Breaking down barriers to education for rural students
Thirty-five community groups share more than $255,000 in grants
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Bendigo, 16 May 2018: The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) has awarded 35 community groups more than $255,000 in grants to fund initiatives that help to break down education barriers for children and youth across rural, regional and remote Australia.
This is the seventh round of FRRR’s REAPing Rewards program and demand continues to highlight the need for support to enhance educational opportunities for these students.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of project requests coming from local communities.
“FRRR firmly believes that the prosperity and vitality of rural, regional and remote communities is inextricably linked to the quality of the education available to people living in those regions.
“This program is all about helping local community leaders provide access to educational resources and opportunities that are readily available to metropolitan students. It was great to see a wide variety of applications, including for cultural and arts, environmental sustainability, resilience and leadership, nature-based learning, and science, engineering, robotics (STEM) programs.
“These grants will definitely make a tangible difference to rural children, and particularly to those starting their education,” Ms Egleton said.
Nearly a third of the projects support early learning or kindergarten programs. Ms Egleton explains that school readiness is a key indicator of future success in rural and remote settings.
“Recent research shows that early childhood education has positive impacts on all children but in rural areas, early years’ education takes place in the community, and it’s often hard to fundraise locally for the support needed. So we are delighted to be able to support these projects.”
The projects funded in this round include:
- bi-lingual literacy resources to increase the engagement of Indigenous students and families in literacy, at Pine Creek School in the Northern Territory;
- training for teachers in remote NSW to build their confidence and support student engagement in learning science and technology, via the University of Newcastle;
- providing learning opportunities through the water and rock self-confidence program for 25 students in The District Council of Karoonda East Murray, in South Australia;
- robotics equipment and expert tuition, to help the Moura (QLD) State Primary School Robotics Team participate in CQ University Junior Robotics Competition;
- commercial oven to establish a school bakery at Fairbridge School, in WA, to produce and sell loaves of bread to staff and resource the onsite breakfast and lunch club while enhancing learning in STEM, work skills, life skills and nutrition.
- an enhanced careers guidance program for students at St Brendan-Shaw Catholic College, Tasmania to improve career aspirations for their isolated and disadvantaged students;
- a community led, school holiday program of educational workshops in Port Fairy, Victoria to develop students’ creativity, lateral thinking and passion for learning.
These grants were possible thanks to Third Link Investment Managers, Thornton Foundation, Helping Hands, Blackwood Foundation, VISE, Marrich Equity Funds, two Private Donors and individual donations.
The complete list of education projects funded is below, or jump to State lists: NSW|NT|QLD|SA|TAS|VIC|WA
|
Organisation |
Project |
Location |
Amount Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | |||
|
Baradine Central School |
Help Shape the Future for Agriculture Students in Remote Areas Enhancing and expanding learning in agriculture and supporting local community groups to manage public land through the development of a school farm on a local reserve. |
Baradine |
$10,000 |
|
Centre for Ecological Learning |
Beetle Buddies Developing children’s connection to the outdoors and increasing wellbeing and confidence, via facilitated weekly nature play workshops. |
Bellingen |
$3,473 |
|
Condobolin High School Parents and Citizens Association |
Shedding the Light on Agriculture Enhancing work readiness, agricultural and small business skills through construction of a new multi-purpose agricultural shed, incorporating animal housing and teaching space. |
Condobolin |
$10,000 |
|
Gravesend Parents and Citizens Association |
Community Garden, STEAM and Makerspace Increasing student engagement, problem solving skills and community connectedness through a community garden and makerspace area at Gravesend Public School. |
Gravesend |
$9,823 |
|
Matriark Theatre Incorporated |
Matriark Theatre & Coder Academy STEAM Workshops in Cootamundra Increasing aspiration, engagement and skill development for 220 students in Years 5 to 10, via two workshops: IT Skills covering coding, programming and robotics; and theatre creation using masks, puppetry and hybrid technology. |
Cootamundra |
$10,000 |
|
Mountain Preschool Lowanna Inc. |
Mountain Preschool Resources Creating a more flexible space that is clean, safe and comfortable for the remote preschool held in the community hall, by purchasing room dividers, floor mats, furniture and resources. |
Lowanna |
$3,745 |
|
Quirindi Preschool Kindergarten Incorporated |
Soundscapes in Nature - with curious creators Increasing environmental engagement for early learners via a program using nature sound recordings. The project will also inform research into nature play pedagogy which can inform other early learning providers. |
Quirindi |
$7,597 |
|
RIVPAT Inc. |
‘Treasures' in the MIA Advancing literacy levels and engagement in the creative arts via five writing and storytelling workshops for students in the Riverina region. |
Griffith Leeton Yanco Coleambally |
$2,400 |
|
University of Newcastle |
Building SMART Futures through Science Education and Exploration Advancing education, building confidence and promoting student engagement in learning through the delivery of science and technology training for teachers in remote NSW. |
Wilcannia Menindee White Cliffs |
$9,988 |
|
Valla Community Playgroup |
Outdoor gathering and play space Supporting social and motor skill development for playgroup attendees, and the wider community, by constructing a safe bike and trike path at the community hall where playgroup is run. |
Valla Beach |
$4,000 |
|
Bees Creek School Council |
Making Community - makerspaces and hands-on engagement Building children's problem solving and creativity skills by engaging a Technology Integration Specialist to upskill community members, hosting a Maker’s Fair and facilitating community volunteering opportunities. |
