Community Fund
Community Fund
Round 3 of The RACT Community Fund, a joint initiative of RACT & RACT Insurance resulted in over 80 applications from not-for-profit community organisations from all parts of Tasmania. Unfortunately, this means that many very worthy Tasmanian organisations will necessarily miss out in this round, as our Fund resources are limited.
We believe that financial support provided through the RACT Community Fund should be a partnership between organisations with the primary aim of enriching the Tasmanian community. With this in mind, the following organisations have been chosen for assistance in Round 3:
Cancer Council - Mobile Information and Support Service "MISS Hope" (Statewide)
The Cancer Council's mobile van (MISS Hope), is a fit-for-purpose van which is part of a program to improve access to support and information for cancer patients in regional and rural remote communities. The van will be present at local health and wellbeing events and rural/regional workplaces and schools.
The RACT Community Fund is pleased to provide assistance for OH&S and security modifications required for the MISS Hope van.
Devonport Community Garden - "Car-den" Project
The Devonport Community Garden Project affords high school students the opportunity to further develop positive relationships, behaviours and attitudes through cooperation in a physical, healthy, team environment.
The "Car-den" project will involve students from a Reece High School who will develop a car-themed landscaped garden. The Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research will be working with the group to grow 10 Tasmanian varieties of potatoes for the commercial kitchens of 10 mainland chefs.
The RACT Community Fund has assisted with the purchase cost of materials for the Car-den project.
Holyoake "Sand Play Therapy" (Hobart)
Holyoake's proposed "Sand Play" therapy program is for children who are living in an environment where the use of alcohol and/or drugs are being misused. These children may not be having their needs met; be confused by mixed messages; believe they are not safe and find it difficult to trust. Research shows that this type of therapy provides unique and developmentally appropriate opportunities for them to engage in the therapeutic process.
The purchase of the equipment required for thisongoing therapy program has been part funded by the RACT Community Fund.
Launceston Womens Shelter "Connecting Families" program
The Shelter provides services to 170 children and carers each year, and receives 1,500 requests for accommodation annually from women/families escaping family violence and homelessness.
The Connecting Families program, based on a range of healthy exercise and activities, will help rebuild family ties, foster trust, heal trauma and teach alternative positive methods to solve problems. The group activities of the program will also promote self esteem, self worth and team work.
The RACT Community Fund will provide assistance with the purchase of play equipment including bicycles and helmets as part of this program.
Roadkill Tasmania "Sharing the Road with Tasmanian Wildlife" (Statewide)
This education program aims to reduce the number of animals killed on our roads - estimated at 293,000 every year.
In 2008 wildlife on the road caused one death and seven serious injuries to drivers; 3,000 Tasmanian Devils a year are killed (5.7% of the population); and the amount of roadkill is counter-productive to the efforts of the tourism industry.
Roadkill Tasmania are implementing a multimedia public education campaign encouraging best practice driver behaviour for avoiding wildlife collisions.
RACT and RACT Insurance are working with Roadkill Tasmania on this project as members of the RACT Roadkill Forum and the RACT Community Fund has provided financial assistance towards multi-media costs.
Self Help Workplace (Youngtown)
Committed to enhancing the lives of those with a disability by providing a safe and productive workplace, and improving the health and wellbeing of those who work there, the Self Help Workplace applied for assistance to purchase materials for construction of 6 eating benches for employees and visitors to their Production Shed.
Self Help Workplace provides supported employment for 55 people with a disability. Their Production Shed area manufactures wood products including pallets, garden stakes, survey pegs, produce boxes and customised wood packaging.
The RACT Community Fund is delighted to provide assistance to the project and shares the hope of the organisation that ultimately, construction of further benches will provide an income source for the organization.
King Island Men's Shed, Clarendon Vale Men's Shed, Launceston Veterans & Community Wood Centre (The Shed)
The common aim of these "Sheds" is to foster a greater community spirit and provide social inclusion opportunities in a relaxed environment, and to promote the exchange of skills and experiences that are no longer handed down through generations.
A small contribution for materials and equipment for each of these organisations has been provided through the RACT Community Fund.
We extend our sincere thanks to those community organisations throughout Tasmania who submitted applications. The RACT Community Fund has received over two hundred applications for assistance since its inception in 2008.
If your application was not successful on this occasion, please consider applying again in Round 4, which will open in March 2010.
RACT Community Fund
C/- RACT
Cnr Murray and Patrick Sts
HOBART TAS 7000
