More than $170,000 awarded to projects taking their lead from youth ideas

The FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program has awarded nineteen different grants worth a total of $172,069 to organisations in regional and remote areas.

The program offered rural community organisations the chance to apply for grants to support programs which addressed ideas and concerns raised by young Australians at the ABC Takeover Shepparton Summit earlier this year.

This year the summit identified six key themes which matter to young people: LGBTQIA+ allyship; hands on learning for young people; promoting healthier communities; supporting people in need; cultural awareness; and homelessness.
“This program not only gives young Australians a platform to champion the causes that matter to them but, more importantly, it puts their thoughts and ideas into action,” said Deb Samuels, FRRR’s People Portfolio Lead.

“Young people are the future and the initiatives being funded are a great example of how they can have a direct and positive impact on regional Australia.”

Grants have been awarded to a diverse range of programs, including The City of Albany’s The Allies project, which highlights stories LGBTQIA+ allyship through its podcast and Roxby Downs Community Board to deliver Mental Health First Aid training at Roxby Downs Area School.

Deakin, one of the young people who attended this year’s summit said it was exciting to see communities adopt the ideas that came out of this year’s 2022 Takeover Shepparton Summit.

“Seeing the ideas we came up with turn into real initiatives and projects is amazing. I’m proud to think that the ideas we came up will reach so many communities,” said Deakin.

A full list of the projects funded can be found on FRRR’s website.