News

Introducing our Latest Changemakers - Backing the Future Cohort Eight

VFFF's Backing the Future, delivered with support from our friends at the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), champions Changemakers backing young people aged 12-30 in rural and regional NSW and Queensland. Backing the Future offers a $50,000 grant over 12 months for innovative projects that are focused on supporting young people in rural and regional communities. Backing the Future is designed for individuals or groups of individuals; community volunteers, young leaders and local changemakers.

Nine talented individuals from rural and regional Queensland were recently selected to form Cohort Eight of the Backing the Future grant program. Read about some of their inspiring ideas and projects:

Dominic de Moura McCarthy

Pasifika Christian Leadership Lab

Cairns QLD

Strengthening culturally grounded leadership, faith and community connection for Christian and Pasifika young adults in Cairns through a youth‑focused leadership development program.

Jeff Bonnick

Aquaponics For Schools

Witta QLD

Supporting rural schools to engage young people in sustainable food production through hands‑on aquaponics education, building skills, innovation and environmental awareness.

Shannon Smith

Ministry work in North Rockhampton

North Rockhampton QLD

Establishing a youth ministry in Rockhampton to provide young people with a safe, supportive environment to build faith, belonging, leadership and positive community connections.

Nathan Spruce

The Social Insight Bureau

Various Locations QLD

A detective themed social listening program to highlight and solve issues important to young people, empowering them to strengthen connection, skills and civic participation.

Joanna Moss

The Village Green Transformation and Growth

Macleay Island QLD

A place based project for young people to work on, develop, co-design with community, and feel ownership and safe, with a sense of pride in their work, home and community.

Jesse Gibson

Growing Together

Rockhampton QLD

Creating and piloting an intentional discipleship formation pathway, anchored by a practical field-guide, to support the personal, relational, spiritual & leadership development of young people in Bundaberg.

Louise De Busch (Wandidmore)

Yallambee Youth Bush Enterprise

Yallambee QLD

A youth-led program supporting young people in Yallambee to gain practical work experience and enterprise skills through developing and selling culturally grounded bush products.