Regional communities are being encouraged to apply for funding from the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal (FRRR) to kick start projects developed at the 2020 ABC Heywire Regional Youth Summit, held in Canberra earlier in the year.
More than 50 young people from across Australia came together at the summit to generate ideas aimed at making regional Australia an even better place to live for younger Australians.
The 2020 ABC Heywire group developed solutions to issues that related directly to their lives in regional and rural communities. These included issues dealing with disengaged young people, access to medical services, youth mental health, careers in agriculture, access to education, environmental care and knowledge of all cultures.
The Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal and its partners are offering $100,000 in grants to organisations interesting in implementing these ideas.
ABC Heywire participant, Mitchell Agnew, said all six Heywire ideas were informed by the experiences of this year’s Heywire winners, designed to combat challenges they themselves had faced.
“Heywire gives us a voice and an opportunity I will always be grateful for. Now it’s up to you. These ideas were born from our stories, passion, love and fun. Adopt an idea and grow them into movements of change within your regional communities,” Mitchell said.
The Youth Innovation Grants, now in their eighth year, have led to more than 85 youth-developed projects in close to 200 communities nationwide, through $1.2 million in community and philanthropic investment. The grants are assessed by a committee of young people including Heywire alumni. Many of the projects funded are youth-led.
ABC Chair Ita Buttrose, said that one of the great outcomes from ABC Heywire was seeing the many ideas the program had generated becoming a reality as a result of the FRRR grants.
“The grants program has resulted in innovative projects across many communities, tackling issues like mental health, multiculturalism, pathways for young people in agriculture, and access to education. Heywire has reinforced my belief in the enormous value of the ABC and the vital and unique role it plays as part of the fabric of Australian life. Thank you Heywirers for sharing the stories of your life in regional and rural Australia.”
2020 HEYWIRE IDEAS
L.E.D – Helping people to understand the importance of embracing diversity
Rochelle Tipiloura (Port Keats, NT)
Brandon Dent (Wellington, SA)
Keely Johnson (Hallidays Point, NSW)
Kirra Hampson (Dubbo, NSW)
Findlay Walker (Kalaru, NSW)
We Need Farmers – Educating our younger generations on behind the scenes of farming
Timothy Martin (Doubtful Creek, NSW)
Ebony Thompson (Karlgarin, WA)
Taylor Dolling (Kielpa, SA)
Skillin’ It- Creating a culture of skills and knowledge-sharing between regional Australians
Sam Kane (Bendigo, VIC)
Fenella Jamieson (Narrabri, NSW)
Jacob Yunupingu (Yirrkala, NT)
Renae Kretschmer (Wirrabara, SA)
Marie Knight (Grenfell, NSW)
Indigo Clarke (Launceston, TAS)
Green Book- Connecting young people to their local natural environment in a changing climate
Jivaughn Coaby (Broome, WA)
Thomas Craft (Adamstown, NSW)
Jess Hewett (Wollongong, NSW)
Kelsang Dolker (Garran, ACT)
Jade Cicak (Menindee, NSW)
Filling the Gap – Creating more culturally-inclusive learning in schools and the wider community
Olivier Gisubizo (Brinsmead, QLD)
Mitchell Agnew (Glenview, QLD)
Anyueer Majur (Swan Hill, VIC)
Amishah Monola (Broome, WA)
Brielle Hunt (Dunsborough, WA)
Just Relax- Making public spaces more accessible to people with mobility issues
Blake Hunter (Kalgoorlie, WA)
Katherine Butler (Glenlee, QLD)
Chloe Bethune (Sale, VIC)
Tanyannah Armstrong-Reilly (Cloncurry, QLD)
Rahila Abdul- Hadi (Toowoomba, QLD)
Maddison Fogarty (Ballarat, VIC)
Subscribe to the radioinfo daily flash briefing podcast on these platforms: Acast, Apple iTunes Podcasts, Podtail, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, or wherever you get your podcasts.
