45 Aussies receive boost from AMP Foundation’s annual $1m grants program

Forty-five Aussies have received boosts from the AMP Foundation’s annual $1million grants program to help them build better tomorrows for the Australian community.

For the fourth year, AMP’s Tomorrow Fund invited Australians from all walks of life, abilities and interests to share a goal they are working towards that will benefit the community.

This year’s 45 recipients – the AMP Tomorrow Makers – include social innovators, scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, musicians and more, all trying to take their project to the next level.

They include:  Simone Patterson, a Gold Coast social worker who has set up Australia’s first petfriendly refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence.  Huy Nguyen, a Melbourne systems engineer and disability advocate who has developed an interactive system to train and prepare new disability support workers.  Lana Borg, a Western Sydney aged care worker who runs a volunteer-led service from her home that feeds people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.  Andrew Gardner, a Newcastle neuropsychologist providing free specialised care and education for young athletes who have sustained a concussion.  Vanessa Rauland, a Perth carbon researcher who wants to expand her innovative program that enables students to calculate and manage their school’s carbon emissions.  Nigel Farrow, a former musician from Adelaide who went back to school to became a medical researcher in a bid to find a cure for his daughter’s cystic fibrosis.  Thomas Kuys, a young engineer from Adelaide who has created Stemtap, a suite of technologies that helps educators to teach science, maths and technology subjects.

Head of the AMP Foundation Helen Liondos said the calibre of AMP Tomorrow Makers was particularly strong this year, which is also the 25th anniversary of the charitable foundation.

“The 2017 AMP Tomorrow Makers all share a selflessness and sense of determination that we believe should be supported and celebrated. We hope these grants will help them to take their good work even further and make a positive impact on their community and the nation.”