Eligibility criteria

Program support vehicle

Region - Hunter, Mid North Coast, New England

This $47,000 grant will enable the purchase of a large multipurpose van to be used by volunteers who deliver Camp Quality programs in Northern NSW and directly supporting 550 young people impacted by cancer. The purchase of this van means Camp Quality can save thousands of dollars each year as it will not have car hire costs nor need to reimburse volunteers for the use of private vehicles.

Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation has previously provided $187,500 in funding and $3,000 from the Chairman's Medal to Camp Quality for projects.

Transforming Transport to Treatment

Region - Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers, Central West, New England

This $154,000 grant will enable Cancer Council NSW’s Transport to Treatment program to become an online booking platform for transport to cancer treatment. The online system will transform the 28 existing independent services into one convenient online booking system. Along with future expansion of the vehicle fleet, the aim of this project is to enable access to free transport for anyone needing transport for cancer treatment.

Cancer Council NSW has previously received $270,000 in funding for projects from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

The Port Stephens Youth Centre (Tomaree Peninsula)

Region - Hunter

The $53,000 grant will be used to fit out a dedicated space at Salamander Library to deliver a free community-based mental health and counselling service aimed at youth in Port Stephens.
The service will offer psychology and counselling services, on a bulk billed basis, in an inviting, youth-focussed setting to reduce the clinical nature of the environment to remove barriers of stigma for clients. Service hours will be structured to be appropriate for high school students.

Starting Over

Region - Central Coast

This $48,000 grant will be used to purchase 100 starting over kits to assist people escaping domestic violence. Each kit will include one double bed, two single beds (a person escaping violence with children is a common scenario), one lounge, one dining suite, a wardrobe, chest of drawers, fridge, washing machine, toaster, kettle, crockery, cutlery, and linen. As needed, kits will also include school suppliers, cleaning kits, medication, and mobility aides.

It is hoped that these kits will make the transition and cost of moving into new accommodation easier thereby making the decision to leave an easier one.

Wheels for Hope Social Enterprise

Region - Hunter

Centre for Hope will use this grant to establish a new Port Stephens chapter of Wheels for Hope—a program for marginalised young people to refurbish bikes and skateboards and donate them to disadvantaged local children/families. This $40,000 program teaches 15-18 year olds transferrable skills including mechanical, entrepreneurial, and business providing participants greater education and employment opportunities. This is an extension of the successful launches of this program in Windale, Kurri Kurri, and Raymond Terrace.

Centre for Hope has previously received $50,500 in funding for projects from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

NICview expansion

Region - Hunter, Mid North Coast, New England

The NICVIEW camera connects remote families with their newborns while in the care of Northern NSW’s only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at John Hunter Hospital—which provides care for up to 1,200 babies each year from across NSW, including some of our most rural and remote regions. This $53,000 project includes installation of specialised web cameras on each of NICU’s 12 new beds with a live-feed accessible by baby’s family through a secure, password protected connection to any computer, tablet, phone or similar device. NICVIEW means that family, often separated due to work, school or care commitments, can connect and bond with the newest member of the family, no matter how far away they may be.

John Hunter Children’s Hospital Kids Club has previously received $269,000 in funding for projects from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Lifeline / Country Women’s Association / Newcastle Permanent Women’s Mental, Physical, and Financial presentation

Region - Central West

Lifeline Central West and Country Women’s Association CWA will develop a series of talks to be delivered in regional NSW about issues that cause mental illness and informing on how help can be sought without being stigmatised. This $41,000 program is timely with drought and business closures in regional NSW putting strain on family budgets and ultimately mental health. Targeting women—with the aim of engaging the female in the household as a way of overcoming the issue of male resistance to seeking help—is seen as a viable way of reaching the venerable male demographic and will be publicised to a large number of women in regional NSW.

Macquarie Home Stay Outdoor Area

Region - Central West

The new Macquarie Home Stay will offer affordable accommodation for people who are living in regional NSW and need to travel to Dubbo for necessary medical treatment. This $43,000 grant will fund the construction of a landscaped outdoor social area for guests and their families to enjoy. This area will be a tranquil location for socialisation, relaxation, and bonding.

Education & Career Development for Refugee & Migrant Youth

Region - Hunter

Mentor Support Network will identify 10 disadvantaged refugee and migrant young people requiring support with education and career development. With this $30,000 grant they will present these young people with a Scholarship to help cover education and career development assistance costs as well as provide them with mentoring and career coaching to give them the best possible pathway into a meaningful career in their new home country.

Mentor Support Network has previously received $77,000 in funding for projects from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

StrokeSafe Ambassador Program for regional and rural NSW

Region - Northern Rivers, Central West, New England

This $22,000 in funding will expand the StrokesSafe Ambassador Program in Tamworth, Armidale, Dubbo, and Coffs Harbour regions that have some of the highest rates of stroke in the country but do not have a volunteer ambassador presence.
StokeSafe Ambassador program provides public education about what stroke is, how to prevent stroke, how to recognise the early warning signs of stroke, and what to do if someone has a stroke. Ambassadors, including stroke survivors, carers, health professionals and members of the general public, are trained to conduct educational presentations to the community.

National Stroke Foundation has previously received $42,000 in funding for projects from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Options Theatre Company Community Performance Space Development

Region - Central Coast

Options Theatre Company provides the opportunity for people with a disability to be involved with the arts and offers training in associated roles including sound and lighting, production, and rigging. This funding will enable the completion of a new sustainable enterprise performance space and café at a new Tuggerah site; this includes fit out of the box office and café, and installation of configurable seating for 80 to 100 people.

Options Disability Support has previously received $33,000 in funding for projects from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Next Step Mental Health Program

Region - Hunter

This $113,300 grant will be used to incentivise up to three graduating psychiatrists each year to develop a locally-based practice in the Hunter region. Graduates will be mentored by Procare practitioners, given exposure to managing a local practice, and be provided with a stream of referrals from Procare enabling the graduate to quickly establish a local network and client base. At the end of the two-year pilot, it is expected this program will increase psychiatrist services in the region by 1,200 patients in the first year and has the potential to continually increase local service providers in the long-term. Additionally, the services will be offered as a bulk-billed and/or offered at a reasonable rate to patients.

Procare Mental Health Services has previously received $125,000 in funding for projects from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Shelter Cover for Riders, Carers, Volunteers and Supporters

Region - Mid North Coast

This $30,000 grant will be used by Riding for Disabled to fund the construction of an all-weather shelter (cover) over the mounting ramp, the installation of covered seating for spectators, and the construction of concrete paths to enable wheelchair access and participation from people who are in wheelchairs.

Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation has previously provided $257,000 in NSW and $86,00 in the Manning for funding Riding for the Disabled projects.

Mobile BBQ project

Region - Hunter

This $30,300 grant will be used to purchase a portable BBQ trailer with a BBQ, cool room, and storage on board. The trailer will be used for community events in the West Wallsend and surrounding areas and will enable Sugarvalley Neighbourhood Advancement Group the opportunity to reach isolated people though local community events.

Sugarvalley Neighbourhood Advancement Group has previously received $41,300 in funding for projects from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

2018/19 Wheelchair Sports NSW Member Grant Program – Northern Region

Region - Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers, Central West, New England

Wheelchair Sports NSW provides a range of programs and financial support for people with physical disabilities to participate in sport. This $33,000 grant will provide up to 100 Wheelchair Sports members access to funding to support their sport participation, be they at beginner level or an experienced athlete. The goal is to encourage and financially support those with a physical disability remain active in their community and maintain good mental wellbeing.

Wheelchair Sports NSW has previously received $30,460 in funding for projects from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.