Coolaroo Foundation, Shoalhaven (C) (2026)

09/02/2026

Happy belated New Year! We’re looking forward to another meaningful year of building connections, supporting impactful projects and cheering on our wonderful grantees in 2026.

One of the first things on our agenda is coming together in person for a two-day strategy meeting. With directors spread across different states — and even overseas — this will be a special opportunity to reconnect as a team for the first time since 2021, reflect on what we’ve learned, and look ahead as we continue to grow the work of Coolaroo Foundation.

And once the strategy sessions are done? You’ll likely find us out in nature somewhere, recharging and reconnecting — very on brand for us.

If you haven’t yet met our wonderful board, you can read more about them here:
👉 https://www.coolaroofoundation.com/board

Coolaroo Foundation directors Janie Forrest, Olivia Hicks, Fiona David and John Morrison are photographed here with Odonata staff at their Mt Rothwell reserve in Victoria.

18/12/2025

That’s a wrap for us at Coolaroo Foundation for 2025.

Thank you for being part of our journey this year — for following along, engaging with our work, and helping us celebrate the incredible organisations we’re privileged to support. Now more than ever, our shared humanity matters, and we’re grateful to play a small part in strengthening it.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations and thanks to our 2025 grantees:

ROCC for Women — for their compassionate support of women in the Shoalhaven experiencing disadvantage, at risk of homelessness, or reintegrating into community following release from custody. We look forward to the continued growth of their correctional in-reach program and wellbeing workshops in 2026.

BackTrack Youth Works — for their unique, holistic approach to supporting young people doing it tough in Armidale; for mobilising an inspiring emergency clean-up crew following the Taree floods; and for the working dogs who play such a vital role in creating connection, safety and trust when it’s needed most.

RAS Foundation — for supporting regional, rural and remote students with the financial assistance that makes further education possible, no matter where they call home. We’re cheering on all the incredible Rural Scholars.

Bundanon — for delivering In This Place, an innovative, multidisciplinary learning program for local high-school students experiencing disadvantage, set within the extraordinary Bundanon arts precinct and surrounding Country.

Bravehearts — for bringing vital personal safety education to preschool and early primary children across the Shoalhaven through the engaging and age-appropriate Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure.

We may be a small foundation — just four years in the making — but we’re only just getting started. Here’s to more growth, deeper connection and meaningful impact in 2026 and beyond.

From our families (new babies, grandbabies and fur babies included) to yours, we wish you a healthy, happy and restful festive season. See you in 2026.

17/12/2025

As people with deep lived experience on the land — in regional and rural Australia and in remote communities around the world — we understand just how essential biodiversity is. It underpins everything: our food systems, our climate, and our collective wellbeing.

That’s why protecting biodiversity is a key part of our Place pillar. By supporting healthy landscapes, native species and thriving ecosystems, we aim to nourish both people and the planet for generations to come.

04/12/2025

“Our local children need to have these personal safety messages delivered. It is so important that we, as a community, do all we can to keep our children safe.”
— Janie Forrest, Chair, Coolaroo Foundation

We’re proud that Nowra is one of the few regional areas where Bravehearts deliver their Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure live incursions. This is made possible by the dedicated effort of local volunteers, advocates and staff committed to ensuring as many children as possible receive these essential, preventative personal safety messages.

In the 2024/2025 financial year alone, 211 live incursions were delivered across preschools and primary schools in the Nowra area — a huge achievement for our community.

We are proud to support Bravehearts as they continue this important work, and grateful to stand alongside those working every day to help keep our children safe.

Find out more about the program we support here: https://www.coolaroofoundation.com/braveheartsfoundation

25/11/2025

Today marks the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and the start of 16 Days of Activism to raise awareness of this urgent global issue — this year with a particular focus on digital violence.

Here in Australia, we are painfully aware of the devastating impact violence has on women and girls. Far too many women have lost their lives to gendered violence, and countless more continue to experience abuse, intimidation or coercive control behind closed doors.

From the UN:
“Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.”

This cause is close to our hearts at the Coolaroo Foundation, which is why Women and Children’s Safety is one of our key funding priorities.

In Nowra, we are proud to support:
for Women walking alongside women exposed to the justice system, facing homelessness, and recovering from trauma — for as long as they need.

South Coast, delivering personal safety education to children in preschool and early primary years to help prevent child sexual abuse.

As we recognise this day, the 16 days that follow and beyond — we hope awareness continues to grow, but more importantly, we hope for action that protects, empowers, and saves the lives of women and girls experiencing violence every day.

