Turbans 4 Australia (T4A), led by 2023 Australian of the Year Local Hero, Amar Singh, is proposing a national expansion project to address pressing socioeconomic challenges and promote multiculturalism across Australia.

T4A’s vision is to formalise and expand our existing food relief and multicultural community support services to help families in need across Australia. Since 2015, we have been helping governments, communities, and families respond in times of crisis by providing food relief, delivery services, and broader community support, predominantly across the East Coast of Australia.

T4A now plans to extend its services with new centres in Adelaide and Perth supported by mobile kitchen trailers that could operate in anywhere there is a need, particularly
regional centres like Alice Springs.The new facilities in Adelaide and Perth will be multipurpose community centres that, like the original centres in Sydney and Melbourne, will provide nutritious and culturally sensitive meals and takeaway hampers with groceries and personal care items as well as general meeting spaces to be
available for use for organised activities and as a drop-in space for a multitude of multicultural communities.

This general area will include large and small meeting areas that can be booked, free-of-charge by multicultural and not-for-profit community groups when non-programmed
activities are taking place. The expansion of T4A has been designed to meet the
following objectives:

– Help combat the socioeconomic challenges faced by many families;
– Reduce health disparities of vulnerable Australians;
– Build the confidence and resilience of vulnerable Australians through community development; and
– Enhance the social cohesion of those communities where we operate.

This project aims to raise awareness, educate, and provide support to the migrant and African communities in Victoria affected by gender-based violence (GBV). Many individuals, especially women and children, face barriers to accessing help, including cultural stigma, lack of information, and systemic challenges.

By bringing together experts, survivors, and community leaders, this event will:
– Educate the community on healthy relationships, early warning signs of abuse, and safety strategies.
– Empower individuals by providing practical tools, referrals, and support networks.
– Encourage conversations to break the silence around GBV and reduce stigma.
– Connect attendees with local services, mental health professionals, and legal advisors.

Family Empowerment for Change, Growth, and Social Development (FECGSD) is a transformative not-for-profit organisation dedicated to empowering women, girls, and children who are particularly vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and abuse.

Through a multifaceted approach that includes providing relevant support, comprehensive social services, access to education, and pathways to justice, FECGSD strives to break the cycle of marginalisation and help create a more equitable society where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

The core of FECGSD’s mission is the belief that empowerment begins within the family unit. By providing relevant support, social services, education, and justice, the organisation aims to strengthen families, allowing them to become agents of change in their communities.

FECGSD recognises the importance of addressing the root causes of vulnerability, such as poverty, lack of education, and gender inequality.

Plus Community is deeply committed to addressing critical social issues and improving the lives of vulnerable populations. Its services span multiple domains, ensuring clients receive holistic support to overcome challenges, achieve stability, and reintegrate into their communities.

Key Areas of Service:
– Domestic Violence Services: Housing Plus and now Plus Community is a recognised leader in the DFV sector in NSW, providing essential services to individuals and families affected by domestic and family violence. Plus Community particularly aligns as an organisation which has proven impact in the area of Domestic Violence Services. In the last financial year, we have assisted 8,172 women and children experiencing domestic violence,
– The Orchards has provided 8,798 emergency bed nights for those fleeing domestic violence.
– Post-Release Support Services: The organisation plays a vital role in supporting individuals transitioning from prison. Through its Initial Transitional Service, Housing Plus helps reintegrate clients into the community and reduce recidivism.
– Employment Services: Housing Plus assists clients in accessing education, training, and work opportunities, empowering them to achieve independence and stability.
– Homelessness Services: Plus Community is also a registered accredited Specialist Homelessness Service (SHS) provider, able to deliver services to support individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
– Community Services: The organisation is committed to enhancing social outcomes and improving the wellbeing of its customers through tailored and specialist service delivery.

Wongan Community Care is a grassroots, not-for-profit organisation that has been serving the community for over 40 years. Our mission is to support children with disabilities and/or those experiencing disadvantage—along with their families and carers—who face limited access to intervention services, therapy equipment, resources, and assistance, often due to their rural location.

