Individuals supporting young people in remote, rural and regional Queensland are invited to apply for one-off grants of $50,000 to deliver new youth-focussed initiatives.
The funding is thanks to the Backing the Future program, an initiative of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), which is supported by FRRR.
Backing the Future enables individuals, aged 18 and over, to pilot or develop innovative ideas that enhance the lives of young people (aged 12-30) who live, learn, work and play in country QLD.
Unlike many other funding programs, Backing the Future funds individuals directly and does not require the backing of a community group or not-for-profit organisation, removing a key barrier to accessing philanthropic support.
VFFF CEO, Jenny Wheatley, said VFFF is excited to continue discovering and supporting impactful projects that help transform rural life for young people.
“Through previous rounds of the program, Backing the Future has invested almost $1.5 million in the ideas of community changemakers in QLD and we are thrilled to support 10 new ideas that will create lasting impacts for young people across remote and rural QLD,” she said.
“One of the unique elements of this program is that we are specifically looking for initiatives that are brand new. We know that securing initial funding is often the hardest step in getting a project off the ground and this grant is designed to take a chance on these early ideas to see what is possible.
To date, Backing the Future has supported 27 recipients in QLD, including Robyn Cook, who used the $50,000 grant to develop a pathway for young people to gain a Certificate in Event Management by volunteering at local community events.
Robyn describes Backing the Future as a unique opportunity that allowed her to test and prove her concept, which she is now expanding into more regional areas and events across QLD.
“Rural and regional young people have immense creativity and potential, but finding meaningful pathways can be dependent on their ability to access the right opportunities.
“With my Backing the Future grant, I was able to provide young people with access to a Certificate in Event Management. This not only allowed them to pursue something they are passionate about, but also connected them with local events and mentors, while supporting community events that often struggle to find volunteers,” Robyn said.
VFFF partners with FRRR in the delivery of the Backing the Future grant program, combining VFFF’s commitment to backing early‑stage ideas at pivotal moments and FRRR’s extensive reach into even the remote and very remote parts of the state.
FRRR’s Head of Partnerships, Deb Samuels, said that partnering with VFFF to provide early-stage coaching, mentoring and skill building workshops to amplify the impact of the funding, has given participants greater confidence to develop their ideas and make a real difference in the lives and future of rural young people.
“It’s so rewarding to engage with young people through our networks in more remote communities and connect them with this wonderful grant opportunity offered by VFFF. It’s wonderful to hear about new events, social enterprises and businesses that continue to benefit young people across QLD as a direct result of this grant program,” Deb said.
“The feedback we have had from previous grantees is that they deeply appreciate the unique opportunity that Backing the Future offers, especially the trust and willingness to back an idea in its infancy.
“We’re excited to continue to partner with VFFF to support rural changemakers and unearth projects and ideas that sustain rural communities and set young people up for success,” Deb said.
Applications for the Backing the Future program are invited from anyone aged 18+ who has an idea that will benefit young people in very remote, remote, rural or regional QLD. Applications close 9 March 2026.
Anyone interested in applying is encouraged to reach out to FRRR’s Youth Futures team to have a chat about your idea and eligibility. FRRR will also host a webinar to explain more about the program and answer questions at 12 noon (AEDT) on Monday, 9 February 2026.