Bees Creek |
$9,680 |
|
Pine Creek School Council |
Phonological Awareness through Local Language Increasing engagement of Indigenous students and families in literacy through the creation of bi-lingual literacy resources. |
Pine Creek |
$4,000 |
|
Dalby Beck Street Kindergarten Association |
Program Developing Musical Skills / Concepts in our Kindergarten Children Increasing engagement and skill development of children from diverse backgrounds via an early childhood music program. |
Dalby |
$5,808 |
|
Dulacca and District Kindy Playgroup |
Purchase new, imaginative, creative and exciting outdoor play equipment. Development of balance, coordination and other gross motor skills through the purchase of new play equipment for the Dulacca playgroup, kinder and childcare programs. |
Dulacca |
$7,803 |
|
Monto State Primary School |
Monto State School STEM workshop creating opportunities for rural children Increasing engagement and inspiration for 300 students from four schools, via an intensive three-day STEM workshop that will provide skills in technology and highlight educational pathways. |
Monto |
$9,267 |
|
Moura State Primary School P&C Association |
Moura State School Robotics Team Increasing problem solving and coding skills by purchasing robotics equipment and expert tuition ahead of the CQ University Junior Robotics Competition. |
Moura |
$6,000 |
|
District Council of Karoonda East Murray |
Strengthening Country Youth Increasing confidence for 25 students to engage in social activities and learning through the delivery of the water and rock program and a self-esteem building program. |
Karoonda |
$5,175 |
|
Quorn Kindergarten |
Digital literacies for connected learning Building capacity of the kindergarten and engaging children and their families by documenting their learning journeys via new iPads and a wi-fi printer. |
Quorn |
$7,372 |
|
St Brendan-Shaw Catholic College |
Island Careers Opportunities and Networks (ICON) Improving career aspirations for isolated and disadvantaged students through an enhanced careers guidance program that will utilise and showcase the experiences and career pathways of alumni, business and community leaders. |
Devonport |
$5,822 |
|
Aireys Inlet Primary School |
Building our children’s STEM future a Little Bit at a time Fostering creative expression and enhancing problem-solving skills through the delivery of computing, maths and engineering education via a Science and Technology Maker-Space. |
Aireys Inlet |
$9,727 |
|
Castlemaine Secondary College |
'Community Connect' Re-engaging at risk students in education via access to flexible learning options through a collaborative community based, hands on learning program. |
Castlemaine |
$10,000 |
|
Gippsland East Local Learning and Employment Network |
Building Blocks to Employment Raising awareness of pathways to meaningful employment or further training via a two-day careers event for 50 senior students from three isolated rural schools. |
Eden Bega Mallacoota |
$4,570 |
|
Gunbower Primary School |
Music Matters Increasing student confidence, self-esteem and social skills via a weekly music and performing arts program for preschool and school children, culminating in an end of year performance and excursion to Wizard of Oz live performance. |
Gunbower |
$7,640 |
|
Macpherson Smith Rural Foundation |
Dream Seeds Mallee Project July 2018 Raising future career aspirations and reduced barriers to education through six ‘Dream Seeds’ workshops delivered by young inspiring leaders to Year 6 students at six schools. |
Mildura Ouyen Manangatang |
$4,370 |
|
Manangatang P-12 College Council |
Mallee Ambassadors Enhancing future career aspirations and leadership skills via a leadership program for Year 10 and 11 students across the Mallee Education Cluster. |
Manangatang Ouyen Murrayville Robinvale |
$9,200 |
|
Napoleons Primary School |
Robotron 2017 Advanced coding, physics and engineering skills for students through the purchase of iPads that will enable use of existing robotics equipment. |
Napoleons |
$2,694 |
|
Nyah West and District Kindergarten Association Incorporated |
Bridging the Gap for Nyah West Development of kindergarten children’s oral language, social and literacy skills via the PALS program (Phonological Awareness for Literacy Training). |
Nyah West |
$9,910 |
|
Port Fairy Community Group Inc. |
Play & Discover Kids Workshops - Fostering a positive mindset towards learning Developing students' creativity, lateral thinking and passion for learning via delivery of a community led, school holiday program of educational workshops. |
Port Fairy & District |
$7,260 |
|
Rainbow P-12 College |
Travelling DigiTech Project (TDP) Enhancing development of STEM and teamwork skills for students across the Southern Mallee Cluster of schools, via transportable digi-tech resources. |
Rainbow |
$9,422 |
|
The Song Room |
Creative Connections: Arts education program for students at Merrigum Primary School Enhancing student engagement with learning, and increased language and communication skills via a facilitated music program. |
Merrigum |
$7,500 |
|
Big hART Inc |
Digital Futures Project - Digital Inclusion for Indigenous Youth Supporting youth leadership, computer, video, music recording, production and design skills via community run digital art making workshops. |
Roebourne |
$10,000 |
|
Fairbridge Western Australia Inc. |
Fairbridge RISE Bakery Enhancing learning in STEM, work skills, life skills and nutrition by purchasing a commercial oven to equip a school bakery, as part of the hospitality program. |
Pinjarra |
$10,000 |
|
Margaret River Primary School Parents and Citizens Association |
Early Learning Centre Nature Play Resource Building stronger community connections and opportunities for imaginative play through a collaboration between the Men’s Shed and Preschool to construct an outdoor nature play area for the early learning centre. |
Margaret River |
$5,000 |
|
Paraburdoo Primary School |
The BiiG Creative Media Centre Strengthening communication and media skill development for students via a creative media centre that will support technology, media, intercultural and language studies. |
Paraburdoo |
$4,861 |
|
The Nintirri Centre |
Little Geckos Grow – Fulltime Day Care Increasing child engagement and enhanced learning and development through the purchase of educational resources for remote early learning centre. |
Tom Price |
$9,879 |
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