We strive to bridge the gaps in service delivery, helping these children reach their full potential, thrive within their schools and communities, and equipping their families with the skills and confidence to advocate effectively on their behalf as well as empower families with the knowledge and tools they need to raise their children in nurturing, inclusive, and supportive environments.

CQUniversity is one of Australia’s leading regional universities with a strong commitment to social equity, access to education, and community partnership. With campuses across regional and remote Australia, our mission is to empower students and communities through inclusive, high-quality education and applied research.

We are dedicated to addressing educational disadvantage by improving access for underrepresented groups, particularly students from regional, rural, and remote areas, Indigenous Australians, and those facing financial hardship. Our scholarship programs, community initiatives, and industry-aligned training pathways aim to break down systemic barriers to participation and success in tertiary education.

As Australia’s most engaged university (as recognised by the Australian Government’s Engagement and Impact Assessment), we work closely with local communities, Traditional Custodians, industry, and government to co-design solutions that drive positive social and economic outcomes.

Our current priorities include:
– Increasing scholarships for students experiencing disadvantage
– Supporting First Nations students’ success in higher education
– Building community resilience through local partnerships
– Expanding access to education in remote and regional areas

Philanthropic partnerships enable us to deliver life-changing opportunities, from funding student scholarships to backing community-led programs that build capacity and drive innovation.

With a proven track record in impact, a deep understanding of the communities we serve, and a clear vision for a more inclusive future, CQUniversity is uniquely positioned to create lasting change.

Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) is Australia’s leading organisation and national voice for ethnocultural and racial equity in the arts, screen and creative sectors, rooted in a human-rights ethos, social justice principles, and the belief that diverse creative expression is essential for an inclusive and sustainable sector and society. DARTS strives for a sector reflecting the nation’s diversity: on screens, stages, in audiences, galleries, books, and leadership.

DARTS focus on increasing inclusion for Culturally and Racially Marginalised (CaRM) creatives whose voices are underrepresented in creative production and sector leadership. DARTS works intersectionally with artists, groups, communities, organisations of diverse sexualities, abilities, age, socioeconomic status, genders, geographies and First Nations representation, recognising that cultural/linguistic/racial marginalisation cannot be viewed in isolation from other systemic barriers to access and participation.

DARTS has a proven track record of developing research, events, training, and strategic programs that imagine a more inclusive creative sector, empowering leaders, creatives and organisations. Our flagship programs and priorities include:
– Creative Equity Toolkit and self-paced training
– Fair Play capacity-building program for organisations
– Shifting the Balance Leadership Program

Funding support will help DARTS to achieve our Goals for 2024-2028:
– Make cultural, racial and linguistic diversity a central concern for the creative sectors.
– Empower organisations to participate in change.
– Increase public recognition of the value of creative diversity.
– Facilitate sustainable pathways within the arts and creative sectors for diverse creatives, by providing mentoring.
– Strengthen connections with First Nations communities to shape our approach to cultural diversity within a settler-colonial context.
– Embed leading practices throughout our organisation.

KinHub is a grassroots community initiative supporting families who often feel like they’ve slipped through the cracks. Our primary participants are those experiencing “School Can’t” — a complex and often misunderstood form of school refusal that affects many neurodivergent children. At KinHub, our mission is to build a connected, empowered community where families feel seen, supported and less alone.

Right now in Australia, 1 in 3 families experience daily school distress. Almost half of all students are chronically absent. It’s a huge issue and too many families feel isolated, judged or unsure where to turn. That’s where KinHub steps in — with lived experience, compassion and a deep understanding of what these families are going through.

Our youth led weekly meetups offer a safe, neuro-affirming, trauma-informed space where children and parents/carers can simply be themselves. It’s a place to connect with others who get it, build friendships, share stories and learn.

In just one year, 98% of KinHub families told us they felt better socially and emotionally. 93% felt more connected, and 83% said their children were engaging more with others.

Right now, our biggest priority is to support the parents and carers holding so much. With your help, we can launch a peer mentorship program to reduce burnout, offer emotional support and help make KinHub an even more nurturing space for the whole family.