accountant

Carolyn joined the FRRR team in March 2017, and is responsible for providing executive support to the CEO, effective coordination of the FRRR office and general administrative support to the management team. A key responsibility is supporting the administration of FRRR’s Donation Account Services.

She has over fifteen years’ experience working in local government in the Tourism and Arts Sector, Civic and Event Management and Community engagement.

Carolyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Librarianship, majoring in psychology, and grew up on farming communities in Cohuna and Echuca and currently lives in Bendigo.