September 2025 Grant Round Recipients

The Connellan Airways Trust is proud to announce the successful recipients of the September 2025 Grant Round.

Each of these projects reflects the ingenuity, resilience, and generosity that define life in remote Australia. Together, they represent CAT’s core purpose, supporting people and organisations that remove barriers caused by distance and strengthen education, health, wellbeing, and community connection.

Strengthening Health and Community Wellbeing

Katrina Molloy
A dedicated health professional working across regional communities, Katrina will use her grant to undertake professional development that builds her skills in community health and wellbeing. This training will strengthen her capacity to deliver quality care and support in remote areas, where access to ongoing professional education can be limited. By investing in local capability, Katrina’s project helps ensure sustainable, skilled service delivery across the region.

Keeping Outback Traditions Alive

Kulgera Gymkhana Club Inc
For more than 40 years, the Kulgera Gymkhana has brought people together from across the desert, part competition, part reunion, and all community. This grant supports infrastructure and safety upgrades, ensuring the event remains accessible, safe, and vibrant for years to come. In places where isolation can be overwhelming, events like these provide connection, pride, and an essential social lifeline.

Empowering Young Voices in the Red Centre

Live to Tell Your Story Inc
Live to Tell Your Story Inc is partnering with Prepare Produce Provide (PPP) to support eight Aboriginal students from remote and regional outback communities, including the Central Desert, Pilbara, Gascoyne, and Kimberley to attend the Djinda Ngardak 2025 cross-cultural culinary program in Bunbury, Western Australia. The week-long experience brings together young people, Aboriginal Elders, leading chefs, and educators for an immersive program of cultural exchange, accredited hospitality training, and leadership development. Students will take part in masterclasses led by industry professionals, explore bush foods, traditional medicines, and sustainable cooking, and gain credits aligned with Certificate I & II in Hospitality and Cookery. The program culminates in a Gala Dinner, where participants showcase their culinary creations and newly learned skills. As the organisation explained, the project aims to “empower Aboriginal youth from the Outback by providing access to high-quality education and training, while celebrating culture and creating real employment pathways.” By funding travel for these students, CAT is helping remove one of the biggest barriers, distance, and enabling them to take part in an experience that builds pride, skills, and opportunity for their futures.

Building Connection and Leadership for Rural Women

Centralian Land Management Association
A highlight on the rural calendar, the Rural Ladies Day event brings together women from pastoral, agricultural, and remote communities to learn, share, and connect. This year’s program focuses on wellbeing, leadership, and the power of shared experience, supporting women who are often the backbone of their communities. CAT’s funding helps ensure this much-loved event continues to grow, fostering the next generation of rural leaders and advocates.

Regenerating Land and Knowledge

Soils for Life
Soils for Life will use its Connellan Airways Trust grant to bring expert knowledge directly to remote Australia through the 2026 Regenerative Rangelands Conference, to be held at LaTrobe Station in Longreach, Queensland. The funding supports two keynote speakers, Eli Court, CEO of Soils for Life, and Alejandro Carrillo, an internationally recognised regenerative grazier from Mexico, who will share world-class insights on soil health, pasture restoration, and drought resilience. Their presentations, workshops, and mentoring sessions will give graziers and young land managers practical tools to strengthen productivity and ecological balance in some of Australia’s most challenging landscapes. As part of the International Year of the Rangelands, the conference will also host a Young Grazier Camp, helping participants aged 18–25 develop confidence, skills, and networks for the future. By connecting global expertise with local experience, this project supports the long-term sustainability of remote pastoral communities, ensuring that regenerative knowledge and best practice continue to grow well beyond the event.

Expanding Educational Access

St Mary’s College
St Mary’s College will take three First Nations students to Bunbury, Western Australia, to participate in the Djinda Ngardak Culinary Program, an intercultural initiative combining traditional knowledge, cultural connection, and hospitality training. Supported by renowned chefs Paul Iskov, Melissa Palinkas, and the Prepare Produce Provide and Bunbury TAFE teams, the students will take part in bush food foraging, storytelling, and culinary masterclasses, learning to create dishes that blend modern techniques with traditional ingredients. The experience will culminate in a showcase dinner prepared and served by participants, celebrating culture through food and connection to Country. The program builds confidence, leadership, and pathways into hospitality and tourism while promoting sustainable food practices and pride in cultural identity.

Supporting Isolated Students and Families

Tambo Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA)
For families living on remote properties around Tambo, learning to swim safely is far from simple, yet it’s an essential life skill in rural Australia. With dams, creeks, and waterholes common across the region, the Tambo Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) is using its CAT grant to ensure children from distance education families can take part in local swimming programs. The funding helps cover travel, accommodation, and lesson costs for families who would otherwise struggle to access classes. By making water safety education possible for remote kids, the project builds confidence, saves lives, and strengthens community connection, ensuring that isolation doesn’t mean missing out on vital opportunities to learn and grow.

