News
Out and About
The VFFF team loves getting out and about to see our partners in action and attend sector events. This quarter, we spent time visiting our partners and attending events focused on supporting young people and regional communities.
Young people flying high at QPAC
For almost 40 years, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), has been the proud home of live performance. That’s why QPAC understands the importance of investing in the next generation of live performance technicians. VFFF is delighted to support the work QPAC undertakes in partnership with Stage Queensland and Arts Centre Melbourne, to build a sustainable training and employment pipeline and provide opportunities for young Queenslanders across the state to build a career in these important behind the scenes roles.
VFFF Directors Peter Johnstone and Lucy Coulson joined VFFF Members Tim and Gina Fairfax and VFFF Acting CEO, Claire Mannion, for the Tech Connect Queensland 2026 Showcase. The group had the opportunity to meet trainees, supervisors and trainers and experienced a live fly system demonstration in the Playhouse Theatre.
A highlight was hearing directly from current trainees and program graduates about how the program is addressing a national skills shortage in the arts, while building sustainable technical careers across the state for young people.
A special stage for a special production
In May VFFF Director Emilia Kefford spoke at a special event at the Sydney Opera House, at the opening night of the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) production of Saplings.
ATYP had worked with Youth Action NSW in the development of the script, with the intention to communicate the lived experience of young people in contact with the justice system. This work was supported through a VFFF grant back in 2020 and premiered as part of the 2024 Sydney Festival. VFFF was delighted to see the production return to the stage for a national tour to once again platform the often-forgotten voices in our justice system.
At the event, Emilia, along with Hayden Tonazzi, CEO of ATYP and Andrew Johnson, Chair of ATYP, spoke about the important role early funding plays in backing youth arts. Emilia spoke about VFFF’s support for the sector and how seed funding can help turn bold ideas into creative work led by young people.
It was also a chance to see that impact up close, with a strong VFFF contingent in the audience in addition to Emilia, including Ruth Armytage, Andy and Steph Fairfax, Peter and Annabelle Johnstone, El Schwanke and Lynn Anderson.
Taking action to protect our planet and our health
Congratulations to the inspiring Kal Glanznig on his new film ‘The Plastic Country’. Kal is not only the co-founder of VFFF grant partner, Blue Minds Youth Ocean Leadership, but after attending the Sydney premiere of the film, we now know he is also a phenomenal film-maker.
The VFFF team were cheering loudly at the premiere event, along with other guests, including the Hon. NSW Minister for Environment, Penny Sharpe, and NSW Shadow Environment Minister, Jacqui Munro.
The film was followed by a panel discussion facilitated by one of Australia's leading science communicators, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. Kal was joined on the panel by Take 3 for the Sea CEO and Founder, Tim Silverwood, and Professor Sarah Dunlop, Director of Plastics and Human Health at Minderoo Foundation to reinforce one of the key messages from the film - the proliferation of plastic is not just an environmental issue, but a human health issue as well.
VFFF is so proud to support young changemakers like Kal through his work at Blue Minds Youth Ocean Leadership. Through that program, Kal is already working hard to connect with young people and create a future where youth leadership and ocean conservation thrive together. We left the theatre inspired by the energy of youth, reflecting on the many hats Kal wears – co-founder, Councillor, non-Executive Director, TEDx speaker, film-maker – and in awe of his capacity to squeeze it all in.
Bravo Kal and congratulations to all those that supported and worked with him to make this important film.
Launching Entrepreneurial Schools
In May, VFFF hosted Young Change Agents (YCA) for the launch of the Entrepreneurial Schools initiative – a pilot program they are delivering in partnership with the Australian Secondary Principals Association (ASPA). The program brings together 20 secondary schools from across Australia to embed youth agency and an entrepreneurial lens in their school communities, helping students build the skills and confidence to navigate life beyond school.
The event brought together 85 guests from philanthropy, industry and education, and highlighted the important role young people are playing in the initiative. Year 12 student and YCA alum Ahana Khan served as MC, while Thea Economos shared her work supporting the Youth Councils being established in each participating school.
A panel discussion featuring VFFF’s El Schanke alongside Dr Renae Jones (Project Director), Andy Mison (President of ASPA), and participating principals Peter Howes and Janet Barker explored the program's early impact and the strong enthusiasm for its potential to drive meaningful, long-term change for young people at a pivotal time for the education sector.
Building new pathways to quality job opportunities
VFFF knows that the world of work is undergoing profound change and young people are particularly vulnerable to these shifts. As entry-level roles evolve or disappear, young people without networks, guidance or access to training risk being excluded from decent work. For young people who have experienced homelessness, the challenge is even greater.
That’s why VFFF has provided an Exploration Grant to Foyer Foundation to enhance the approach they are taking to support young people facing homelessness to earn and learn. Youth Foyers provide young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness with stable housing for up to two years, combined with support to learn, earn and develop life skills. 18 Accredited Youth Foyers across the country currently support over 650 young people to exit into secure housing, employment and education. With the number of Youth Foyers expected to double in the coming years, the time is right to optimise their approach and ensure as many young people in Foyers as possible are supported into genuine, meaningful and decent work and careers.
In June, the Foyer Foundation in partnership with Y Careers, hosted a workshop that brought together young people, Youth Foyer staff, employers and philanthropists to co-design a pilot project that would see young people living in Youth Foyers access stronger pathways to quality job opportunities.
The energy in the room was palpable and we can’t wait to see the output from the session and the proposed pilot program brought to life.
Welcoming home The Family Place community
There was much to celebrate in April when Logan’s children and families had their first look at their much loved community hub, The Family Place, post its extensive modernisation and renovation.
Operated by The Salvation Army, this facility has played an important role in the Logan community for over a decade. In 2021, when the property was at risk of being lost as a community asset, VFFF purchased the site to ensure the vital services offered at the site could continue. It quickly became clear that there was an opportunity to modernise the facility and ensure it would continue to serve the community for many years to come.
The result was a year long renovation funded by VFFF and the Australian Government’s Thriving Suburbs program, that was unveiled at a day long community event attended by hundreds of community members and local dignitaries. Members and Directors of VFFF joined in the fun and very much enjoyed seeing the reaction of local children and families to the renovated facility.
The premises itself may have had a facelift, but the beating heart of The Family Place remains the extraordinary team operating the facility, led by Bec. Welcome home Bec and team and The Family Place community.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on VFFF’s activities