Amplifying young voices in Bay & Basin

Community Stories, 16 December 2024

Uniting – Firefly Bay & Basin is one of nine Uniting NSW / ACT Future Horizons community initiatives that aim to build a better world by focusing on communities and places with the greatest need. They bring together young people, parents and carers, schools, organisations, governments and residents to collaborate, find solutions and create lasting change for that community. Firefly works with, supports and advocates for young people in the Bay & Basin region of NSW, and collaborates with the broader community and local organisations for better outcomes and experiences for local youth.

Firefly partnered with Sanctuary Point Community Pride Inc to receive a $26,000 grant through FRRR’s Investing in Rural Community Futures program to create the Youth Voice project for the Bay & Basin community. They drew on the invaluable expertise of Western Sydney University to develop a high quality, research-based program that resulted in four youth-led projects for the community.

The Youth Voice project acted as a vehicle to engage and empower young people to ‘Ask, Amplify & Act’. The grant money was allocated to increase the capacity of Firefly Bay & Basin by employing a Youth Practitioner at Firefly to collaborate with Beyond Empathy to deliver this project. This resulted in a number of projects being pitched to the community and each Youth Voice team engaged with community to create a network to co-design the implementation of the final four projects, which include:

  1. Repairing and revitalising the Malcolm Moore Reserve Basin View BMX track;
  2. Expansion of Vincentia High’s Breakfast Club to have more inclusive options and have made it available to students five days a week;
  3. A purpose built wall in Sanctuary Point for young people to have access to creative arts activities; and
  4. Providing community events and advocacy for families of people with autism spectrum disorder.
A large group of people stand for a photo with one woman laying sideways in front of the group.

They received further funding from the NSW Premiers Department, Local Small Commitments Allocation to support the Youth Voice team in implementing these projects, which are due for completion by the end of this year.

The Firefly team has also developed the skills to be able to deliver the Youth Voice project in the high school again next year and will encourage more young people to be changemakers in their community. The capacity developed within the Firefly team has also resulted in them developing a partnership with Sanctuary Point Primary School, where they will delivered an adapted version of the Youth Voice project in terms 3 and 4, 2024. 

Project organisers at Firefly and Sanctuary Point Community Pride Inc said that another significant change has been the increased collaboration between Sanctuary Point Community Pride, Firefly and other community organisations in the Bay & Basin region, who have enthusiastically supported the four Youth Voice projects.

“These relationships continue to strengthen and are ongoing. These projects have brought the community together. Firefly has strengthened its relationship with Vincentia High School and Sanctuary Point Community Pride will work closely with Firefly to continue to grow these connections.

“Firefly’s ability to offer a program that has provided young people with valuable skills and an opportunity to build confidence has created a deeper level of connection between the organisation, young people, their families and the wider community.”

Watch the mini documentary on the Youth Voice program.

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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.