Strengthening the Heart of William Creek

William Creek Progress Association (WCPA)
The William Creek Progress Association is creating a vibrant new multi-use play and sports area, known as a Rage Cage, to give one of Australia’s most remote townships a safe and inclusive space for recreation, connection, and community pride. Supported by the Connellan Airways Trust, this project will provide a durable, all-weather facility that allows locals and visitors alike to enjoy activities such as basketball, netball, tennis, and soccer. The initiative responds directly to a need identified in the community’s Rural Aid–facilitated Action Plan, which highlighted the absence of facilities for children and youth. By partnering with Variety SA, Rural Aid, and the Outback Communities Authority, WCPA has leveraged substantial co-funding to make the project possible. Once completed, the Rage Cage will serve as a central hub for play, events, and community gatherings, helping reduce isolation, encourage active lifestyles, and strengthen the social fabric of this tiny but resilient outback community

Reducing Isolation and Supporting Family Connection

Katy Hayes
Living 150 kilometres from Coober Pedy on Arckaringa Station, Katy and her family manage life at the edge of the outback. This grant supports travel costs for her son, Aaron, who attends boarding school in Adelaide. The funding enables him to return home for school holidays, providing vital family time, connection to country, and support for his wellbeing during a significant period of transition. In many ways, it’s a small grant with profound human impact — one that directly reduces the isolation faced by remote families.

Each of these grants highlights the remarkable creativity and determination that exist across remote Australia — from families and schools to community groups and land managers who turn local ideas into lasting change. Together, they show how targeted support can build skills, strengthen connection, and enhance wellbeing, even in the most isolated places. As CAT continues to build its Impact and Learning Framework, we look forward to sharing more stories from these inspiring recipients and celebrating the difference that community-led projects make across remote and outback Australia.

The next Connellan Airways Trust grant round opens Saturday, 1 November 2025.

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Updated Grant Guidelines and Application Questions

By Declan Kelly • October 28, 2025

New Grant Guidelines: Fairer, Clearer, and More Aligned with Remote Australia The Connellan Airways Trust has released new Grant Guidelines designed to make applying simpler, fairer, and more transparent for people and organisations across remote and very remote Australia. These updates take effect for the next round opening 1 November 2025, and reflect CAT’s ongoing commitment to best-practice philanthropy, ensuring every dollar delivers meaningful, measurable outcomes for remote communities. Why the Guidelines Have Changed Over the past year, CAT has reviewed its granting process to ensure it reflects best practice in community philanthropy. The new approach brings: Clarity for applicants through structured questions and clear eligibility criteria; Consistency for assessors via a weighted scoring system; Fairness in outcomes by comparing applications on their demonstrated need, impact, and alignment with CAT’s purpose; Recognition of real delivery costs through a “pay-what-it-takes” model that allows for modest project overheads and contractor fees. Together, these updates ensure CAT’s grants are simpler to apply for, easier to assess, and more impactful for remote Australia. What’s New for Applicants For Individuals Grants of up to $10,000 can now support practical, well-defined activities such as: Study or training fees, including TAFE and vocational courses Travel or accommodation for placements or professional development Tools, materials, or technology enabling participation in study or work Initiatives that improve local health, wellbeing, or leadership capacity Each application will be assessed on six key questions: what you want to do, why it’s needed, who’s involved, your budget, how success will be measured, and how you’ll share outcomes. Read the Individual Guidelines For Organisations Eligible organisations include registered not-for-profits and community groups auspiced by an NFP. Funding supports small, community-led projects that: Build education, health, and wellbeing outcomes Strengthen local connection and participation Support leadership, innovation, and remote capability Projects may include staff or contractor costs directly tied to delivery, essential materials, modest overheads or travel to remote program sites. Read the Organisation Guidelines How Applications Are Assessed All eligible applications are reviewed and scored against six key questions, each carrying a different weighting to reflect its importance. What do you want to do? (20%) Provide a clear and well-defined description of your project or activity, including what you plan to deliver and why. Why is this needed? (25%) Explain the challenge or barrier being addressed. Strong responses include local examples or evidence showing why the project matters. When, where, and who is involved? (20%) Outline your plan, timeline, and who will deliver or participate in the activity. Demonstrate readiness and local engagement. Budget and value for money (15%) Present a transparent and realistic budget that reflects the true costs of delivery, any co-funding, and overall value to the community. How will success be measured? (10%) Describe how you will know your project has made a difference, for example, through participation numbers, learning outcomes, or improved access and wellbeing. How will outcomes be shared? (10%) Explain how you will communicate or celebrate the results of your project, and how outcomes might be sustained locally. Each question is scored from 1 (Low) to 5 (Exceptional). Applications are ranked in order of merit based on total score until the available funding for the round is fully allocated. Example of Strong Responses A training applicant might describe how a short course in mental health first aid will allow them to better support isolated community members. A community organisation could outline how a new local event reduces social isolation, with data on expected participants and local partners. A health professional might demonstrate how new clinical skills will expand access to early care for remote families. These examples all share the same qualities CAT is looking f or: clarity, evidence of need, practical delivery, and measurable local benefit. Looking Ahead The new guidelines are part of CAT’s commitment to building stronger communities through fair, transparent, and measurable funding. By improving clarity and consistency, the Trust can better support individuals and organisations who are removing barriers, strengthening leadership, and creating opportunities across remote Australia. Next grant round opens 1 November 2025

