Habitat for Humanity
Our partnership strengthens housing outcomes while creating real economic opportunity for women facing disadvantage.
Multi-Year Partnerships
HealthWISE
Our partnership is supporting HealthWISE to expand its Aboriginal Health Workers in Pharmacy model across the northwest region.
Shedding Community Workshop Inc.
Our partnership will support the Shedding Community Workshop Inc. to grow its impact by strengthening internal capacity and diversifying revenue streams.
Grassroots Grants program
More than $800,000 to grassroots organisations across regional NSW
Twenty-three organisations have received funding through the 2026 program, with initiatives spanning healthcare access, mental health, disability support, family services, food relief, Indigenous wellbeing, homelessness prevention and volunteer development.
Project partners
Calm Cove: Safe Sensory Spaces for Regional NSW
Region: Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, New England (Tamworth) and Northern Rivers (Ballina)
Grant: $25,000
Aruma will create five ‘Quiet Retreat’ kits to provide sensory-safe spaces at community events, supporting people with sensory needs that may be related to autism, ADHD, or other sensory impairments. Over 18 months, around 13,000 people are expected to benefit from these Calm Cove spaces, which aim to reduce stress, improve social experiences, and boost community participation.
BackTrack Basics: Embedding regional employment skills
Region: New England
Grant: $50,000
BackTrack will trial a place-based learning model to help disengaged youth gain regionally relevant skills and real-world job experience on its properties, including ‘The Farm’ in New England. Participants will earn licences for machinery and construction work, supporting long-term employment and breaking cycles of disadvantage.
Friendship on a Plate
Region: Hunter
Grant: $74,000
Home-Start will run a 12-month program in Newcastle to help parents improve cooking skills and family nutrition using affordable ingredients. Led by a nutritionist, the initiative also fosters social connections, better mental health, and healthier family lifestyles.
Connect & evolve: Newcastle’s new mental health hub
Region: Hunter (Charlestown)
Grant: $100,000
The Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network (LMNSPN) will pilot vital mental health services at its new, multi-agency Evolve Mental Health & Wellbeing Hub in Charlestown. The Hub offers a safe space for those in crisis to develop coping skills and seek support.
Deadly brain: Family and community brain health
Region: Central West, Mid North Coast
Grant: $200,000
Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) will partner with four Aboriginal Health Services to study brain health in First Nations communities. Using culturally appropriate yarning with 120 participants, the project will develop a “Deadly Brains model”, which will include training staff as Brain Health Champions, and running community education events.
Inclusive Futures Project
Region: Hunter (Cessnock)
Grant: $87,000
Prelude Australia will pilot a 12-month project connecting Hunter early childhood educators with health and intervention specialists to support children with diverse needs. Around 200 educators will receive practical training, aiming to reduce exclusions, ease burnout, and improve outcomes for children.
PICU Courtyard John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct
Region: Hunter
Grant: $92,000
A new Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is being developed as part of the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct. Sleapy’s Foundation has successfully advocated for a widened project scope, which now includes a clinically equipped courtyard. Designed to mimic a tranquil and culturally appropriate natural, non-hospital environment, it will provide respite to an estimated 750 young patients plus their loved ones (including pets) from across Hunter and New England regions each year. Delivered in partnership with Multiplex, NPCF grant funds will support the fit-out stage of the project, specifically covering planter beds, integrated timber bench seating, waterproofing, landscaping, and irrigation.
At The Table: Supporting social and mental health for men
Region: Hunter, Mid North Coast
Grant: $82,500
The Men’s Table will expand to Muswellbrook, Cessnock, and Port Macquarie, creating safe spaces for men to connect, share, and support each other. Over 12 months, the program aims to engage 48 men, helping reduce social isolation and improve mental and emotional wellbeing in regional communities.
Stories of success
Case study: Aruma
Our partnership helps create safe spaces at community events, supporting people with sensory needs that may be related to autism, ADHD, or other sensory impairments.
Over $300,000 awarded to support victims of domestic and family violence
More access to crucial resources for victims of domestic and family violence thanks to Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation (NPCF) and the Hunter Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Consortium.
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation awards Mark Hughes Foundation $25,000
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation (NPCF) has announced its first-ever Grassroots Volunteer Grant, with much-loved charity Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) set to receive $25,000.