Community Grants - Current Grantees 2025 - Mary MacKillop Today

Community Grants – Current Grantees 2025

Stream 1 – Sisters of St Joseph

 

Organisation NameProject NameState
Josephite Action Group (JAG)Youth Volunteer and Advocacy Program
Building capacity and leadership skills of young people through developing networks & resources to become involved in issues such as social justice – “concerned for those made poor, and care of Earth”.
Providing training & other opportunities for young people structured out of the community because of race, socio-economic, or visa status – “giving young people a voice, and the confidence & skills to break the cycle of disadvantage for themselves and their communities”.
NSW
Josephite Justice Network (JJN)Fierce for Fair
The program offers leadership formation for student leaders in Josephite schools, and adults involved in Josephite ministries through “making it available to all and not just those who can afford them”. This particularly includes small country schools, schools with large numbers of non-fee paying students & schools in financial need.
NSW
St. Joseph’s Convent“Trio of Gifts” Part 2
Children’s book for Primary Level readers tackling the important issue of hate speech and its consequences. This book is part of a trio of books that addresses challenging topics such as bullying & hate speech but also of building resilience, in a format that children can relate to. While they are “pitched at the understanding level of primary school children, (it) has a message that appeals to all”.
NSW
Sisters of Saint Joseph“Friends of Julian”
A book about Father Julian Tenison Woods written and illustrated for primary school children. He was the co-founder of the Josephite order together with Saint Mary MacKillop. It talks about his life and work which has inspired many students with qualities of service, humility and hands on engagement – “Never see a need without doing something about it”.
NSW

 

Stream 2 – General (Non SOSJ)

 

Organisation NameProject NameState
Isabella Plains Early Childhood SchoolWags for Wellbeing
Implementing a well-being dog program in the school with the support of Dogs Connect which will help children from vulnerable backgrounds who have experienced trauma, domestic violence, neglect or family tragedies leading to behavioural issues improve emotional regulation, social skills, empathy, and reduce behavioural escalations.
ACT
AutismMATES IncorporatedModel MATES – Expanding the Reach
Addresses the lack of representation and employment opportunities for young Australians living with disabilities in our community, particularly in the media and fashion industries. Participants gain essential life skills that enhance employability, self-esteem, and social engagement fostering long-term personal & professional growth. Builds wider community capacity through inclusion, diversity & engagement.
Program hoping to expand to 2 x new locations in Sydney & regional NSW.
NSW
Mungindi Community Education Association IncorporatedMungindi Children’s Services
Providing an outdoor play area for kids at the local childcare centre (0-5yrs) many who are from a disadvantaged background. It is hoped that creating outdoor natural play environments would provide a blend of natural areas, environmental features and plants to interest children in learning about nature and its elements while enabling those who don’t have these opportunities at home, access to these resources.
NSW
Project Kindness IncorporatedProject Kindness Pop-Up Community Hub
A pop-up hub that allows Project Kindness to have a base for those they support to drop in and collect items they require, such as groceries or essential household items. It provides a place of connection, inclusion & feeling valued for vulnerable community members – “to combat depression & mental illness, to make people feel happy and valued as well as boosting physical health”.
NSW
Revolve Recycling Foundation‘Wheely Great’ Bike Education and Access Program for Refugee Families
The project empowers newly arrived refugee and migrant families, especially youth within the Liverpool community by providing bike skills training and access to high quality bicycles diverted from waste.
Program of capacity building, inclusion, environmental sustainability & lifeskills.
NSW
Young Minds Thrive Inc.School Ready: In-Home Learning Program
Provision of in-home learning packs designed to develop essential school readiness skills including literacy, numeracy and social-emotional abilities. Parents will receive detailed guidance on using these resources, empowering them as their child’s first teacher.
Area with high rate of poor school readiness skills & delayed development. Rural/regional focus.
NSW
Prison Fellowship Australia (PFA)Bus service & volunteer recruitment for Alice Springs Correctional Centre
Program maintains a vital link between the families of prisoners and those in prison – the bus service allows families and friends to visit their loved one in prison. The bus operates in Alice Springs on weekends, and around 90% of bus users are Aboriginal women and children. Having a PFA volunteer at the Correctional Centre itself helps with practical issues like helping visitors complete the correct paperwork; providing footwear (thongs) if needed – a condition of entry and helping to alleviate some of the discomfort & challenges associated with visiting prison.
NT
North West Youth Accommodation ServiceNWYAS Cookbook
Using the process of selecting and cooking recipes with young people and affected community members to explore the journey from homelessness to housing. Sharing of anecdotes, experiences and enjoyment of food creation, networking, self-efficacy in household management, healthy eating options, budgeting skills & overall independence allows participants to reflect on and share their culture including First Nations people.
QLD
Older Women Co-Housing Association Qld Inc. (Sharing with Friends SWF)Gladstone Workshops
Purpose is to design and deliver affordable, safe and long-term secure accommodation for older women to live in privacy, with dignity in a supportive community as they age – “Older women are the fastest growing group at risk of homelessness in QLD”.
This project will fund a series of 10 capacity building workshops covering wellbeing and empowerment; financial literacy; budgeting; ageing in place/design; legal tenure documents; downsizing; navigating conflict; values and beliefs.
QLD
United Way South AustraliaImagination Library – North (IML North)
Building the literacy skills of developmentally vulnerable children from a disadvantaged background through the provision of an age-appropriate book each month for a year – “Research highlights the critical role of early reading in brain development, vocabulary building, and emotional growth”.
SA
Big Little Buddies Inc.Younger & Older Making Music & Memories – Intergenerational Music Programs
Intergenerational music program bringing together aged-care residents and pre-schoolers with their caregivers through engaging in musical activities, tackling social isolation and building meaningful connections. By addressing both social isolation among seniors and the intergenerational divide, this project enhances community cohesion, supports emotional, social and physical health for all participants and helps reduce ageism. Children learn important values of respect, empathy and compassion from a young age through these interactions.
VIC
Breakaway YouthSummer for School Success
A 5-day field camp to regional Victoria which provides 20 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to learn important lifeskills of social connection, goal-setting and exploring the benefits of good nutrition, physical activity and sleep habits in a positive way through outdoor recreation, creative activities, team collaboration and reflective sharing. This project is part of a longer 6 year journey with these youth.
VIC
Magical Getaway FoundationEmpowerment through Mentorship
Addresses challenges faced by vulnerable women and families in the community including long-term financial instability & emotional trauma, exacerbated by a lack of access to ongoing support networks. Mentorship program which connects women who have overcome similar hardships – Reciprocal support system developing leadership and mentoring skills among former beneficiaries while addressing the immediate needs of women overcoming challenges such as abuse or widowhood.
VIC
Cockburn Integrated HealthCockburn Aboriginal Ear Health Project
Program that provides free audiology, speech pathology, Ear Nose Throat, and related surgical services to aboriginal children with Otitis Media (middle ear disease) in Perth and wider Western Australia, free of charge. Funding is to update and expand therapy resources for the speech pathology service.
WA