Bass Coast Kids As Catalysts

Since 2021 the Foundation has funded Kids Thrive to run the Bass Coast Kids as Catalysts program in primary schools in Bass Coast.

The Community Foundation supports evidence-based early interventions such as Kids as Catalysts and works to fund programs that strengthen communities, increase resilience, well-being and opportunities for Bass Coast residents.

Research undertaken by VicHealth reveals, that:

• 4 in 5 (84%) young people agree that being socially connected is important for their mental wellbeing; and
• For 7 in 10 (71%) young people, staying socially connected with others has become one of the most important issues for them during the pandemic.

Feedback from students and staff of the schools that participated in the Bass Coast Kids as Catalysts program shows why the Community Foundation is committed to this program:

• 87% of students demonstrated improved self-confidence as a result of participation in Bass Coast Kids as Catalysts
• 97% of children showed improved educational engagement
• 94% demonstrated improved understanding and capacity to participate in community engagement
• 48% of students exceeded the expectations of the teacher throughout the Kids as Catalysts program.

Bass Coast Kids as Catalysts has proven the value of the investment in the shorter term and will undoubtedly prove valuable in the longer term.

Women for Change Grants Awarded in 2021

Funded from generous donations to the sub-fund named Women for Change grants totaling $6,500 were awarded in 2021 to the following groups:

Wellness Warriors – Rescue Station Arts

The State Coal Mine – Rescue Station Arts Inc, was awarded a Women for Change grant in 2021 to run an art therapy-based well-being program designed to include and explore the science behind brain and body responses to stress, self-care strategies, mindfulness and self-compassion strategies. In the midst and after COVID lockdowns people were isolated. This program connected people and supported them to re-engage in community and make new friends.

Comments from participants of the Wellness Warriors workshops were:

• Both the ‘learning’ and the ‘doing’ have kept me afloat when I was struggling. Thank you so much

• Thank you I have valued the program

• This was a big step to come to this program however the presenters helped to make me feel welcome and safe. The program also was most beneficial for my wellbeing journey, especially connecting through art. Thank you for the opportunity.

• I found the sessions very helpful and enjoyable. I would recommend the program.

Bass Coast TAC L2P Driver Training

Wonthaggi Neighbourhood House’s TAC L2P driving program was funded to provide five local women, who may be facing barriers preventing them from gaining a driver’s license, to participate in the L2P program where they would otherwise have been ineligible due to their age. The L2P program is only available to young learner drivers aged between 16-23 years so this grant opened doors for 5 women all over the age of 23 years. It enabled them to access 7 free professional driving lessons and matched them with a volunteer driving supervisor who provided additional supervised driving practice until participant and volunteer agreed the participant was ready to undertake a license test and drive independently.  The learners and volunteer driving supervisors had access to 3 comprehensively insured vehicles for supervised driving practice.

• Having independence and the freedom to attend appointments without having to rely on someone else to drive me is amazing. Thank you for giving me my life back.

Energy Innovation – CORE Fund

Worth highlighting here to show the depth and variety of programs the Foundation can become involved with is the historical Old Energy New Energy project at the State Coal Mine in Wonthaggi. This is an example of providing ‘seed funding’ to build a community asset.

In 2017 the Foundation pledged support to the Energy Innovation Cooperative totalling $60,000 to underpin the Old Energy New Energy project at the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine.

The result of this investment is a solar and battery array of 91 kW of solar panels and 41 kWh battery storage at the State Coal Mine in Wonthaggi. This system  produces 127 MW of clean power per annum. That’s an offset of 127 tonnes of CO2 annually; the equivalent to taking 37 petrol cars off the road. It is more than the current annual consumption of the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine  (112MW.)

This installation provides ongoing funds for community projects through the Southern CORE (Community Owned Renewable Energy) Fund. Income provided to Energy Innovation Co-op by the sale of electricity to Parks Victoria further supports community groups to install renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, helping them cut power bills and reduce carbon emissions.

It is through many small donations, as well as bequests and funding from partners that enable the Foundation to build its reserves to a sustainable level allowing it to get behind social enterprises like the Energy Innovation Cooperative. The Foundation is proud to have been an enabler for this initiative.

Learn about our work. Download case studies here.