Nineteen grassroots initiatives across remote, rural and regional Australia will share $172,069 in grants through the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program.

This year, the program took ideas generated by young Australians at the ABC Takeover Shepparton Summit and offered rural community organisations the opportunity to apply for a grant that would bring one of the six ideas to life. This year’s ideas for change centred around the themes of LGBTQIA+ allyship; hands-on learning for young people; promoting healthier communities; supporting people in need; cultural awareness; and homelessness.

These 19 community organisations will have the support and resources they need to help address some of the issues that matter most to young people.

Deb Samuels, FRRR’s People Portfolio Lead, highlighted that this program is so important because it gives young people a say and prepares them for future leadership roles within their communities.

“This program not only gives young Australians a platform to champion the causes that matter to them but, more importantly, it puts their thoughts and ideas into action. Young people are the future and the initiatives being funded are a great example of how they can have a direct and positive impact on regional Australia,” said Samuels.

The FRRR Program Advisory Committee, which recommends the applications to be supported to the FRRR Board, is also made up of ABC Heywire alumni.

Related: FRRR reports significant increase in support for rural communities

This ensures young people to have an input in each step of the program, giving them a say in which initiatives best align with the issues affecting young people.

“The young people who participate in this program – either in developing the ideas or helping them come to life in their community – often go on to do great things in their communities and beyond.”

“For the last couple of year, due to COVID we’ve had to adapt the way the ideas are generated, yet young people have continued to step up and show their dedication to working towards a better future for regional Australia,” she added.

The Committee role means they also gain valuable insight into the world of philanthropy and see just what’s involved in assessing and validating the applications, under the guidance of FRRR Directors and staff.

Related: Nearly $20 million in grants donated to rural Australia