Dear Friends and Colleagues,
In this edition, we mainly share updates from 'Our Place' - the places and communities we love, care for, and benefit from. First up, with great excitement we introduce Lead the Way, our new immersive leadership program co-designed with some of our for-purpose partners in 'Our Place', together with the Social Impact Hub. ‘Lead the Way’ has a committed cohort of 29 leaders, eager to make connections and deep dive into learning!
We're thrilled with the ACT government's report to address literacy levels using evidence-based curriculum, reflecting the recommendations made in the Equity Economics’ report we commissioned last year. Congratulations to Snow Foundation Director Scarlett Gaffey, Jessica Del Rio - Equity Economics, and Jen Cross - ACT Alliance for Evidence-Based Education who have worked hard for this result.
We also celebrate the milestone reached for the derelict PCYC site in Turner ACT, with the ACT Government now coming on board. We've been an active advocate for two years, working closely with Canberra PCYC and Community Housing Canberra, all keen to provide affordable rentals and supported housing for at-risk-youth. It's fantastic the ACT Government sees this as a priority project and joins us in committing funds.
Public concern escalates as more women and children have been killed this year through men’s violence, and reports of inadequate responses to sexual and domestic violence grow. We have committed further support to partners working hard to advocate for improved and adequate responses, and those working in the crisis and early intervention response. Further, we have made public our commitment to prioritise women and girls in our efforts for gender equity with a Statement of Intent for Women and Girls that covers grants, investments, culture, processes, embedding it in all our decision-making.
Also making an impact in women's safety and economic independence, is Snow Entrepreneur Melanie Greblo, founder of Scriibed, drawing on her lived experience and proven track record in social change to affect the trajectory for women survivors of domestic and family violence.
This year we've committed to doubling our scholarships to over 100, focusing on equity, access, and excellence. We welcome Harding Miller Education Foundation, Sisters of Charity, and Australian Business and Community Network as new partners.
In our latest Our Partner Q&A Feature, we meet long-term partner Kate Cleary, CEO of The Farm at Galong. This incredible facility provides post-rehab for women leaving drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
We look forward to announcing the Canberra Foundations Collaborative recipients in the coming weeks!
Best wishes,
Lead The Way's inaugural cohort at the Launch Retreat at Wildbark at Mulligans Flat Sanctuary
Lead the Way is designed to inspire, equip, and connect our partners in Canberra and Sydney. The inaugural cohort includes 29 CEOs and senior leaders from 15 of our existing partners. They'll have an immersive and practical experience over six months, aimed at developing leadership skills, fostering connections, and amplifying the impact of their organisations.
Special thanks to the Social Impact Hub for their invaluable guidance and partnership in launching this program.
"I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting so many inspiring people who are driven by passion and a sense of purpose, working tirelessly every day to make the world a better place. I am excited about the upcoming six months, eager to grow, exchange knowledge, and contribute to this fantastic program and leadership community", Stephen Woodlands, founder and MD Head Start Homes
TRIUMPH FOR LITERACY IN ACT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
We welcomed the expert panel report from the from the Inquiry into ACT’s Literacy and Numeracy in public schools, which the ACT government will implement ‘in practice’. The report makes powerful recommendations to move ACT away from high school autonomy to a system-wide approach.
With high expectations and a focus on learning, the government will adopt a centralised and consistent approach to supporting schools and provide resources for curriculum, teaching assessments and professional learning. Importantly, this approach will align with evidence-informed teaching including consistent assessment tools, such as the year 1 Phonics check.
Photo by Elesa Kurtz © The Canberra Times (Jen Cross - ACT Alliance for Evidence-Based Education, Scarlett Gaffey - Snow Foundation Director, Jessica Del Rio - Equity Economics - worked together in advocacy.)
