On 1 June, we announced that Hireup Impact Grant applications were open. The grants were a first for our organisation. A new approach to grant-making; with the aim to support great ideas that bring people with disability closer to their good life. And designed to fund goals that aren’t covered by a NDIS plan. The theme for this year’s grant round was Community Connection.
We received hundreds of applications that ranged from wanting to buy a beach wheelchair, funding for an assistance dog, building a culturally inclusive sensory room, and sourcing an adaptive tricycle to get to school.
Our committee of judges, made up of our Co-CEO and Hireup’s Impact team, had the unenviable task of choosing the final recipients. Today, we’re delighted to announce the nine recipients of our first Hireup Impact Grants. Here’s what some of them had to say:
“To have a culturally safe, sensory space at the Koori Knockout inclusive for people with disability impacted us in a huge way. By having this space, we facilitated inclusion and sparked the conversation about disability in our communities. Currently the topic is not really spoken about, and this is what we want to change.” - Tanika Davis, Hireup Impact Grant recipient.
“Being seen as an artist instead [for her] disability in the local community ensures [my daughter Chloe] is supported and respected by others outside the family and disability sector. Showing a large group of people that Chloe's creations are just as skilled and well-made as people without a disability ensures her products are bought and loved by many.” - Sue Dymond (mother to Chloe), Hireup Impact Grant recipient.
“This will impact my life significantly as I can say ‘yes’ to more sailing opportunities. Previously I would have had to beg, borrow and steal as I did not have the right equipment or the support to go out and sail spontaneously. I hope this will help encourage more people who have a disability to get out on the water.” - Moenika Hubsch, Hireup Impact Grant recipient.
“I truly believe if I was given this grant of up to $2,500 it would pave the way for me to go beyond what the NDIS support provides. Hireup would be helping me to again have the confidence necessary to pursue 'my good life' living independently and having further involvement in the local community.” - Dean Jones, Hireup Impact Grant recipient.
In partnership with The Achieve Foundation we are able to fund these grant ideas. We know not everyone has access to the things they need to live life to the fullest and that some extra monetary support can have a powerful effect on a person’s quality of life.
“Ultimately we do want to create an impact that makes people feel like something is possible that felt out of reach beforehand,” says Kirsty Nolan, The Achieve Foundation’s Executive Director.
For Hireup, fulfilling the first round of Hireup Impact Grants is exciting. One of the original ambitions for Hireup was to be able to reinvest money back into the disability sector through grants, sponsorship and partnerships. And this is one exciting example of our ambitions turning into reality.
“We are so excited to be playing a small part in bringing you closer to your good life and can’t wait to share your stories with the wider community,” says Laura O’Reilly, Hireup co-founder and co-CEO.
Find out more about Hireup Impact Grants on our website.
