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Our foundation

Australian Unity established the Australian Unity Foundation in 2006 to allow Australian Unity staff and members to continue to support worthwhile community activities. 

Grant recipients 2016

Each year, the Foundation supports community groups that work to foster happy and safe environments for people to reach their full potential. Since its establishment the Foundation has distributed over $1 million to community groups across Australia.

In 2016, the Foundation has awarded grants of up to $25,000 each to the following community groups. Each of these organisations demonstrate an innovative approach to supporting the wellbeing of others and will use the funding to roll out programs that help the individual and flow on to positively impact the wider community.

Over the course of this financial year, our grant recipients will change lives in communities throughout Australia.  

Highland Grace

Highland Grace supplies weekly food hampers to families in need in the Mittagong and Moss Vale areas west of Wollongong, NSW. They also run the Soul Warmers Café, providing free food, tea and coffee to members of the public every Thursday. Both services are run by volunteers. With the Foundation grant, Highland Grace will purchase commercial grade refrigeration for their kitchen allowing for better food storage and more donated food to be accepted.
See ‘Highland Grace’, not-for-profit organisation on Facebook

Hilltop Foundation

Hilltop Foundation provides programs to disadvantaged families and young people to equip them with skills, training and support with the aim to break the cycle of generational poverty. Currently three programs are available; The Coach program—community mentoring for long-term unemployment, early school leaving, addictions, homelessness and isolation; Emergency Relief—food donation and gardening assistance; and Jobs for Life—an eight-week job training program with a mentor. The Foundation grant will enable the Hilltop Foundation to network and advocate with local employers for Jobs for Life graduates and provide them with ongoing support.
hilltopfoundation.org.au

Taralye

Taralye is an early intervention centre based in Blackburn, VIC providing oral language programs for deaf children and their families. They offer literacy based programs, parent support and education programs. Taralye also has an audiology and otology clinic and an integrated kindergarten for children with hearing loss. They actively engage with research groups to design innovative programs and resources for the sector and early childhood education. The Foundation grant will enable Taralye to expand its services across Victoria, in particular to rural and remote families.
taralye.vic.edu.au

The Victorian Homeless Fund (VHF)

The Victorian Homeless Fund (VHF) aims to relieve and prevent homelessness by contributing to long-term and transitional housing and providing residents with ongoing support services. This creates security and stability for families and in turn improves their outcomes in employment, education, health and mental wellbeing. The Foundation grant will provide funds towards the build of a small independent living unit or “granny flat”, to be built alongside another VHF housing project in the Melbourne area.
vichomelessfund.org.au

Congratulations to all our recipients

We look forward to sharing their news with members throughout the course of the year!

Please note that the Australian Unity Foundation is unable to accept unsolicited submissions at this time. For more information about the Foundation and its programs, please email foundation@australianunity.com.au