Grants awarded to tackle issues that matter most to Latrobe Valley’s young people

Media Releases, 29 October 2024

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.

Takeover Latrobe Valley participants

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.

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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.