Keep up to date with our news

June 2022

Southern Highlands Foundation Board members

Dear Friends,

We hope you enjoy reading through the articles of this month’s newsletter which includes the planning and results of activity by the Southern Highlands Foundation for our community.

In keeping true to our purpose, earlier this month the Southern Highlands Foundation Board held a follow up community forum facilitated by Campfire Co-op, where we discussed some of the changes made and work-shopped new ideas, so we can deliver on our goals. We have some of the highlights listed below.

There are many opportunities to ‘Give Where You Live’ so please link with us on our website and across social media where you can join in too.

We look forward to keeping in contact.

Yours sincerely,

Shelley Boyce OAM

Chair

 

Southern Highlands Forum Hearing the Heart of our Community

Southern Highlands Community Forum Members

More than 45 people from across the Highlands communities came together for the second Southern Highlands Forum – around the question: What becomes possible for our Southern Highlands communities if we work together like never before? 

The Forum aimed to connect and strengthen community, and was a way for the Southern Highlands Foundation to listen to understand the needs of the community, to inform its direction. It was invited and hosted by Shelley Boyce OAM and the Directors of the SHF, and facilitated by Mel Geltch and Liane Munro of Campfire Co-op.

We heard brief talks from four guest speakers on the theme of shifting from competition to collaboration in our communities: Juliette Wright, CEO Givit, Natalie Eglinton, CEO Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, Ben Quilty, Australian artist and Southern Highlands resident and Vicki Condon, CEO Raise Foundation.

Participants shared the questions or insights sparked by the catalysts, and the themes that showed up were: Collaboration; community; hope; the need for affordable housing; where do we start? Walking alongside local Indigenous people; and communication and engagement.

Here’s a summary of the Cafe conversations among participants:

What are the Highlands communities greatest assets and resources?

  • A caring community; Skills, experience, time and money; Our environment and Community diversity

What is most needed in our communities now?

  • Three clear themes were
  • Affordable housing
  • A connected community
  • Education and training

Other responses included Leadership and action; Better engagement with services, better coordination; Youth infrastructure and transport; Pre-planning for future changes; Engaging with women 25-40 for their energy, experience and education and Food security / sustainability

What could we do from now on that could have the greatest impact on our communities?

Again, clear themes emerged from the collective conversations

  • Local events
  • Engagement with community
  • Address housing issue
  • Services hub
  • Tech hub

These ideas will help give SHF direction and focus for the next several years. There is also an open invitation for others to pick up on these themes.

Here is some of what participants said at the end of the Forum:

  • Same vision and need.
  • We must work together! Cooperation
  • The vital importance of public conversation
  • I see willingness to work together, and a need to communicate to others. Some great ideas
  • Really optimistic. The potential of the people in this room. Common ground on issues. How do we translate ideas into action?
  • I dare you to involve more young people
  • The joy, thrill to be in the room with you all
  • A little more gratitude for the place I live and the people here.
  • My horizons have been broadened

 

Lending a hand to neighbours in need

Over 30 local community groups and charities are now on the Southern Highlands GIVIT web platform listing weekly their needs.

To-date over 5000 items have been supplied by local donors and the GIVIT platform. It’s a fantastic way for the community to see what is needed and where they can help. The joint venture pilot between the Southern Highlands Foundation and GIVIT is now been promoted nationally as a model for local communities to marry local needs with local donors and benefactors.

To donate where you live or learn more about GIVIT Southern Highlands click the link below:

Donate to The Southern Highlands

To help us continue to make a difference to The Southern Highlands please donate and build a strong and resilient community. All donations over $2.00 are tax deductible. 

SHYAC Support

The Southern Highlands Foundation in partnership with Global Giving is pleased to pledge $5,000.00 supporting Southern Highlands Youth Arts Council and the production of Shrek Jr, the musical.

After a two-year hiatus due to the devastating effect of fires, Covid 19 and floods on our wonderful community and the impact these disasters have had on our youth is of great concern; mental health, social interaction, wellbeing and a sense of belonging.

The cast is made of 40 local young people aged 8 – 17 years. One of the many highlights during the run of the production is to invite local schools to be part of the audience. Our donation will go directly to the six school shows enabling over 1,000 students to see the show for free, removing the chance of any student missing out due to financial restraints. For some, this may be their first opportunity to experience live theatre. 

Mental Connect ARTS Scholarship

Southern Highlands Foundation Mental Connect ARTS Scholarship

The pilot Supported Artist Scholarship offered through Mental and funded by the Southern Highlands Foundation was designed to support an emerging artist experiencing disengagement in the community. We often see a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.

Jessica, 22, was the first recipient of this pilot and has been practicing art for almost a decade. Diagnosed with severe Autism, Jessica has struggled to engage with artistic opportunities. Access to services has hampered her aim is to work independently. 

With careful interactions Jessica was introduced to the local art community along with new mediums and ways of working. She specifically learnt digital drawing techniques and computer skills.

Also digitizing her existing artwork helped to create a range of products designed to give her a personal income stream from art. Through this tailored- individual approach Jessica has benefited immensely from the program.

The program has now been identified as a possible case study for individuals with permanent disability to increase participation in the arts through the NDIS.

Grandfriends

Southern Highlands Foundation Grandfriends

Harbison – Heart and Home piloted the incredible project bringing together seniors in residential care and young primary school children for a weekly meetup at school with the aim to build better relationships, foster community connection and reduce isolation.

With the onset of Covid19 the increase in anxiety and depression associated with the isolation of seniors has had a tremendous impact on everyone in their support network. It is well documented and reported that our seniors miss out on valuable opportunities to help build capacity and engagement.

To ensure that a level of companionship and rapport with a young student is consistent and not overwhelming the same group of residents interact with the same groups of school students over a school term. 

This partnership has paved the way for the opportunity to connect with a broad range of beneficiaries; residents (some of whom reside in high-level dementia care); Oxley students aged 5-7 years; the resident’s families, & other community connections.

The SHF believed that supporting this initiative will not only build better relationships for those involved but has the potential to include joint partnerships with other schools in the community. Through a funding opportunity from FRRR – In A Good Place, SHF submitted an EOI and was successfully granted $19,268.00. These funds will assist the program to reduce social isolation, build capacity and connectedness.

“I get such a thrill of attending the school for these visits.

To see the faces of the kids with big smiles and being called by my name, as I walk into the classroom is so very special – Harbison Resident”