ETC is pleased to announce the successful recipients of the 2017/18 ETC Community Support Fund.
ETC Board Chairman Rod McKelvey said ETC had received many very worthwhile submissions with a total value of over $941,000.
“We are proud to announce that 17 applicants across our operating areas were successful in securing funding,” Mr McKelvey said.
These include:
Gold Coast Region
- New Beginnings (registered as SAPH Vision Quest Association Inc.) ($20,000) – This project will introduce disadvantaged and vulnerable young people to marine science/ecology and the practical aspects of seamanship. Participants will achieve a basic marine qualification as a potential pathway into a marine industry career.
- Hear and Say – Centre for Deaf Children Ltd ($4,946) – For a pilot hybrid service with a reimagined way of providing Listening and Spoken Language Therapy for children with hearing loss. It will offer both in-centre and Telepractice (PC-based videoconferencing) therapy sessions, enabling a highly individualised program for each child shaped around their family’s needs and values.
- Nerang & Districts Meals on Wheels ($8,100) – A refrigerated van to deliver fresh chilled food will allow a broader choice of menu options for clients, many of whom currently only have access to frozen meal choices. Plus sign writing on the van to help the community become aware of the availability of the Meals on Wheels services.
- Gold Coast Titans Community Foundation under the auspices of the Australian Sports Foundation Limited ($20,000) – Titans Deadly Futures will provide a 6-week workshop program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in years 8-12. The program will influence and empower participants to choose a pathway that leads to success, and help them deal with setbacks.
- Gold Coast Green Living Inc ($20,000) – To be located in Country Paradise Parklands, a new Therapeutic Sensory Garden will provide a space for people with disabilities to relax in an environment tailored for their enjoyment and well-being. The gardens will be experienced through the five senses via a series of educational and playful creative activities.
North Coast Region
- Multicap Limited ($18,025) – Funding will support delivery of a 16 week program for 8-9 people with disability to develop employment skills and identify their career interests and strengths. A safe environment with supportive technology will be created.
- Slippry Sirkus Inc ($12,000) – ArtWomb is a program of arts networking and skills development events to strengthen creative networks and professionalism in the creative industries. Funding for ArtWomb on the Road will provide equipment, including a professional level stage kit, to enable the program to reach more Northern Rivers communities.
- Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre Inc ($19,800) – The Food Recovery project aims to support community members to access free nutritious, healthy food relief when experiencing poverty induced hunger. ETC funding will enhance food relief service delivery and outreach of food donations to remote and regional communities across the North Coast region.
- Home Assistance and Regional Transport Services Inc ($20,000) – The Driving Assistance program enables people to overcome barriers to obtaining their provisional drivers’ licence. The purchase of a dual control training vehicle will enable more people to access personalised instruction and achieve their driving practice hours with volunteer mentors.
- Mental Health Support Group Inc ($19,850) – ETC funding will help the Mental Health Support Group to provide essential household items for people with a mental illness. This project will help ameliorate the disadvantage faced by people with a mental illness who may have faced homeless and/or estrangement from their families and loved ones.
Mid North Coast Region
- MiiMi Aboriginal Corporation ($9,800) – Through the upgrade of shower facilities and hot water system, and the purchase of a washing machine and dryer, Squeaky Clean will provide a place to shower and wash and dry clothes for the homeless and women escaping domestic violence. The project will also enhance MiiMi Aboriginal Corporation’s ability to connect people with outreach services.
- Forster Neighbourhood Centre Inc. trading as Great Lakes Neighbourhood Services ($10,536) – This project will support an increase in the accessibility of services, service reach and clients through the expansion of community services, currently only available in Tuncurry, to Forster. ETC funding will support a refurbishment of an office space to provide an accessible location close to the CBD.
- Cancer Council NSW ($10,000) – ETC funding will enable four ENRICHing Survivorship programs to introduce Mid North Coast cancer survivors to practical nutrition, exercise, and wellbeing information in a supportive group environment. This will improve their ability to cope with life after cancer and reduce their long-term risk of cancer recurrence.
- Family and Community Training and Support Inc ($20,000) – This project will modify current kitchen facilities to develop a commercial kitchen. This will be utilised by disadvantaged groups such as people with a disability and those from non-English speaking backgrounds, so that they can learn life skills such as healthy cooking. The commercial kitchen will also provide a facility to the community for the provision of training courses.
- Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre Inc ($12,500) – This project will provide facilities for regular community barbecues and cooking demonstrations by local Aboriginal elders. It aims to reduce social isolation, address issues of food scarcity, provide the opportunity for volunteers to gain skills, and provide a place for demonstration of traditional Aboriginal food.
- Red Dove Cafe ($9,455) – Upgrade of café equipment will enhance Red Dove Café’s ability to provide training in barista skills, kitchen hand skills and food service to people on work placements. The project will ensure equipment is adequate and modern to support the best training outcomes, and enable wider skills development through an increased product range.
- Lifeline North Coast (NSW) (14,988) – This project will enable onsite delivery of Crisis Supporter Workplace Training to build up Lifeline’s already dedicated group of volunteer Crisis Supporters. It will also enable the delivery of training such as DVAlert, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills, Mental Health First Aid, and Accidental Counsellor for the general community.
ETC CEO Jenny Barnett said the successful projects supported the Community Support Fund vision to reduce disadvantage, generate opportunity, increase support services and/or build capacity in the communities in which ETC operates.
“We are so pleased with the diversity of the recipient organisations that enrich the lives of local people,” Ms Barnett said.
According to Ms Barnett the ETC Community Support Fund had provided $910,000 to 113 worthwhile projects since commencing in 2012.
“We have supported people living with disability or health concerns, young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people facing homelessness and other significant disadvantage, migrants and refugees, and the broader community,” Ms Barnett said.
