Unitywater Executive Manager Strategic Engagement Joshua Zugajev said the successful recipients were an essential part of the community and helped to deliver critical programs that address environmental and social issues.
“Unitywater’s community grants program focuses on five pillars we know are important to keeping our communities healthy - homelessness, mental health, domestic and family violence, children and youth, and the environment,” he said.
“Our grants have been designed to assist grassroot community groups to deliver positive outcomes in the Moreton Bay, Noosa and Sunshine Coast regions,” Mr Zugajev said.
Bamboo Projects in the Moreton Bay region supports people with complex mental health concerns and disabilities to gain access to community.
Their ‘Cleaning up the Waterways Program’ aims to remove 50 tonnes of marine debris from our waterways in 2023.
Director of Bamboo Projects, Chris Paterson said with the support of Unitywater they have been able to host regular events over the past six months, engaging the community in environmental clean ups.
“We also engaged an Environmental Scientist to educate participants to sustainably care for the environment post-event,” Mr Paterson said.
Wildlife Noosa were able to train five new volunteers, helping to save thousands of animals in our region last year alone.
William Watson, Chief Rescue Officer and Founder of Wildlife Noosa, is proud of the work they do.
“Wildlife Noosa conducts around 2,000 animal rescues across the Sunshine Coast region every year. We work 24/7 and all the rescues are carried out by our dedicated volunteers. This funding has allowed five new volunteers to receive accredited training and help ensure that all of the rescues are as safe as possible,” Mr Watson said.
According to Mr Zugajev, these essential community groups make a real and lasting difference and contribute to Unitywater’s goal of healthy and thriving communities.
“Since the program’s establishment, we have seen the positive influence these programs are having on youth, community members, our customers and team members who participate volunteering for some of their activities.
“It is for this reason we extend on our financial grant contributions and take a partnership approach with our grant recipients. Each year we look for volunteer opportunities, assistance or in-kind support that the Unitywater team can provide,” Mr Zugajev said.
Ten Little Pieces, which delivers education programs to school students across South East Queensland to encourage them to think about the environment and sustainability, was one of the successful recipients.
Founder and Director Alison Foley said the organisation started with her own children, where she told them they could have an ice cream after the beach, and it would ‘cost’ them 10 pieces of rubbish to be picked up.
“The community grant from Unitywater means we’ll be able to engage more students, start more conversations and help them establish their own ripple effects of change for sustainability action.”
Unitywater has today released videos showcasing the successful funding recipients in the three Council regions:
- Noosa: https://youtu.be/Gw7HGQ7WDVQ
- Moreton Bay: https://youtu.be/kdvaIGjJ33k
- Sunshine Coast: https://youtu.be/A9iXYvVZwBI
Our 2023 grant recipients are:
Bamboo Projects - support people with complex mental health concerns and disabilities to gain access to community. $5,000 towards their ‘Cleaning up the waterways program’ will help them in their goal of removing 50 tonnes of marine debris from our waterways in 2023.
Fishability QLD – assists community members who are at risk of social isolation and loneliness. $5,000 will help provide socially inclusive boating and fishing health and well-being activities while simultaneously assisting with cleaning up the waterways in and around the Pumicestone Passage and other Moreton Bay regions.
Lily House - assists vulnerable and at-risk women and their young children with emergency housing and wraparound support services. A $3,600 grant was provided for a tow bar and a trailer to facilitate maintenance activities and assist with moving furniture and personal belongings.
Loaves and Fishes Street Meet Care Services - helps more than 3,000 vulnerable community members per week with food assistance hampers and low-cost groceries. $4,848 will help upgrade and purchase equipment to help improve refrigeration and transportation capabilities.
Mooloolah Waterwatch and Landcare - is dedicated to the health, protection and enhancement of the Mooloolah River. $4,900 was provided to deliver their Bugs to the Rescue program to inspire the interest of students and the wider community in science-based actions for a healthy Mooloolah River.
Noosa Environmental Education Hub - develops and delivers eco-education activities embedded with Aboriginal perspectives. $5000 was provided to deliver Youth Climate Conference, an opportunity to reach approx. 20,000 students on better caring for the environment.
Noosa Women’s Shed – helps to empower and build connections between women at risk of social isolation and their wider community. A $5,000 grant will assist the group to open a permanent home for the Noosa Women’s Shed.
Reset Support Service - delivers a holistic program for perpetrators of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV). $5,000 was provided to deliver their “Change Begins with Change” program, counselling and support for perpetrators of DFV.
Ten Little Pieces - an environmental education and empowerment movement inspiring people to collect ten little pieces of litter anytime, anywhere. $5,000 was provided for Ocean Education programs for 600 students in Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions.
Wildlife Noosa – conducts approx. 2,000 animal rescues in Noosa and the Sunshine Coast each year. A $3,800 grant provided accredited training for dedicated volunteers.
Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast - a first responder wildlife rescue service for wildlife in distress. A $5,000 grant helped towards developing a new educational website about protecting the local environment.
Applications for the 2023/24 community grant program will open soon. More information is available at: www.unitywater.com/community-grants
