ABC Heywire is calling on community organisations across regional Australia to implement ideas developed at the first ever Heywire Youth Ideas Lab in Broken Hill by applying for seed-funding through the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).
Thirty young people from Broken Hill, aged between 15 and 17 years, took part in a week of storytelling and creative thinking, aimed at making regional Australia an even better place to be for the diverse young people who live there.
Based on their lived experience, the young people of Broken Hill developed solutions uniquely designed to tackle social issues including unemployment, lack of career opportunities, misunderstandings of diversity, disengaged young people and the lack of support services for youth mental health.
Now, FRRR and its partners are offering $175,000 in grant money to organisations interested in bringing these ideas to life in their communities.
Broken Hill Youth Ideas Lab participant Ashlyn is proud of herself and her town for developing these solutions, and says, “The Youth Ideas Lab was such an incredible and inspiring experience. I’m so glad our Broken Hill community was given the opportunity to come up with these ideas that will soon be turned into real programs of support.
“These ideas were formed by our unique experiences; now it’s your chance to take them on in your own community. I can’t wait to see where they go and how they grow!”
The Youth Innovation Grants, now in their eighth year, have championed over 130 youth-led projects in over 160 communities nationwide, through one million dollars of community and philanthropic investment. The grants are assessed by a committee of young people including Heywire alumni, who are best placed to speak to the specific needs and challenges of regional young people across the country.
FRRR’s CEO, Natalie Egleton, is impressed each year by the ideas that Heywirers bring to the table, with this year no exception, saying, “The five ideas developed by Broken Hill’s young people are insightful and meaningful and provide a snapshot of the issues currently faced by young rural people across Australia. The beauty of the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants is that they fund projects driven by these young Australians’ ideas.
“We encourage community groups to engage with local youth when considering which idea to adopt and adapt. These capable young leaders understand local context and can help adapt an idea to best suit the priorities of local youth and assist in leading a meaningful project that will make their community more inviting and inspiring for other young people to live and work.
ABC Director of Regional & Local, Judith Whelan says the great outcome from Heywire is that many of the ideas generated from it become a reality through the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program, “I’ve seen the participants and their ideas that have come from this year’s Heywire Youth Ideas Lab in Broken Hill and I was so impressed with their energy, enthusiasm and creativity. I hope community groups get behind their ideas and gives them the space to grow. If so, the whole community will benefit.
Applications open today and community organisations have until 19 August2021to apply.
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