Grants Given in Australia

Round 28

October to December 2015

Cause Region Amount

Launceston Lifesaving Club Inc.

Launceston Life Saving Club was created in 1998 and provides a safe aquatic environment for the community operating in the municipalities of West Tamar, Georgetown, Dorset, Northern Midlands, Meander Valley and Latrobe. They provide water safety and surveillance at rivers, dams & the ocean primarily to a broad range of community groups and aquatic activities, carnivals etc. Last season they provided water safety at 20 major events. In the 2014 -15 season the club volunteers performed 13 life saving rescues and a total of 130 since its inception.

These funds will be used to replace their rescue boards which are over 10 years old and are badly deteriorating. New boards will be used throughout the patrol seasons for up to 8 years and would be purchased ready to commence the season from September 2016.

Tasmania $5,000

SecondBite

Founded in Melbourne in 2005, to address the significant social problems of people unable to afford nutritious fresh food and the large amounts of fresh food going to waste, last year SecondBite redistributed 7 million kilograms of fresh food for 1,200 community food programs run by agencies, schools/kindergartens, refuges and soup vans providing food relief for over 100,000 people in need across Australia.

SecondBite has developed our fresh food hampers in consultation with case workers, incorporating it as part of their case management to strengthen the connections between case workers and their clients and to provide at least 3 meals, plus breakfasts and lunches per week. Case workers tell us that by being able to give their clients a wide variety of high quality, healthy food, that they are able to support their clients cook a meal, building their clients knowledge, confidence and motivation to prepare more meals for their families, reducing unhealthy food choices. With this grant, over 2,000 vulnerable individuals and families supported by 56 charities in Tasmania will have weekly access to high quality fresh food for up to 12 weeks, helping them through their crisis situation and improving their health, well-being and social inclusion.

Tasmania $4,500

Brave Foundation

Brave Foundation is a Tasmanian not-for-profit charity that equips those experiencing teenage pregnancy with resources, referrals and education opportunities to facilitate happy, healthy and skilled families over time.

Brave Foundation partners with and promotes existing Tasmanian pregnancy and parenting support services and educational opportunities, acting as a central point of reference for those seeking support. We provide greater awareness and inclusion for those facing teenage pregnancy and we share stories of hope and inspiration for both the Mum to be, Dad to be and those who take on a support role. We facilitate affiliation between different Tasmanian educational facilities - those who have successfully integrated a model for pregnant teens into their schools and those embarking on the journey. This can include policy advice, learning support ideas, pathway plans and experience-based insights. These funds will assist our volunteers to provide administrative assistance to those requiring Brave Foundation Services by funding the purchase of equipment (photocopier and computers), allowing our volunteers to research resources and services and allow material to be distributed more efficiently and economically.

Tasmania $5,000

Ellis Beach Surf Lifesaving Club Inc.

The primary purpose of our club is to provide a safe beach environment for swimmers and beach-goers at Ellis Beach.

These funds will be used to install a child-proof fence around the perimeter of our clubhouse to ensure the safety of children accessing our club, located on the main, very busy highway between Cairns and Port Douglas.

Queensland $2,000

Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation

The Butterfly Ball is an initiative of the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation, where Funds raised are directed to Australia's largest group researching pregnancy and birth tragedies (Perinatal Research Centre).

This is the 4th year in a row that the Harcourts Foundation has been able to support this wonderful organisation as naming rights sponsor for the Butterly Ball, which raises tens of thousands of dollars for further research.

Queensland $18,000

Youth InSearch Foundation (AUST)

Youth Insearch Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that empowers young people aged 12-18 to overcome traumatic experiences or a dysfunctional family life. Support is offered to a diverse group of young people from varied socio-cultural or religious backgrounds, including young people in out-of-home care, Indigenous young people and those from culturally diverse backgrounds and young people from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

This grant will fund 30 young people from North Western NSW (who come from backgrounds of abuse, neglect and domestic violence) to participate in a Weekend Workshop from 4 to 6 March 2016 at Lake Keepit, NSW.

New South Wales $5,000

Prosper (Project Australia)

Prosper Project Australia was founded to alleviate the suffering and poverty of disadvantaged children (and their families), and deliver a suite of welfare and support programs including groups (for children and parents), welfare and financial literacy work, and a range of community development and education activities.

This grant will help fund 3 "Stories in the Garden" events in the Parramatta region of Sydney. The project is tailored to engage unit-dwelling families with children, and to encourage outdoor play, recreation, learning and community -building, particularly for children who may not always have access to outdoor recreation opportunities. These events use the services of professional storytellers from the NSW Guild of Storytellers, to stage a storytelling at safe, local and outdoor community spaces. The events also include structured games and free play activities and a community BBQ.

New South Wales $2,600

The Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund (WAROONA AND DISTRICT FIRES APPEAL 2016 )

The Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund was established in 1961 to provide relief of personal hardship and distress arising from natural disasters occurring within Western Australia.

The Waroona and District Fires Appeal 2016 has been activated by the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund to raise and coordinate donations to support the victims of these recent fires, which claimed 2 lives and 160 homes.

Western Australia $15,000

The Leukaemia Foundation of Australia (Building of Hope)

The Leukaemia Foundation is the only national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the care and cure of patients and families living with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders. We assist by providing a range of support services at no charge to blood cancer patients and their families.

