Grants to address the tough topics facing rural and regional youth

Media Releases, 21 August 2018

More than $154,000 shared across 20 community groups

Rural youth in communities across Australia will be implementing home-grown projects to address some of the biggest issues facing young Australians, thanks to grants from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).

The FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation grants will help 20 communities pilot ideas that were developed at the 20th ABC Heywire Regional Youth Summit in February 2018. The Heywire program helps young people use their lived experience to generate meaningful and impactful change in regional communities.

The 2018 projects tackle issues ranging from mental health and drug prevention, to youth disengagement and learning about healthy relationships, celebrating Indigenous culture, connecting new Australians to agricultural careers and aligning medical professionals with their communities.

The communities benefiting from the grants are spread right across Australia, from Alice Springs NT, to Riverside TAS, Theodore QLD, Victor Harbour SA, Orange NSW, Albany WA and Foster VIC.

Heywirer Hamish Austin, from Manjimup in WA, was part of the team that develop the ‘Yeah The Boys’ idea, aimed at keeping boys aged 12-18 away from drugs. Hamish explained that he has seen what drugs can do to a regional town.

“They seized $250,000 worth of methamphetamine and this has made my home seem like the most terrible place in Australia. I’ve seen good friends go from loving school to coming to school about once a week. Yeah The Boys needs to happen because I want to live in a town where my family and friends feel safe,” said Mr Austin.

Three grants are being made to enable communities in WA, SA and TAS to adopt the Yeah the Boys idea and run programs to engage young men.

FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton, said that the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation grants enable young people to work with community groups to tackle real, and at times confronting, issues that are impacting their local area.  

“The Summit provides a platform for young people to come together from every corner of the country, talk about the issues that matter to them and then workshop solutions. These grants then enable local leaders to work with local youth to implement these solutions in a way that will resonate in their communities,” Ms Egleton said.

“With Australian youth developing the ideas and local youth being supported to lead the implementation, the grant recipients have a fantastic opportunity to make a real and lasting difference. This is the sixth year that we have seed-funded projects with FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation grants and I am thrilled to say that there are a number of projects still going strong, and continuing to have an impact.”

The grants are possible thanks to support from the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities; The Sally Foundation; Findex Community Fund; the Myer Foundation; and several private donors.

Patrick Myer, a donor and Director of FRRR, has been involved in the Heywire program since 2014 and has attended several of the Heywire Summits held in Canberra. Mr Myer explains that the Heywire Summit brings together incredibly engaged young people from Australia’s rural and regional communities and it is great to see people passionate about telling their story, making it in the bush and maintaining that connection with their home towns even if they go to city.

“Philanthropy can take risks that aren’t governed by commercial considerations. Heywire is a genuine investment in the future of people in those areas, these people are Australia’s future leaders. As a donor, you know that your funding will go toward initiatives that support our future leaders,” said Mr Myer.

Below is the full list of grant recipients.

ApplicantProjectLocationAwarded
Bridging Agriculture
Australian Migrant Resource CentreEncourage career opportunities in the agricultural sector by providing work experience and training for six youth from migrant and refugee backgrounds.Bordertown, SA$8,600
C2C (Connecting To Culture)
Dunghutti Elders Council (Aboriginal Corporation)Impart knowledge of traditional food and cooking techniques, Dunghutti languages, and Dunghutti cultural and spiritual stories to the local youth during four days of workshops and cultural celebrations.Kempsey, NSW$9,748
headspace Murray Bridge

 

Murray Mallee General Practice Network

Increase cultural awareness and promote reconciliation through a one-day festival event for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.Murray Bridge, SA$10,000
Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Assoc.Connect youth with Elders to pass on knowledge of traditional cultural hunting and food preparation practices through a ‘Culture in Country’ community event.Mornington Island, QLD$10,000
Yirara College of the Finke River MissionStrengthen community resilience and cultural awareness through ‘Welcome to Country’ events and cultural Arrente tours for Yirara College students.Alice Springs, NT$10,000
HOPE
Country Education Project IncImprove community awareness and knowledge of mental health issues through mental health workshops for students, community forums, the development of resources and an online blog.Towong Shire, VIC$9,500
headspace Orange, through Marathon Health LimitedImprove mental health awareness through youth-led school based mental health initiatives, reaching 600 Year 9 & 10 students.Orange, NSW$10,000
St Andrew’s Men, through

 

St Andrew’s Catholic College

Support community resilience and build strong social support networks through a series of events including White Ribbon Day breakfast, Strongman Competition and mental health speakers at four BBQ’s.Redlynch, QLD$3,560
West Tamar Youth Advisory Council, through West Tamar CouncilBuild community resilience and raise awareness of youth issues through the creation of five short videos.Riverside, TAS$6,000
Medifriends
headspace Whyalla, through Country & Outback Health IncIncrease community cohesion by hosting a Meet ‘n’ Greet event for youth, health professionals and headspace Whyalla.Whyalla, SA$4,500
Theodore Community Link IncIncrease health literacy through ten community quiz night events, co-hosted by allied health professionals.Theodore, QLD$10,000
Step Up
City of Victor HarbourIncrease youth participation through the planning, development and implementation of an Artisan Market and Street Festival event showcasing youth opportunities in the region.Victor Harbour, SA$9,320
Eden Game Development Centre, through Eden Community Access Centre IncBuild community connectedness and support youth engagement in volunteer opportunities through a ‘Step Up’ community street party, featuring local volunteer organisations, video and virtual reality games, bands and activities.Eden, NSW$9,262
Greater Hume Shire CouncilIncrease youth awareness of local employment and engagement opportunities through workshops in Culcairn and Lockhart, and a ‘Festival of Possibilities’ showcasing youth achievements and opportunities.Henty, NSW$5,500
Manna Gum Community House IncIncrease awareness of local youth employment and training options through a one-day street market.Foster, VIC$6,786
Taking Control
Multicultural Communities Council of IllawarraIncrease knowledge and awareness of healthy relationships and domestic violence through a mini conference for multicultural young people aged 12-18.Wollongong, NSW$5,300
Tennant Creek High School Council IncReduce the incidence of domestic violence through an education campaign produced by Tennant Creek High School students, using community network maps, posters and videos.Tennant Creek, NT$9,938
Yeah The Boys
District Council of Streaky BayBuild strong local networks and upskill youth with mentoring from the Streaky Bay & District Drug Awareness Action Group and Council’s Community & Economic Development Team to organise ‘Streaky Sk8z”, a skate and scooter event and activity series.Streaky Bay, SA$6,300
Margaret River Senior High SchoolBuild community connectivity and individual resilience and well-being by offering drug free, healthy lifestyle activities for teenage boys.Albany, WA$8,250
Waratah-Wynyard CouncilMinimising harm and developing life skills through a youth program for 13 to 24-year-old young men at the new 7Up Youth Centre.Wynyard, TAS$2,000
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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.