Communities receive grants to implement youth-developed ideas

Media Releases, 15 August 2016

More than $150,000 shared across 19 communities

The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) today announced that 19 communities will receive grants to pilot eight youth-developed ideas, thanks to the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program.

In partnership with The Pratt Foundation, The Sally Foundation, Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, The Myer Family Grants Program, the SAGE Foundation and several private donors, FRRR awarded grants totalling $152,118 at an event held today in Melbourne, which was hosted by the ABC.

The communities receiving grants are located across Australia, including Yeppoon in central Queensland, Kalgoorlie in WA and various locations across Tasmania.

The ideas originated at the 2016 ABC Heywire Regional Youth Summit, and all deal with big issues affecting young Australians, such as mental health and healthy lifestyles, revitalizing small towns, the impact of drugs, anti-racism, youth disengagement, gender equality, LGBTQI wellbeing and accessibility challenges for people with a disability.

The diverse projects involve a mix of social enterprises, community events, exchange programs, mentoring, social media, education and advocacy campaigns.

Fitina Maulidi was a 2016 Heywire winner from Shepparton, Victoria, and was part of the group that developed the Magnify Mentoring idea. It involves connecting teenagers in their final years of high school with a local mentor who can support them in making the transition from school to further study or into rural industries. She’s also one of the recipients of a grant to implement the idea, having teamed up with Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Inc to apply for a grant.

“I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spent time in a refugee camp, before coming to Australia. In the camp, children didn’t have access to education and living in Australia, I have realised that a lot of kids take education for granted. So I’m excited that we’ll be able to implement this idea to help disengaged kids to see the opportunities that are all around them, by connecting them with mentors who’ve been through similar things,” Fitina said.

FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton, said that the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants are special because it allows community groups to come together with young people in their communities.

“Each of the projects we are funding today involves young people in their community. These grants allow local leaders to implement ideas that have been developed by young people to address the issues that matter to them in a way that other young people believe will resonate well. Hopefully it will be the start of ongoing relationships, and a voice for young people,” Ms Egleton said.

“We congratulate all the groups that have received grants – they have a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in their community. The 35 Heywire projects we’ve funded in the past have made a big difference in their communities, with some sparking a national movement. So we are really looking forward to seeing these projects implemented and the legacy that they leave.”

Recipient

Location

Grant Amount

Idea / Project

Eurobodalla Youth Committee

(Eurobodalla Shire Council)

Moruya, NSW

$10,000

Back to Bush

Production of a youth led tourism campaign and materials to encourage visitors to experience rural, regional and remote communities through a local’s eyes, by showcasing the hidden gems of the region.

Hindmarsh Shire Council

Nhill, VIC

$10,000

District Council of Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy, SA

$9,700

Cooking for Cohesion

Increasing understanding and tolerance in regional communities through the delivery of a program whereby young people work with local home cooks from different ethnic backgrounds in practical and interactive educational workshops.

Illawarra Sports High School

Wollongong, NSW

$6,700

Snowy Monaro Regional Council

(Cooma-Monaro Shire Council)

Cooma, NSW

$4,225

The Roman Catholic Trust Corporation for the Diocese of Rockhampton – Emmaus College

North Rockhampton, QLD

$1,500

Northern Grampians Shire Council

Stawell, VIC

$10,000

Dot 2 Dot

A volunteering and community engagement project that enables young people, who may be disconnected because of isolation, disability or mental health, to gain valuable skills, which can open doors to future employment and other opportunities.

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder

Kalgoorlie-Boulder, WA

$10,000

Magnify Mentoring

A mentoring program to connect young, local role models with students in their community, to help the students continue educational engagement and reach their own definitions of success. 

Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Ltd

Shepparton, VIC

$7,500

South Coast Beef Producers Assn Inc

Nowra, NSW

$10,000

Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc

Gladstone, QLD

$10,000

No Limits Network

A job network event with a difference – bringing together young people with a disability and local employers at a an inspiring and empowering event, showcasing speakers who have excelled in their field and happen to have a disability and practical advice, such as tips for employers to create disability-friendly workplaces.

Greater Hume Shire Council

Culcairn, NSW

$4,693

Operation Defrost

A media project that creates a safe place for young people who have experienced ice abuse in their families to publicly share their stories, helping to build understanding and support within regional communities and to combat the spread of ice.

Uniting Communities Inc

Mount Gambier, SA

$10,000

Goulburn Mulwaree Council

Goulburn, NSW

$10,000

RAGE

RAGE (Rural Australians for Gender Equality) is a youth led event for the whole community which celebrates people in rural, regional and remote Australia who are pushing back against the expectations of traditional gender roles – showcasing and sharing experiences of living with and overcoming the constraints of gender expectations.

Mitchell Shire Council

Seymour, VIC

$9,943

Young Leaders in Livingstone

 (Livingstone Shire Council)

Yeppoon, QLD

$3,000

Mansfield Shire Council

Mansfield, VIC

$4,857

RegionALL

A series of Podcasts to connect LGBTQIA teens in rural, regional and remote communities via conversations by LGBTQIA people and straight allies. The youth led project will work to normalise queer issues and invite listeners from all backgrounds to tune in and contribute.

Regional Youth Support Services Inc

Gosford, NSW

$10,000

Working it Out Inc

Various, TAS

$10,000

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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.