With the Foundation's existing 12 accommodation facilities in Melbourne operating at capacity, the Leukaemia Foundation is proposing the purchase and fit-out of 15 apartments in an ideally located development directly opposite the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, to be known as the "Building of Hope - Victorian Patient Accommodation Centre", addressing a chronic accommodation shortage in the provision of new, dedicated apartments in Melbourne. The Building of Hope will comprise a mixture of 10 x two and 5 x one bedroom fully furnished apartments, a Patient Support Centre Facility with an Education and Resource Centre for patients and their families, and a dedicated Patient Transport Hub.

Victoria $10,000

Marwarra Centre Inc.

Mawarra has been operating in the West Gippsland region since 1959, and since 1990 Mawarra has solely provided services to adults with a disability delivering Support Services and Workshop activities. Our mission is To provide quality support services and viable, productive businesses which encourage and enable people with disabilities to attain their maximum potential.

Located at Warragul in West Gippsland, approximately 100km east of Melbourne, Mawarra services clients and supported employees in an area bordered by Poowong, Bunyip, Neerim South, Moe and Mirboo North. Mawarra operates a mowing, gardening and landscaping enterprise called Waratah that employs 13 people with a disability. Waratah operates as two teams and is contracted to undertake works at a range of community organizations, schools and sporting organizations, and to remain viable we need to purchase a ride-on-mower and, via trade-ins of two used mowers, we expect a short-fall of $4,000 to upgrade to a new mower.

The project will be important as it will show the community the work that people with a disability can undertake and will employ an extra six people with a disability - making a difference in the lives of the six young people and their family and carers.

Waratah currently mows lawns of properties managed by Harcourts in Warragul.

 Victoria $4,000

Beyond Blue Limited

Beyondblue's vision is to help all people in Australia achieve their best possible mental health. We create change to protect everyone's mental health and improve the lives of individuals, families and communities affected by anxiety, depression and suicide.

These funds will be used towards creating a ""beyondblue"" garden at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show to draw attention to and raise awareness of mental health issues.

Victoria $5,000

Autism Behavioural Awareness Intervention Association Inc.

Our purpose is to enhance quality of life for families who have a child with autism by supporting them with access to information, support, and training about Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). ABA is an evidence-based, early intervention, positive behavioural support therapy that teaches children with autism how to learn (something which doesn't come naturally). It is supported by 50 years' global academic research which shows positive outcomes across the three key developmental domains: language, cognition, social skills (the three domains affected by autism).

Our one major goal for the next 24 months is to move from providing face-to-face ABA training to online training (E-learning), and this grant o $2,295 will assist us to move our Free Parent Information session from face-to-face format to podcast. Project activities include: translating, scripting and condensing existing materials into suitable audio format (ie reducing materials from 2.5 hours to 3 x 20 minute sessions); recording new materials using audio consultant; design, develop and record Q&A session; upload to website.

Victoria $2,925

Guide Dogs Association of SA & NT Inc.

Guide Dogs Association offers a wide range of services for children who are blind or vision impaired, including Orientation and Mobility Training which are delivered in metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. These services help children learn to manage everyday life with greater confidence, independence and safety.

Our Orientation and Mobility Instructors work individually with children and their families (carer) to train them to move around their environment safely. The training is flexible, often delivered in a child's home or in a hospital or educational setting, with plans and goals tailored to suit the needs of each child and family. The aim is to enable these children to build their confidence and assist them to manage everyday activities independently in preparation for kindergarten, school and life beyond. Early intervention is critical to provide education and support for young Australians and their carers. This grant from the Harcourts Foundation will fund intensive Orientation and Mobility training for more than 25 blind or vision impaired children across 110 training programs in regional South Australia.

South Australia $5,000

Variety the Children's Charity

Variety SA is dedicated to empowering South Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs to live, laugh and learn. With the help of our dedicated volunteers and generous supporters, Variety offers freedom, care and a future for SA kids in need, providing practical equipment & experiences through Variety programs (Freedom, Future Kids & Caring for Kids), helping Australian children in need overcome whatever obstacles they face to live life to the fullest.

These funds will be used toward our "Caring for Kids" program.

South Australia $2,500

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) is the peak national body for prostate cancer in Australia, promoting and funding world-leading, innovative research into prostate cancer, implementing awareness campaigns and education programs for the Australian community, health professionals and government, and supporting men and their families affected by prostate cancer through evidence-based information and resources, support groups and ProstatevCancer Specialist Nurses.

Harcourts SA hosted a Quiz Night last November to benefit this charity , raising $3,200 to equip a new peer support group with the resources and education materials needed to provide information and care to affected men and their families, and will also provide 10 PCFA Men's Health Ambassadors to educate community groups, companies or sports groups about prostate health.

 South Australia $3,200

The Leukaemia Foundation of Australia "World's Greatest Shave"

Today, 34 Australians will be given the devastating news that they have leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma, and they’ll turn to the Leukaemia Foundation for help. Although survival rates are improving, blood cancers remain the third biggest cause of cancer death in Australia.

The Leukaemia Foundation's ""World's Greatest Shave"" is an iconic event and one of Australia's biggest fundraisers. Each March more than 150,000 people will get sponsored to shave or colour their hair to support Australians with blood cancer and fund research, which is needed to discover kinder and more effective treatments for blood cancer.

Sponsorship will also support families when they need it most, providing people with leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma with a free home-away-from-home near hospital during their treatment. It will also mean we can transport them to appointments and provide as much practical assistance and emotional support as we can, all free of charge.

 National $5,000

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We are a '100%' Charity

No management fees, salaries or running costs of the Harcourts Foundation are taken from our donation account. Our National Board of Directors, Coordinator, Accountant and Regional Ambassadors all donate their time and expertise, meaning 100% of all funds raised go directly to the charities where they are needed most.