Australia Pacific QBE Foundation inclusion local grant recipients 2024

• Four $40,000 local grants were awarded by the Australia Pacific QBE Foundation to local projects that promote inclusion.
• From helping survivors of domestic violence find employment to bridging gaps in autism education, a number of projects are helping create a more equal world.
• Read on to find out about the work of ARMIA, Aspect, OVIS and Wallara Australia.

Here at QBE, we believe that helping our customers, communities, people, and partners build resilience is essential to create a thriving and successful future.

The work of the Australia Pacific QBE Foundation helps bring that belief to life, supporting community organisations throughout Australia. We do this through a range of community partnerships, as well as providing funds to support a variety of initiatives, too.

Every year, the Australia Pacific QBE Foundation invites community organisations to apply for a $40,000 grant to help them achieve their goals, and this year, a total of $480,000 was awarded to 12 community organisations across three categories: inclusion, climate resilience, and employee choice, which enables people who work at QBE to nominate a community organisation close to their heart.

To be eligible for an Australia Pacific QBE Foundation local grant, applicants must be a registered not-for-profit organisation based in Australia, or have initiatives working in Australia, New Zealand or the Pacific, and address issues in our local grant categories.

Australia Pacific QBE Foundation local grants inclusion category 2024

Through our inclusion category, we aim to increase access to opportunities and resources for the groups in our communities who experience exclusion or are marginalised in society.

Initiatives supported in this category may address topics such as reconciliation, accessibility, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, mental health, and gender equality.

Chris Esson the Australia Pacific QBE Foundation Chair, says, “In this category, we were looking for organisations that have identified a genuine need. The number of projects we had the opportunity to learn about through this process was impressive, and demonstrated the drive across the country for real change.”

Impact and community need were at the forefront of the judges’ minds, Esson explains.

“While we had many outstanding entries, the four that we ended up selecting were able to show that they were tackling a genuine need, and were making a measurable impact, and we’re delighted to provide funding to each of the recipients to help them continue, evolve and grow the work they do – and the impact they make.”

Australia Pacific QBE Foundation local grants inclusion category recipients 2024

ARMIA Healing the Incurables

The background

Based in Sunnybank in South West Brisbane, ARMIA was formed to help people of any cultural background living in Australia gain the knowledge and skills to help them integrate sustainably into Australian society.

The organisation delivers programs throughout South East Queensland, holistically helping transition fit and skilled individuals from welfare dependency to productive members of the community through education/training, employment and other supports, and collaboration with local businesses to identify job opportunities.

The community need

When refugees and migrants arrive in a new country, it can be difficult to gain employment and therefore contribute economically to society.

From language and cultural barriers to a lack of employment-related skills and experience and a lack of connections and social network, there are a number of challenges. These issues are exacerbated among refugee and new migrant women, who may have been impacted by lower levels of education, financial literacy, gender discrimination and exposure to abuse and violence in their war-torn countries of origin.

It’s important to practically address the root causes of these barriers and assist refugee and new migrant women prepare for and find employment, and as a consequence, be able to play a greater role in community life, enjoy positive mental health outcomes and greater gender equality, too.

What the grant will be used for

The grant will help ARMIA deliver the Refugee and New Migrant Women’s Workforce Inclusion Program, an employment readiness and workforce participation program designed for refugee and migrant women who are experiencing multiple barriers to employment – meaning they cannot economically participate in and contribute to society.

“The aim of this program is to equip participants with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to effectively secure and sustain long-term employment,” says Protais Muhirwa – Founding Director.

The program includes weekly mentoring sessions, an English business language communication program, employment skills training, including computer literacy, financial literacy, and career development activities, including resume writing and interview skills.

Delivered through classroom learning and online support, the year-long program has evolved from successful pilot programs and will support up to 50 working-age refugee and new migrant women –potentially benefitting more than 250 family members.

OVIS Community Services

The background

OVIS Community Services is the Peel region of Western Australia’s leading family and domestic violence (FDV) service provider. It operates one short-term crisis refuge and one medium-term therapeutic refuge for women and their children who have experienced FDV, and who also have alcohol or other drug, or mental health concerns.

OVIS also runs FDV education and awareness programs, and runs the Pinjarra Women’s Centre, a regional hub for women to access FDV support and community services.

The community need

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in four women have experienced FDV, while 16% of all women in Australia experience economic abuse from the age of 15.¹

“It has been identified that gender inequality contributes significantly to the vulnerabilities associated with FDV,” says OVIS CEO, Megan McKrill.

“For instance, women are disproportionately represented in part-time and casual positions that are often associated with lower wages. Women who experience FDV are more likely to encounter unemployment and economic instability because of the perpetrator's behaviour.

“Furthermore, women experiencing FDV frequently report increased work absences to attend health appointments, legal proceedings, specialised FDV services, and counselling. These absences, coupled with reduced income and disruptions to their employment – such as needing to decrease work hours or relocate for safety – underscore the economic impacts of FDV. Additionally, the stress and mental health challenges resulting from FDV can further impair women's ability to perform effectively at work.”

