Community Grants - Current Grantees 2024 - Mary MacKillop Today

Community Grants – Current Grantees 2024

Stream 1 – Sisters of St Joseph

 

Organisation NameProject NameState
Josephite Justice NetworkJustice in Mary MacKillop’s Footsteps: Risk and Dare Conference
Opportunity for young people to come together, share ideas, commit to taking action, and make a difference with a vision to build a more just society, where care for the earth & its inhabitants is seen through a holistic lens of cultural, social, ecological, economic and spiritual development.
Provides the basis for creating grassroots development projects with values of mutual learning, inclusiveness & respect.
NSW
Catholic Diocese of BroomeHonouring the Whipping Tree – a Site of Reconciliation
Constructing & launching a Memorial Installation at the site of the Whipping Tree which is “a place of deep significance and healing” for First Nations peoples and the wider non-indigenous community.
This project will capture & share the Gija story through digital mediums.
WA
Guildford Young College and Josephite Mission and History CentreJustice Action Day
Led by the youth themselves, this project provides opportunities for just action, a deeper understanding of injustice, and personal growth among young people who will be the leaders of tomorrow – “They need guidance on sustainable justice engagement that assumes the dignity of all people and two-way learning with people facing injustice”.
It also provides an opportunity to reach a wider audience through the work of the Justice Action Network in more schools.
TAS

 

Stream 2 – General (Non SOSJ)

 

Organisation NameProject NameState
St Mary MacKillop College CanberraLearning from our Elders
Encouraging learning through better intergenerational connections that combat loneliness which is a major problem within the community. This develops through friendships & companionship between the students & older community members, which it is hoped would grow to include mentoring & interactive life experiences. Pilot programme.
ACT
Consensus Education Foundation ACTCritical Thinking Workshops for NSW Primary School Students
Encouraging primary school students in Years 5 & 6 to learn the value of critical thinking, focusing on 3 different rural/remote areas of NSW. Teaching a life skill that is applicable at all stages of their lives, it fills a gap in their education which is not covered as a dedicated subject by the school curriculum.
NSW
Big Sky StoriesBig Sky Stories Playgroup Outreach & Support
Literacy program modelling storytelling and reading to children with the aim of encouraging their primary caregivers to understand & invest in the importance of early creative language opportunities through storytelling, shared reading, and practical creative workshops. Benefits are widespread through upskilling of primary caregivers as well as children being stimulated to read and learn in an exciting & positive environment. Rural/remote focus – Broken Hill, Far Western NSW.
NSW
Shared Reading NSW Inc.Social bibliotherapy for neurodivergent kids
Creating an interactive space through reading for neurodiverse kids that feels safe, is local and accessible, and has a ‘function’ to reduce the stress of being in a group. The program is based on a Social Bibliotherapy framework which is evidence-based & inclusive.
NSW
Young Minds Thrive Inc.Empowering futures
Early intervention to diagnose developmental delays in vulnerable children so that the relevant support can be provided to the families & children leading to better outcomes – screening & support service. Focus on indigenous families. Difficulty in accessing support services as it is a regional area.
NSW
LIVEfree Project INCORPORATEDThe “Shine On” Program
A mentoring program with specific focus on educational initiatives, including emotional intelligence development, personal safety, resilience-building, confidence building, and fostering healthy relationships. Target group are teenagers & young adults from vulnerable backgrounds.
NSW
YFC CareASPIRE
Program goes beyond traditional counselling by providing a structured curriculum that covers essential life skills, mental health, and personal development. Focuses on young women who have been disenfranchised from education, providing them with support and strategies to address barriers to education and employment. It deals particularly with addressing the critical issue of school refusal among students.
NSW
MacKillop Saints Sporting AssociationSets of uniforms for junior Rugby teams
Purchase of sporting jerseys for juniors both boys & girls in Palmerston, NT. This is an essential item for participation in sports at many levels. These items can be reused for a period of about 5yrs, so this is an initial investment in equipment. “We particularly aim to enable kids from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience success, being a valued part of a community, and the positive benefits of teamwork and self-discipline”.
NT
Ravenswood State School Parents and Citizens AssociationInternet Access
Accessibility to the internet by purchasing a satellite and connection for 12 months so that students at this remote location can be better resourced to learn about technology and other educational subjects. Parents & teachers can further use it to connect with other school communities and be involved in sports/community/educational activities & meetings. Other community members can access the internet for educational & employment training to build skills & capacity. Very remote location.
QLD
Chin Community Victoria Inc.Chin Community Victoria Elderly Wellbeing Project
Promoting better health & well-being outcomes for older members of the Chin community (from Myanmar) through participation in activities that are inclusive & informative, conducted in their language.
VIC
Newlife Shield Inc.NEWLIFE SHIELD Women’s Creative Hospitality & Social Support Program
Mentoring & support program which promotes social connectivity, inclusiveness, and capacity building of vulnerable African Australian women through involvement in food preparation/cooking & social activity projects.
VIC
Neighbourhood Collective AustraliaThe Old Church Driving School Project
Making accessible lifeskills like driving to vulnerable women living in a regional area, with additional support for bilingual translations to enable these women prepare for their learner’s driver permits. Vulnerable group comprising refugee/asylum seeker women & women leaving family violence at local refuge.
VIC
Anam Cara House ColacImproving community participation for people living with a chronic life-limiting illness through art and recording life stories
Project aims to be life-enhancing and reduce the emotional and psychological strain of living with a chronic life-limiting illness through a creative process i.e. writing of life stories, that will provide a lasting and diversional activity that can be accessed at home or the hospice. Craft activities further creates an opportunity to socialise, share & build relationships. Staff & volunteers will be trained to help with this task which forms an additional layer of support & sustainability. Rural focus.
VIC
New Norcia Aboriginal CorporationSafe homes for everyone
Advocacy, support, and referral service supporting homeless First Nations families mainly from the stolen generation and increasingly prison releases & families whose children are under child protection orders. The service helps document the situation of these families for priority housing; educates them about tenancy agreements & walks with them supporting them as needed.
WA