Caring for the Environment
Co-Exist Australia
Overview of Year Four
"If more men grew and cared for a plant or husbanded animals there would be less risk of ignoring the natural laws on which we ultimately depend.”
Sir Vincent Fairfax, 1970
The increasing frequency and severity of hazards and extreme weather events in Australia is putting the natural laws that Sir Vincent spoke about 55 years ago under pressure.
With a recent report by Deloitte Access Economics for UNICEF Australia, highlighting the long-lasting consequences from disasters like bushfires and floods faced by children and young people in Australia, it is little wonder the environment continues to be a topic that young Australians care deeply about.
For the past three years, the Biodiversity Council has published its Biodiversity Concerns Report, capturing the results of a survey of community attitudes toward nature conservation. This year's results showed that the year-on-year trend for connection to nature has sadly been declining across all demographics, but particularly for 18-24 year olds. Sir Vincent’s fear that fewer Australians would be connected to nature, is increasingly a reality.
Yet despite this lack of connection, in this same survey, the 18-24 cohort returned some of the highest mean scores when it came to openness to pro-nature behaviours. This highlights an important opportunity to drive action and engagement through deepening connection and access to nature for young Australians.
That is why VFFF provides grants to organisations supporting young people to care for the environment, particularly with a focus on hands-on projects. VFFF continued its support of programs delivered by Earthwatch Australia, Co-Exist Australia, Bush Heritage Australia and Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Two new grants were also awarded this year, the first to support the Biodiversity Council to develop its youth engagement strategy, and the second to Grow the Future, which provides young people in the Bega Valley opportunities to grow food and regenerate the landscape, in a supportive setting.
Grants Snapshot
$475k
approved
2
grants
4%
of total funding
84%
for core funding
89%
to regional areas
Grants
2025
Grow the Future, $400,000 over two years
To support Grow the Future in a transition period as the organisation establishes itself as an independent entity.
Exploration Grants
Biodiversity Council, $74,677
Support the development of a youth strategy for the Biodiversity Council, including budget for engagement with both BehaviourWorks and YLab.
Highlight: Grow the Future
On a two acre site on the edge of Bega, Grow the Future is regenerating the land, growing food sustainably, and providing hands-on opportunities for young people facing barriers, to build their environmental skills and knowledge, confidence, and a sense of meaningful connection.
Using regenerative practices, with a zero-waste policy, Grow the Future produces fresh vegetables, herbs and eggs for sale to the local community. As a social enterprise, revenue from sales is reinvested in the organisation, supporting the delivery of its mission to “create spaces for young people to grow” by offering:
- Hands-on Engagement - a safe and structured setting for school students who are looking for an outdoor project based experience, outside of the classroom.
- Grow the Future Training Certificate – a 16 week vocational training course that builds horticulture, ecosystem management and business skills.
- Supported employment – paid work experience in a safe environment which builds confidence and skills, transferrable to any workplace.
- Events and workshops – school holiday, after-school and weekend activities which enable young people to come together to build practical skills and knowledge, while meeting like-minded peers.
VFFF first met Cal Champagne, CEO and Co-Founder of Grow the Future, in 2022 when he was part of the first cohort of VFFF’s Backing the Future, securing a $50,000 grant to explore the idea. Backing the Future applicants are shortlisted by the VFFF Youth Advisory Group and then selected by the VFFF Grants Committee, a group of younger family members which includes Sir Vincent’s granddaughter, Emilia Kefford.
Emilia hosts VFFF’s podcast, Stories of Giving and Receiving, and in one of the episodes had the opportunity to learn more about Cal’s early experiences and why he is passionate about cultivating change in his local community. Emilia was impressed by the impact of Grow the Future, she agreed to play the role of advocate when Cal pitched at a crowdfunding event organised by The Funding Network. In her role on the VFFF Board, Emilia further backed Grow the Future as part of a submission for a two year grant to support the organisation in the next phase of its development.
Cal is a humble man with big ideas. He has not stopped impressing me since we saw his first application in the first cohort of Backing the Future. He truly understands young people and what connects them to each other and their community. Grow the Future is an incredible initiative and is vital to the Bega community, being able to continue to support Cal and his idea at board level is a full circle moment for VFFF"
Emilia Kefford, VFFF Director and Sir Vincent and Lady Nancy's granddaughter