Australia and New Zealand Banking Group : ANZ commits $250,000 for grants to support rural and regional Australia

For release: 1 July 2013

ANZ and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) today announced the opening of the national 2013 Seeds of Renewal program, providing $250,000 in grants for education and employment projects in regional communities of fewer than 15,000 people.
Tania Motton, ANZ General Manager Regional Business Banking, said: "Supporting local communities is a key part of our Banking on Australia program. Since we started Seeds of Renewal in 2003, ANZ has provided more than $3 million in grants to 635 regional communities across Australia.
"Last year the Robinvale Network House in the Sunraysia Valley was one of 35 Australian community organisations to receive a Seeds of Renewal grant. They used their funding to deliver financial literacy training and provide mentoring to low income residents, many of whom are newly-arrived migrants, which helps build local capacity and skills.
"ANZ has a long history of supporting customers in regional Australia, and through programs like Seeds of Renewal, we remain committed to making a significant contribution to the wellbeing of the rural communities we serve across Australia," Ms Motton said.
Alexandra Gartmann, FRRR Chief Executive Officer, said the Seeds of Renewal program is important in helping to build sustainable communities.
"A strong local economy is critical to a vibrant rural and regional community. Projects that focus on developing skills, creating jobs or support life-long learning lead to real outcomes. Importantly local communities are best placed to know what will work for their area," Ms Gartmann said.
Seeds of Renewal is funded by ANZ and independently administered by FRRR. For more information or to apply for an ANZ Seeds of Renewal grant visit www.frrr.org.au/seeds. Applications close 5:00pm on 12 August 2013 and successful applicants will be notified in November 2013.
For further media queries contact:
Alexandra Gartmann
Chief Executive Officer, FRRR
Tel: +61 3 5430 2303 or +61 427 922 787
Email: a.gartmann@frr.org.au
Victoria Kanevsky
Media Relations Advisor, ANZ
Tel: +61 3 8654 4469 or +61 401 561 480
Email: victoria.kanevsky@anz.com

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited ABN 11 005 357 522

Notes for the Editor:

The community of Sunraysia in Victoria is home to many newly arrived migrants who work in the local horticultural industries. The Robinvale Network House partners with Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council to deliver and promote a range of services
and activities to newly-arrived migrants or to those who have been granted permanent
residence. Many have low incomes, limited IT skills and low financial literacy.
The Seeds of Renewal program provided $8,600 to fund a financial literacy course, including basic computer skills, for 80 low income residents and migrant workers. The course covers topics such as budgeting (long and short term financial planning), using internet banking, Excel spread sheets and internet communications (email, Skype and Facebook). ANZ staff have also volunteered their time to ensure the course is a success, mentoring participants and sharing information about products and services that families can access, such as the ANZ Saver Plus program.

Recent changes to the Pacific Highway meant that the community known as the Three Brothers was bypassed. This has had a negative impact on the local economy, with several shops closing and a number of jobs lost. However, 20 enterprising community groups have come together to develop an economic transition plan. As part of the plan, they envisage creating a strong 'Three Brothers' brand, promoting the community, low impact industries, cultural and outdoor lifestyles, agricultural enterprises, agri/eco- tourism and quality educational experiences.
To kick-start the plan's implementation, they received a $7,000 Seeds of Renewal grant to help develop a website where local businesses and community organisations could promote the local region and their businesses. The funding also enabled them to conduct training sessions for community members in five locations about how to use the website.

The Cape to Cape Catchments Group (CCG) works with community and government agencies to understand, protect and improve their local environment. The CCG works in the area between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. The region contains many natural assets including the Margaret River and fourteen stream systems, the Leeuwin-Naturalist Ridge, high species diversity and stunning coastal environments. With such unique natural assets, it's important to start building an understanding of their importance and how to care for these resources.
Seeds of Renewal provided $7,896 towards a program which brings together 120 children in grades three and six, from four local schools, for an interactive program that teaches about the natural environment. As part of the program, students will attend three lessons and an excursion each term this year, learning about native fauna, maps and mapping, land and water management and river health. An Indigenous elder will demonstrate
native bush foods and discuss changes to the riverine environment in his lifetime, and other cultural and historical events that have impacted on the environment.

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