UTS Regional Journalism Internship Program

In August 2020, the VFFF Grants Committee approved $50,000 to support the University of Technology Sydney’s Regional Journalism Internship Program.

The program supports UTS journalism students to complete a one-month, paid internship placement with a small regional newspaper.

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Q&A: Shanna Whan interviewed by Steph Fairfax

In November, the VFFF Grants Committee approved $50,000 in core operational funding for Sober in the Country, a national charity changing the conversation about alcohol in rural Australia.

Stephanie Fairfax, a member of the VFFF Grants Committee since 2015, interviewed Founder and CEO Shanna Whan about her personal journey of overcoming addiction, and the evolution of Sober in the Country.

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Q&A: Great Lakes Agency for Peace and Development

In September 2019, VFFF approved $305,000 in core operational support to Great Lakes Agency for Peace and Development (GLAPD) for their work assisting refugees and migrants to resettle in rural and regional areas.

By the time we met Emmanuel Musoni and the GLAPD team, they had already supported 138 people to resettle with jobs in rural communities in NSW, QLD and Victoria, with almost no funding. This was off the back of an Australian Story episode that showcased their unique, community-focused approach.

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Social Impact Investment: Warrah

In 2016 VFFF purchased Warrah, a residential property in Armidale used by BackTrack Youth Works to provide a roof over young people’s heads for either long-term or emergency accommodation.

Warrah is a safe environment that offers its residents a safe environment where they can relax, learn general life skills such as cooking, cleaning and interacting as a family.

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Hotel Etico – an Australian first

VFFF is excited to be the co-seed funder of Australia’s first social enterprise hotel staffed by industry professionals supporting hospitality trainees with intellectual disabilities.

Hotel Etico opens this November at the newly refurbished Mount Victoria Manor. Guests of the hotel will not only stay in elegant rooms, dine in at Niccolò’s Restaurant and Bar, find spaces for socialising, a quiet read or favourite flick; their holiday experience will contribute toward a proven employment training and social inclusion program that transforms lives.

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Kickstarting careers – the VFFF Grants Traineeship

The VFFF Grants Traineeship is a rare opportunity for a recent graduate to gain experience in the not for profit and philanthropy sector.

Back in 2013, VFFF employed our first Grants Trainee and since then, this 18 month Trainee role has become an essential part of the VFFF team.

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Logan Together: collective impact in action

Halfway through its first ten years, Logan Together continues to showcase the value of community-driven, place-based work.

This genuine collaboration between community, industry, government and philanthropy is on track to deliver tangible child development improvements for the Logan community.

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Fair Education NSW – program evaluation

Fair Education aims to build the capacity of school leaders in low socio-economic areas to design and implement activities that strengthen family and community engagement in education. To date, Fair Education has supported 110 schools across NSW.

The Centre for International Research on Education Systems (CIRES) at Victoria University has now concluded its four year evaluation of this program for the first two cohorts of schools in NSW.

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