Latest Funding Round Announced

The Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF) has provided more than $2 million of funding for 16 projects in its latest grant round.

Included in this round of funding is a mentoring program which will provide early intervention support for youth, a school program to support primary students in Tasmania’s north west, upgrades to a non-profit junior beekeeping organisation and the development of a water sports park available to the greater Hobart community.

TCF Chair Sally Darke said the TCF Board was pleased to be able to support so many worthwhile projects and programs in Tasmania through these grants.

“It is important that we are able to meet the needs of our communities and this round continues to show how the fund has adapted to meet these needs, especially when it comes to removing barriers to education,” Ms Darke said.

The Raise Youth Mentoring Programs will provide early intervention youth mentoring for vulnerable students supported by a local volunteer community mentor and degree qualified Program Counsellor.

PR Manager Emmeline Stevens said Raise Mentoring has been running evidence-based Youth Mentoring Programs since 2008 and this funding will deliver new programs in Launceston with two in 2024 and four between 2025-28.

“Mentoring has a ripple effect. Raise mentees aren't the only ones that get something out of the program and our mentors consistently tell us how much they benefited from the experience,” she said.

“Mentors will be more comfortable checking in with young people in their own lives and this funding helps contribute to our broader goal of creating thriving communities across Australia.”

The Wilmot Inquiry School Program (WISP) will support primary aged tier two and three students in the north west of Tasmania to reengage in learning and improve literacy and numeracy skills through targeted intervention.

Wilmot Primary School Principal Genevieve Andrews said the funding would be greatly beneficial in reducing the barriers to education for many children across the north west region.

“The program is accessible for school students across the north west with four schools currently enrolled and 16 on our waiting list,” she said.

“There is a high level of interest in our program and thanks to this funding it is something we can now provide for the benefit of local children, parents, families and other communities in the north west region.”

The Tasmanian Junior Beekeepers hub upgrade will ensure a sustainable future for junior beekeepers with a dedicated, purpose-built facility to learn about bees, their environment, pollination and beekeeping.

President Anita Long said the funding will allow the association to become more self-sufficient and improve its capacity for educating local junior beekeeping enthusiasts.

“Much of our current materials have been scavenged from tip shops so it is wonderful to have funding to help us purchase some brand-new high-quality tools and equipment,” she said.

“All our sessions are free to members so the only way we can continue to provide educational services is to fundraise or receive generous grants such as this.”

The Paddleball Tasmania program will establish a paddleball park on the River Derwent to provide physical education and other learning opportunities to Tasmanian students and the broader community.

The park will provide a space for water-based sports such as canoe polo and paddleball with two-metre high goals suspended at either end of the pitch, a game that is similar to basketball but played on canoes and kayaks.

Paddle Tasmania Executive Officer Tom Calderwood said the permanent paddleball park will be the only one of its kind in Australia.

“The new park will be a great addition to the river as it will provide unique physical recreation and education opportunities and be equipped for hosting national and international events,” he said.

“At this stage the courts will be positioned at either Cornelian Bay or Sandy Bay Beach and our trained professionals will be providing coaching opportunities for local schools.”