General News
6 February, 2026
Backing rural youth
GRANTS of $50,000 are now available for new youth-focused initiatives in remote, rural and regional Queensland.
The one-off grants enable individuals aged 18 and over to pilot or develop innovative ideas that enhance the lives of young people (aged 12-30).
The grants are provided by the Backing the Future program, an initiative of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), which is supported by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR).
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. VFFF chief executive officer Jenny Wheatley said the foundation was excited to continue discovering and supporting 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 Queensland and we are thrilled to support 10 new ideas,” 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 learn more, visit www.frrr.org.au/backing-the-future or call 1800 170 020 and speak to FRRR’s Youth Futures Coordinator, Steph, or email youthfutures@frrr.org.au.
