Supporting our community

ANZ Seeds of Renewal - Creating education and employment opportunities to help build thriving communities

Seeds of Renewal is a grants program, supported by ANZ, which aims to contribute to building thriving communities in regional Australia. Since it started in 2003, Seeds of Renewal has provided more than $2.75 million in grants to nearly 600 projects.

In 2011, the program provided grants of up to $15,000 to community organisations for projects focused on creating education and employment opportunities. The grants were independently administered by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) which delivers a number of grant programs across regional Australia.

ANZ in the Community

Seeds of Renewal demonstrates ANZ’s commitment to making a difference in regional Australia. ANZ employees actively support their local communities through a wide range of activities including volunteering and fundraising. ANZ is also committed to a range of financial literacy and inclusion programs including MoneyBusiness, Saver Plus and Progress Loans. For more information visit the ANZ community page.

In 2011, Seeds of Renewal funded 30 community projects including:

job seeking and compatability workshops for Diggerland Community Services
new computers for the Leichhardt House Student Hostel
establishing a specialised resources library for ‘House With No Steps’ in central West NSW (featured below).

Helping little learners reach their potential

House With No Steps, a leading not-for-profit organisation providing disability services is now a lot closer to establishing a specialised resources library for its 'Little Learners' program thanks to ANZ's 2011 Seeds of Renewal program. The new service will support the families of children with a disability in Forbes and surrounding communities including Condobolin, West Wyalong, Trundle, Tullamore, Tottenham, Parkes and Peak Hill.

Kevin McGuire from House With No Steps thanked ANZ and said he hoped the library would be 'very, very successful'. He described the new Little Learners library service - which will lend specialised equipment and resources, so parents can continue intensive training at home - as essential for improving the lives of children who require treatment.

Who can apply?

Applications have closed for 2011. Applications were open to not-for-profit community based organisations with an ABN or Incorporation Certificate which contribute to the development of education and employment opportunities of communities with a population of 15,000 people or less.

What was funded?

Projects which focus on creating education and employment opportunities in local communities. Examples of suitable projects include:
- developing and distributing education materials in remote /isolated communities
- purchasing IT equipment for community centres for educational purposes
- supporting programs that help people to prepare for employment.
Grants were made in amounts up to $15,000.