Advocacy in Action - Karen Iles giving evidence to the Senate Legal & Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into Missing and murdered First Nations women and children (2024)
DOMESTIC, FAMILY AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE - ADVOCACY AND ACTION
A look at just a few of our partners responding to the escalating men’s violence against women crisis in Australia.
Our Place - highlighting prevention support and an uplift:
- Canberra + surrounds - increasing our support especially to prevention: $820k has been granted to long-term and new partners including $250k to EveryMan, supporting their specialist men's behavioural change response and prevention programs which require urgent government and philanthropic support to respond to the growing referrals in Canberra and Queanbeyan
- Sydney - we have committed extra matched funding to the Sydney Women’s Fund Domestic and Sexual Violence Appeal, please support if you can! Funds raised will be swiftly distributed to their on-the-ground partners keeping women and families safe
Our Country - highlighting two new initiatives in the last 12 months:
- Sexual violence advocate and Indigenous lawyer Karen Iles leads the 'Make Police Investigate and Accountable' campaign, driving action from our politicians and creating legally enforceable minimum standards for police investigation of serious crimes. Join us by signing the petition to the Federal Attorney-General and his State and Territory counterparts to legislate for police to owe a duty of care to victims of aggravated child sexual assault (and victims of other serious crimes)
- Responding to the escalating sexually harmful behaviours in schools and supporting a review of school response frameworks
Yvette Berry MLA, Andrew Hannan - CHC, Cheryl O'Donnell - Canberra PCYC, Carolyn Ludovici - The Snow Foundation, Peter Macfarlane Canberra PCYC
FORMER PCYC HUB PLANS MAKE PROGRESS
We've been working closely with Canberra PCYC and Community Housing Canberra, and with the invaluable pro bono support from local businesses and the support of the ACT Government, this project continues to make progress. The run-down PCYC Turner site will be transformed into 45 affordable rental units for essential workers, 10 social housing units for people aged 16 to 24, and a social enterprise café.
Canberra PCYC can have an incredible impact on young lives who have disengaged from the mainstream education system. Thanks to initiatives like the social enterprise cafes and gardening services we've helped fund, they're gaining essential skills, and confidence, paving the way for future employment opportunities.
EQUIPPING THE MOST VULNERABLE WOMEN WITH SKILLS TO THRIVE IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY
Snow Entrepreneur Melanie Greblo from Scriibed is on a mission to create sustainable, flexible, skilled employment opportunities for women survivors of family and domestic violence through a fit-for-purpose employment model.
These women are offered training and wrap-around support focussed on whole person recovery and employment readiness. Plus digital skills training, personal and professional development, facilitated peer support and connection, all in a trauma-informed context, accessible anywhere anytime.
SCHOLARSHIPS
We are thrilled to expand on our current scholarship offering welcoming new partnerships with Harding Miller Education Foundation, Australian Business and Community Network and Sisters of Charity Foundation.
- Harding Miller Education Foundation supports girls in public high schools, Year 9 to Year 12
- Australian Business and Community Network Scholarships support young people with high-risk of facing disadvantage, Years 11, 12 and first year of further education/training
- Sisters of Charity Foundation supports youth from out-of-home care, living in Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven, Yass, Braidwood, Goulburn, Snowy Monaro and Canberra regions.
MEET OUR PARTNER Q&A - KATE CLEARY, THE FARM AT GALONG
How would you describe The Farm?
The Farm is a residential program for women recovering from substance abuse, domestic violence, and other life depleting situations. It has a particular focus on women whose children are in out of home care and works with the women towards the restoration of their children.
How did you get involved?
The project came about as the result of an informal outreach to women on public housing complexes in Canberra where the volunteers were noticing severe deprivation among those visited, including the fact they had children whom they were unable to care for due to these deprived life circumstances. The volunteers felt there was a need for residential care for the women and a treatment setting where they could recover and work towards the return of their children. An empty convent was discovered an hour and a half out of Canberra in a remote location and negotiations began to acquire it. These were successful and thus the Farm was born.
