After a highly competitive round of applications from across the country, we are proud to announce ten projects that will receive funding in 2026, reaching families, students, communities and young people from the Pilbara to the NT, and Western Queensland to the Kimberley.

This round received more than 80 applications from across remote and very remote Australia, requesting a combined total of over $500,000. With $58,587 distributed, less than one in nine dollars requested could be funded, a reflection not of weak applications, but of the overwhelming need that exists in communities far from the services most Australians take for granted. Every application told a story of distance, cost and determination. The ten projects below represent those the Trust's assessors judged best placed to deliver lasting impact for their communities.

Successful recipients.

WA Secondary School Bush Foods Program- Kununurra & Kalumburu WA, $10,000

Funding to Prepare Produce Provide to bring Aboriginal secondary students from Kununurra and Kalumburu to the WA Secondary School Bush Foods Competition in Perth so that the unique seasonal knowledge of the North-East Kimberley is represented on a statewide stage.

GroWQ Innovation Expo: Future Producers Workshop - Longreach QLD, $10,000

Funding to GroWQ to deliver a Future Producers Workshop at the Longreach Ag Innovation Expo, connecting up to 100 young people from across Western Queensland with industry specialists, universities and training providers so they can build a future in agriculture without having to leave the region to find one.

Western Alliance Secondary Careers and Cultural Camp - Mount Isa QLD, $10,000

Funding to Mount Isa School of the Air to take 35 distance education students to Brisbane for a week of visits to universities, TAFEs, cultural institutions and industry sites so that students who have never met face to face can explore what life after school genuinely looks like.

KICS Talking Together - Katherine NT, $9,630

Funding to Katherine Isolated Children's Service to deliver six months of monthly speech intervention kits to ten remote families so that children aged 18 months to four years with speech delays can receive early support at home, without needing to travel to services that don't exist nearby.

Year 10–12 AWE Agriculture Careers Camp - Winton QLD, $5,460

Funding to Winton State School to send 13 Year 10–12 students to the AWE Agriculture Futures Camp in St George — so they can gain a QCE point and hands-on exposure to the full breadth of agricultural careers in the industry that defines their community.

Earbus Outreach Program - Pilbara East WA, $5,000

Funding to Earbus Foundation to deliver an additional clinical outreach visit to Pilbara East in June — so that a GP, nurse and audiologist can screen, diagnose and treat children for ear disease across five remote communities that would otherwise go without.

Ocean Safety, Skills and Community Initiative - Karratha WA, $3,000

Funding to Reef Sisters to deliver a second accredited freediving course and program of ocean safety workshops in Karratha so that women in the Pilbara can access qualified local training without the cost of travelling to Exmouth, Broome or Perth.

Veterinary Science Student Placement Assistance - Julia Creek, QLD $2,500

Funding to Natalie C to cover travel and accommodation across eight weeks of clinical placements in Queensland so she can complete her veterinary degree and return to Julia Creek as a qualified rural vet.

Swimming Lessons for Children - Eromanga, QLD $1,997

Funding to Heidi M to keep weekly swimming lessons running at the Eromanga Council Pool so that 21 children from nine surrounding properties can learn a life-saving skill in a landscape where dams, waterholes and creeks are part of everyday life.

Round Square International Student Exchange, Hong Kong - Alice Springs NT, $1,000

Funding to Ella S to participate in a Round Square international student exchange at St Paul's Co-educational College in Hong Kong so that growing up in Alice Springs doesn't determine whether a high-achieving student can access a global learning opportunity.

A word of thanks to all who applied.

This round attracted a strong and competitive field of applications from across remote and very remote Australia. We are deeply grateful to every individual and organisation who took the time to share their ideas, their communities and their needs with us. While we were unable to fund every application in this round, the quality and commitment evident across all submissions reflects the extraordinary strength of rural and remote communities. If you were unsuccessful this round, we encourage you to revisit our guidelines and consider applying again in a future round.

Applications opening for the next round on June 1.

If you live or work in remote or very remote Australia and have a project, program or opportunity that needs support, we want to hear from you. Grants are available to individuals and organisations for projects focused on education, wellbeing and community participation. Visit our website to read the guidelines and apply. Applications open June 1 and close June 30.