Connellan Airways Trust

Our impact across the Outback

For over 40 years the Trust has invested in the people and ideas of remote and very remote Australia — backing education, health, leadership and community life where distance creates the greatest barriers.

$4M+
granted since 1981
40+
years funding the Outback
3
grant rounds per year
$10k
maximum per grant
What we measure

Five pillars of change in remote Australia

Every grant we fund is assessed against five strategic pillars that reflect what real change looks like in the Outback. A single grant can contribute to multiple pillars — a leadership program might also improve health access, and a training grant might reduce the costs of bringing services in from elsewhere.

Access & Opportunity

Education, health and training that reduce barriers of distance

Local Leadership

Confidence and capability for Outback people to lead change locally

Innovation & Problem Solving

Creative, practical solutions built in and for remote communities

Connection & Understanding

Stories and partnerships that connect remote and urban Australia

Trust & Legacy

Governance and transparency that sustain our long-term mission

Stories from the field

The people behind the numbers

Behind every grant is a person or community doing something meaningful in the Outback. These are a small selection of the projects we have supported.

"The grant made it possible for Aaron to come home during the school holidays. That connection to family and country is something you cannot put a price on."

Katy Hayes
Arckaringa Station, SA — Distance Education Support

"The swimming and water safety program reached kids who had never had access to lessons before. In remote communities, that knowledge can save a life."

Tambo ICPA Branch
Tambo QLD — General Grant, Community Safety

"Completing my Certificate III gave me the confidence to apply for a leadership role I never thought was possible. Now I am training others in my community."

General Grant Recipient
Remote Northern Territory — Vocational Training

We believe the most powerful investment we can make is in the people of the Outback themselves — their skills, their confidence, and their capacity to lead change where they live.

— Connellan Airways Trust, Strategic Plan 2026–2028
Where we fund

Across the remote and very remote Outback

At least 85% of our annual funding goes to people and organisations in remote (MM6) and very remote (MM7) communities — the places where distance from services is greatest and the need for support is most acute.

Northern Territory

Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek and remote communities and stations

Queensland

Outback QLD, Cape York, Gulf Country and remote western communities

Western Australia

The Kimberley, Pilbara and remote pastoral and mining communities

South Australia

The Outback, Flinders Ranges, APY Lands and remote stations

New South Wales

Far West NSW, remote pastoral country and isolated communities

Schools of the Air

Families and students connected to distance education across all states

First Nations communities

Applications from First Nations individuals and organisations strongly encouraged

Remote aviation

Pilots and aviation professionals serving remote communities across Australia

How we measure change

Moving from reporting to evidence

In 2026 we introduced a structured evaluation framework for the first time. All successful applicants now complete a short baseline survey before funds are released, and the same questions again at acquittal — measuring real change, not just confirming money was spent.

What we track at every grant
  • Reduction in barriers to access (1–5 scale, before and after)
  • Confidence in goals and capability (1–5 scale)
  • Leadership confidence, where relevant
  • Sense of community connection and belonging
  • Number of direct participants and beneficiaries
  • Qualifications commenced and completed
  • Whether the project continues beyond CAT funding
  • Costs or travel avoided through local delivery
Our annual reporting commitment
  • Quarterly progress tracking via Power BI dashboards
  • Annual Impact Report published each Q4
  • Organisation-wide SROI calculation (target: 1.8–2.5:1)
  • Partner satisfaction survey (target: 80% score 4/5 or above)
  • Geographic distribution — at least 85% to MM6–MM7
  • Data completeness — at least 85% of grants fully measured
  • On-time acquittals — at least 90% within 30 days
  • Administration ratio — operating costs kept below 25%

Want to see this impact in your community?

Applications for Round 2 General Grants open 1 June 2026.

Apply now Read guidelines