Insights from the September 2025 Grant Round

By Declan Kelly • October 28, 2025

Innovation, resilience, and connection across remote Australia The Connellan Airways Trust’s September 2025 Grant Round revealed the remarkable diversity, creativity, and commitment of people living and working across remote and very remote Australia. From training programs and cultural exchanges to infrastructure and community wellbeing projects, this round reflected both the practical and personal ways remote Australians are tackling local challenges and building stronger futures. Investing in Local Skills and Services A consistent theme this round was the drive to build local capability, particularly in health and service delivery. For example, Katrina Molloy, a dedicated regional health professional, is undertaking specialist ultrasound training to expand access to early pregnancy care for women in Central Australia. Supporting this kind of local professional development helps ensure communities have skilled, sustainable services close to home. Keeping Remote Communities Connected Projects like Kulgera Gymkhana Club’s infrastructure upgrades and the William Creek Progress Association’s “Rage Cage” multi-use play area highlight how community spaces continue to play a vital role in the wellbeing of outback towns. These initiatives create safe, inclusive places for people to gather, celebrate, and stay active — especially important where social infrastructure is limited. Empowering Young People and Cultural Exchange Several projects focused on giving young people the confidence and skills to lead, with strong representation from programs promoting cultural exchange and creativity. Both St Mary’s College and Live to Tell Your Story Inc will take students from remote regions to the Djinda Ngardak Culinary Program in Bunbury — an intercultural initiative that combines traditional knowledge, hospitality training, and connection to Country. For many participants, it’s a first step into industry pathways while strengthening pride in culture. Supporting Wellbeing and Safety in Remote Families CAT also supported projects that address the realities of isolation and access for families living hundreds of kilometres from services. The Tambo Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) will help remote children access swimming and water-safety programs, covering the travel and lesson costs that often prevent participation. Similarly, Katy Hayes, a parent from Arckaringa Station, received support for travel so her boarding-school-aged son can return home during holidays — a simple but deeply impactful way to strengthen family connection and wellbeing. Building Environmental Resilience and Knowledge The Trust continues to invest in knowledge-sharing that supports the future of Australia’s rangelands. Soils for Life will bring global expertise to the 2026 Regenerative Rangelands Conference in Longreach, connecting graziers with world-class regenerative agriculture practices. It’s a strong example of how targeted funding can amplify learning and improve land management across vast, remote landscapes. The next Connellan Airways Trust grant round opens Saturday, 1 November 2025.

July eNews

By Declan Kelly • July 15, 2025

From the EO Hi everyone, I'm Declan Kelly, the new EO of Connellan Airways Trust. I’ve just wrapped up my first few weeks as Executive Officer at the Trust, and it’s already been a genuinely inspiring start. Earlier this month, I travelled to Alice Springs (Mparntwe) and had the chance to connect directly with some of the people and communities the Trust supports. A highlight was attending the Govies’ Muster and meeting the dedicated teachers, families and students from the Alice Springs School of the Air and the ICPA. Hearing about the creativity and resilience it takes to deliver education across vast distances really brought home why the Trust’s work matters. At the Alice Springs Show, I enjoyed meeting local schools and community groups, many of whom already know Connellan and have received support in the past to bring important projects to life. It was great to see how the Trust’s legacy is woven into the local community in such practical and lasting ways. I also met with the team from Red Dust and learned more about their community driven health and wellbeing programs. And of course, I couldn’t miss experiencing my first Territory Day, a pretty spectacular way to be welcomed, with fireworks lighting up the desert night. Another highlight was catching up with NT Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro, to talk about the opportunities and challenges facing remote Australians, and where the Trust can help create even greater impact. All in all, it’s been a warm, generous welcome into the Connellan Airways Trust community, and I’m excited to keep building on the Trust’s proud history. Next up, my first grant round. If you’re working on a project, supporting your local community or just want to chat about what we do, please get in touch via info@connellanairwaystrust.org.au . Looking forward to what’s ahead! Declan General Grants Opening Soon Our next round of General Grants opens 1 August and closes 15 August. These grants support individuals and small community organisations in remote, very remote and select outer regional areas to fund projects, education, travel, technology or local initiatives that reduce isolation and create opportunities. Check out the guidelines and see if you're eligible: connellanairwaystrust.org.au/general-grants Questions? Get in touch at info@connellanairwaystrust.org.au . We look forward to seeing your ideas!