The Ulladulla High School community, in a timely move, is to get an $80,000 grant to establish a sanctuary of wellbeing and renewal.
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The funding comes from a donation that Sony Foundation Australia made to Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) during the landmark Fire Fight Australia concert, held in Sydney in February.
The project hopes to provide a safe environment for positive initiatives that enhance student wellbeing to enable positive recovery and resilience.
It comes after the bushfires, COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic death of one of the school's students.
Principal Denise Lofts said the grant was greatly appreciated.
"Our school is determined to rise from the ash and create a sanctuary for the entire student population and their families," she said.
"A hub that will support for many years to come, through students setting goals, building hope and focusing on the future is a paramount objective."
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CEO of Sony Foundation Australia, Sophie Ryan, said there are going to be many long-term effects caused by the bushfires that young Australians will be coping with for some time to come.
"About one-in-four young people can suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder following a major crisis like the recent bushfires and sadly, in the midst of recovery, the specific needs of young people can be overlooked," Ms Ryan said.
"At Sony Foundation, we are helping to fill this gap by funding programs which will improve the wellbeing of young people, helping them recover and heal.
"We are honoured to be able to partner with FRRR to support these two projects, both of which will create safe places where young people can engage in activities and encourage social networks to help heal and forge a positive path forward."
CEO of FRRR, Natalie Egleton, said that there were many fabulous project ideas put forward, and reflects the devastating impact of the recent bushfires on young people, which has been exacerbated by the onset of COVID-19.
"It's clear that young people are feeling the cumulative effects of disasters particularly deeply, as we had many really strong proposals to consider," Ms Egleton said.
"This grants will help put local youth in Ulladulla more in control of their recovery and have access to the additional services they need.
"We are pleased to have been able to help Sony Foundation Australia get this funding to where it will make a real difference,"
Both FRRR and Sony Foundation Australia will continue to invest in the ongoing recovery of communities.
To date, FRRR has distributed more than $1.5M in bushfire recovery, with applications currently open for further bushfire recovery grants. For more information, visit www.frrr.org.au.
About FRRR
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) was established in 2000 to support the renewal of rural, regional and remote communities in Australia through partnerships with the private sector, philanthropy and governments.
Since its inception, FRRR has managed the distribution of more than $100 million in grants and provided substantial capacity-building support to community organisations across the nation.
To find out more about FRRR, visit www.frrr.org.au.
About Sony Foundation Australia
Sony Foundation Australia is the charitable arm of the Sony Group of Companies in Australia.
Its aim is to capitalise on the unique qualities of Sony and contribute to the advancement of the Australian community by assisting its youth and fostering their talents.
Since 1998, Sony Foundation has raised more than $35 million for youth-related causes. For more information, please visit www.sonyfoundation.org.