ANZ and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) have awarded $250,000 in grants to 20 regional community groups and not-for-profit organisations through the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program.
Jenefer Stewart, ANZ General Manager Business Banking, said: “We understand small communities face unique challenges in terms of access to services and community facilities. Programs like Seeds of Renewal aim to support these communities by funding projects that address some of these challenges.
“This year is really special as it marks 20 years of ANZ delivering Seeds of Renewal. In that time, we have provided more than $5.5m to around 900 community groups to build vibrant and sustainable rural communities and ensure the ongoing prosperity of regional Australia,” Ms Stewart said.
The 2022 program supported remote, rural and regional communities across Australia to improve their town’s environmental sustainability; increase financial wellbeing in communities, particularly those with disadvantaged or minority groups; or improve housing access for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and for people living with a disability; and other projects that help communities to thrive.
FRRR’s CEO, Natalie Egleton, said that long-term partnerships like this mean that community groups know that there will be funding available to help them respond to the myriad of challenges and opportunities that they face now, and in the future.
“These communities are extremely resilient and self-reliant but sometimes they need support to help them bring their ideas to fruition. Partnerships like the one that FRRR has had with ANZ over the last 20 years mean that they know that funding will be available, and so they can plan and work toward improving their community for the challenges ahead. We greatly appreciate ANZ’s ongoing support and look forward to it continuing for many years to come,” Ms Egleton said.
Since being established in 2003, ANZ Seeds of Renewal has awarded $5.5 million to around 900 projects. Some examples of the 20 projects funded this year include:
Environmental Sustainability
- Narrabri Shire Community Radio Incorporated, Narrabri, NSW – Install Roof Top Solar Panels and Battery. Boost organisational capacity using green solar energy to reduce emissions and operation costs at Narrabri community radio station. $15,000
Financial Wellbeing
- Australian Agricultural Centre, Crookwell, NSW – Australian Agricultural Centre Limited Youth AG Activation. Provide key skills training to increase employability of young people in Crookwell in agriculture. $15,000
Housing Access
- Phoenix Place Inc, Mackay, QLD – Teen and Adult Social Connection Space. Enable people living with a disability in Mackay to access a drop in social space for connecting with peers. $8,900
Thriving Communities
- Hub Foundation Castlemaine Limited, Castlemaine VIC – YIMBY Gymby. Boost the capacity of backyard composting through engaging young volunteers to support older community members in Castlemaine. $11,330
The full list of the recipients is below.
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
| Adelong Community Enterprises Inc | Adelong LPO Sustainable Energy & Education Strengthen Adelong community social enterprise with solar and battery installations to enhance operations and develop local understanding of alternative energy. | Adelong | $15,000 | |||
| Australian Agricultural Centre Limited | Youth AG Activation Provide key skills training to increase employability of young people in Crookwell in agriculture. | Crookwell | $15,000 | |||
| Key Employment Association Limited | Freedom to Participate Increase disability access to outdoor spaces with all terrain mobility equipment and vehicles to be made available in Kempsey. | Kempsey | $13,688 | |||
| Narrabri Shire Community Radio Incorporated | Install Roof Top Solar Panels and Battery Boost organisational capacity using green solar energy to reduce emissions and operation costs at Narrabri community radio station. | Narrabri | $15,000 | |||
| Wardell Community Organised Resilience Effort Inc | Grow Well Wardell Support local food production via garden support initiatives enabling capability and building resilience. | Wardell | $15,000 | |||
| Weddin Landcare Steering Committee Incorporated | Vaughn's Dam Reserve Masterplan Enhance the understanding and appreciation of Vaughn's Dam Reserve with a masterplan to guide environmentally sustainable management. | Grenfell | $5,400 | |||
| NORTHERN TERRITORY | ||||||
| The Trustee for Karrkad-Kanjdji Trust | Preserving Anbinik Rainforests Through Indigenous Fire Management Sustain the endemic anbinik rainforest species in Arnhem land by employing indigenous rangers for fire management and ecosystem preservation. | West Arnhem | $15,000 | |||
| QUEENSLAND | ||||||
| Bayside Transformations Ltd | Bayside Transformations - Enterprise Development Improve social enterprise operations of Bayside Transformations Op Shop and Vegie Supply with storage containers and kitchen equipment increasing security and productivity. | Hervey Bay | $15,000 | |||
| Eacham Community Help Organisation Inc | Neighbourhood House Community Demonstration Garden Build community resilience by establishing a community garden to educate and engage Eacham community members. | Malanda | $9,340 | |||
| Johnstone Region Landcare Group Inc | Construction of Potting Shed Increase capacity for volunteers to pot trees that deliver benefits to environmental initiatives in the Johnstone Region. | Innisfail | $15,000 | |||
| Phoenix Place Inc | Teen and Adult Social Connection Space Enable people living with a disability in Mackay to access a drop in social space for connecting with peers. | Mackay | $8,900 | |||
| Warwick Community Kindergarten Association Inc | Upgrade Solar Power System Upgrade solar installation at Warwick Kindergarten to support environmental sustainability and affordable local early childhood learning opportunities. | Warwick | $14,500 | |||
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Wilmington Bowling Club Incorporated | Wilmington Bowling Club Inc - Facilities Rejuvenation Rejuvenate the facilities at Wilmington Bowls Club to sustain operations for broad community engagement. | Wilmington | $2,340 | |||
| TASMANIA | ||||||
| King Island Landcare Group | Building Community Capacity to Restore Native Vegetation and Monitor Impacts of Restoration Effort Building community capacity to restore native vegetation and monitor impacts of restoration efforts at King Island. | Currie | $14,766 | |||
| VICTORIA | ||||||
| Heyfield Community Resource Centre Inc | Financial Wellbeing for Women in Remote Rural Communities: Wellington & East Gippsland Shires Build capability and confidence by providing practical financial literacy skills and awareness training to women in East Gippsland. | Maffra | $13,728 | |||
| Hub Foundation Castlemaine Limited | YIMBY Gymby Boost the capacity of backyard composting through engaging young volunteers to support older community members in Castlemaine. | Castlemaine | $11,330 | |||
| Rex Theatre Museum Limited | Cascade of Culture –A Roadmap for Rural Creative Diversity Build a vision for community vibrancy and sustainability by developing a 10 year roadmap for community activity at the Charlton Rex Theatre. | Charlton | $10,000 | |||
| Strengthening Goldfields Community Radio Incorporated | Goldfieldsfm, Music Powered by the Sun Boost environmental sustainability and reduce operations costs by installing solar panel at the community radio station. | Daisy Hill | $13,581 | |||
| The Fringe Thing Inc | Thriving: Castlemaine Fringe Supports Youth & Disability Arts Engagement Create opportunities for young people and people with a disability to participate in arts projects that inspire and engage the community. | Castlemaine | $12,600 | |||
| WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Mission Australia | The Women’s House, Free from Domestic Violence Provide fit out of accommodation to support women at risk of domestic violence and homelessness in remote WA. | Meekatharra | $14,827 | |||