Learn more about the causes we support here: https://www.coolaroofoundation.com/roccforwomen and https://www.coolaroofoundation.com/braveheartsfoundation

19/11/2025

Dogs have a special kind of magic — and at BackTrack Youth Works, that magic can be life-changing.

For young people doing it tough, connection can be hard to build. But dogs offer a way in: a calm, non-judgemental presence and unwavering loyalty. That’s why working dogs sit at the heart of BackTrack’s approach, creating trust, safety and belonging so young people can find their way forward.

At Coolaroo Foundation, we’re proud supporters (and big dog lovers ourselves). BackTrack’s PawsUp program is a beautiful example of how animals can help build confidence and open the door to meaningful change.

As our Chair, Janie Forrest, says:
“There are no shortcuts in meaningfully helping people to change their lives. Wisdom, love and patience are required in abundance — and animals, who help ground us and give us healthy connections to where we live.”

Here’s to the dogs, the young people, and the BackTrack team helping them ‘chase their hopes and dreams’. 🐾

To learn more about the program we are proud to support, visit our website: http://coolaroofoundation.com/backtrackyouthworks

06/11/2025

At Coolaroo Foundation, our goal is to create a kinder, more caring world — one project at a time.

Through our grants and partnerships, we support organisations empowering people and restoring places so that communities can truly thrive.

Whether it’s:
~ alleviating disadvantage and enabling potential,
~ supporting women and children’s safety,
~ restoring lands and biodiversity, or
~ improving access to education
our focus is on projects that make a tangible, lasting difference.

We’re proud to partner with changemakers across regional and rural Australia — particularly in the Shoalhaven in NSW.

To find out more about the organisations we support and the wonderful work they do, visit our website here https://www.coolaroofoundation.com/carepartners

29/10/2025

Agriculture is more than an industry — it’s life in our regions.

Through our Place pillar, we aim to supporting sustainable practices that protect the land, respect farmers, and secure food for the future.

22/10/2025

At Coolaroo Foundation, we believe education changes lives.
The challenge is making sure it’s accessible to everyone — no matter where you live, your background, or the opportunities available to you.

That’s why one of our key focus areas is 'Education for All'.
We’re proud to support organisations that remove barriers to learning and opportunity across regional, rural and remote NSW, including:

🎓 BackTrack Youth Works — supporting young people doing it tough with wraparound care and the chance to complete their studies outside of mainstream schooling.
🌾 RAS Foundation — providing financial assistance to regional, rural and remote students through Rural Scholarships, helping them pursue studies away from home, family farms and communities.
🎨 Bundanon — funding subsidised places for local Shoalhaven students to attend the 'In This Place' multidisciplinary arts program.

Together, these programs are helping young people realise their potential — and we’re proud to stand behind them.

16/10/2025

Congratulations to our recent grant recipient, the RAS Foundation.

We know the difference a scholarship can make to young people in rural and regional areas — especially those whose opportunities are limited by distance. That’s why continuing our support of Rural Scholarships in 2026 was an easy decision.

We’re looking forward to following the journeys of this next group of scholars — learning about their studies, achievements, and the contributions they’ll make to their local communities.

🎓 Applications for 2026 Rural Scholarships close very soon on the 20th October.

Know a young person in regional, rural or remote NSW who could use financial support to study away from home?ag them below and share this link → https://www.rasnsw.com.au/foundation/scholarships/ras-foundation-rural-scholarships/

Royal Agricultural Society of NSW

08/10/2025

What happens when students spend a day learning outdoors at Bundanon ?

Through the 'In This Place' program, local high school students are immersed in nature, exploring the many facets of Bundanon through multi-disciplinary lessons that combine science, geography, English, performing arts, and First Nations perspectives with visual arts.

“The ongoing activities feel like they roll into each other. Very professional and yet with the personal care of the staff that make this whole experience brilliant.” (Shoalhaven High teacher)

In 2024, 'In this place' engaged 388 students from Shoalhaven schools with low ICSEA ratings, providing them with a series of quality learning experiences, that previously would have been out of reach.

We are proud to help make this program more accessible and inclusive to students in the Shoalhaven, in alignment with our focus areas ‘Arts, Creativity and Imagination’ and ‘Education for All’.

Photos by Tad Souden.

02/10/2025

We believe people and place are inseparable. Our connection to the natural world, and to each other, is the foundation for thriving communities. In regional and rural areas, this connection is especially powerful — shaped by unique environments, deep histories, and shared stories.

At Coolaroo Foundation, we honour that connection by valuing environment, history, safety, creativity and wellbeing in all communities we support.

Coolaroo Foundation

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