What the grant will be used for

The grant will be used to help OVIS deliver the Freedom to Flourish Program, an initiative that will help women affected by FDV to contribute to society.

The program will work with 20 women to ultimately help them into sustainable, long-term employment. After helping participants identify relevant skills, qualifications and fields of employment, the program will assist participants with everything from resume writing to interview coaching – and even finding the right clothes to wear for an interview.

After employment has been gained, regular support and mentoring will help ensure job retention and career development.

“Overall, the program aims to empower participants holistically, not just economically but also socially and emotionally, thereby creating sustainable positive impacts on their lives and communities,” says McKrill.

Wallara Australia

The background

Wallara’s story dates back to 1959, when a group of parents of children with disabilities in Dandenong, Victoria, got together to create grassroots support – including a school, an op shop and a mother’s club.

Since then, the organisation has developed to become a leading provider of disability support in Victoria, supporting more than 500 people across 20 sites, including educational programs, short and long-term accommodation, and immersion programs for independent living.

The community need

Over the years, Wallara has found the biggest barrier to people with different abilities being able to find employment and play an active role in the community is people’s attitudes.

In order to inspire a change in community attitudes and promote inclusion, Wallara launched a video production unit in 2012, to help share the stories of the people it helps.

“Using a second-hand analogue camera and a computer with the processing power of a calculator, we began capturing personal stories and producing training videos,” says Wallara’s Digital Communications Manager Jay Pinkster

“We also began training people with varied abilities to learn the different skills involved in production. The many stories produced since then are part inspiration and part education, celebrating the achievements of our people and highlighting the key elements of successful inclusion. The focus of inclusion has since become one of our guiding principles.”

What the grant will be used for

The grant will enable Wallara Australia to establish an on-site television production studio, offering industry-standard production capabilities and training for people with disabilities, fostering greater inclusion and professional growth in media production.

The project will benefit 200 individuals with disabilities each year, equipping them with practical skills in a professional media setting to boost employability and self-expression, while serving as an ongoing resource for Wallara and the wider community.

Pinkster says, “Our vision for the media program is to develop robust programs that allow participants to hone their skills in using digital technology. We aim to create more employment opportunities while providing a platform for individuals with disabilities to express themselves and share their stories.

“It will also enable their stories to be produced at a higher quality – whether videos, podcasts, audios, or multimedia productions – than is presently possible. A higher standard of production will expand audiences because the material will be more professional and watchable.”

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)

The background

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) has been supporting people on the autism spectrum since 1965, offering a comprehensive range of services including diagnostic assessments, therapy, research, support services and environmental assessments.

Aspect also operates ten autism-specific schools in New South Wales and South Australia, providing more than 1200 Autistic students with a tailored, autism-specific curriculum.

To help increase the impact of its work, Aspect has created an Aboriginal Education Strategy to increase awareness of Autism education services in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and to provide culturally safe services and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

The community need

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the autism spectrum are some of the most disadvantaged and marginalised communities,² and Aspect is committed to ensuring its educational strategy supports and advances Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people to achieve their learning potential.

What the grant will be used for

To help deliver its services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, Aspect plans to incorporate cultural awareness training into its educational framework across three of its school sites – Thornton, Port Macquarie and Terrigal, NSW.

The grant will be used to boost the cultural awareness of school staff, improving the inclusivity and effectiveness of the educational services offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Autistic children. Around 740 people, primarily Autistic students, are expected to benefit directly from the enhanced educational framework and inclusive practices developed through this training.

“Without funding, we will not be able to support the cultural awareness training of our skilled educators to help create a world which is culturally and disability inclusive,” says Bríd Corrigan, National Manager Education Learning and Leadership.

“This training is fundamental in making this happen by setting high expectations for learning that will incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, ensure understanding of diverse learning styles and support effective engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families.”

This program will be used as a pilot, and once the program has been completed and evaluated, a framework will be established to roll out the projects to the remaining Aspect schools, ensuring a long-lasting and sustainable impact.

Projects that make a sustainable impact

Inclusion is all about removing the barriers that prevent people from contributing to society – and the more people we have who positively contribute to society, the more resilient our communities become.

Esson says, “We’re delighted to have been able to support these four projects, which collectively help a diverse range of people become more involved in their local communities.

“It’s essential that, together, we remove those barriers that prevent certain demographics from having access to opportunities, and by doing this we can create thriving, successful communities.

“We look forward to watching these projects reach fruition and are excited about the impact they will have.”

Learn more about the 2024 local grant recipients in the climate resilience and employee choice categories, or visit QBE Foundation to learn more about the work the Foundation does in the community.

¹ 1 in 5 Australians have experienced partner violence or abuse | Australian Bureau of Statistics
² Indigenous Australians with autism: A scoping review – PubMed