We were blown away by the online pledges and incredible outpouring of generosity for our very first TFN Virtual Event on Wednesday 29 April 2020. Together we pledged an outstanding $188,000 to support vulnerable Australians in a time when it is needed most.
A big thank you to IOOF Foundation as our matched funding partner, along with our event partners Shadforth Financial Group and Victorian Women Lawyers.
Please click here to fulfil your pledge, and email info@thefundingnetwork.com.au if you need help.
If you missed out or want to revisit last night's experience, you can watch the event on our Facebook page. We would love for you to share the replay with your networks and help us encourage additional donations for these three incredible organisations. We’ll be taking donations for the next two weeks, and we’d love to raise even more money with your help!
Event partners:
Event supporter:
Please note that 10% of funds raised is retained by TFN in agreement with the NFPs pitching as a contribution to our operational costs.
Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly the most vulnerable among us. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support in these unprecedented times.
First Step is a mental health, addiction and legal services hub based in St Kilda, Melbourne. Unique to the First Step model is the way in which it combines the expertise of GPs, mental health nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, criminal and family violence lawyers, case co-ordinators and peer workers to achieve the best outcome for each individual it supports. First Step is pitching for funding to hire an in-house coordinator to help its most vulnerable clients achieve sustained whole-of-life improvements. Find out more: firststep.org.au
About the presenter: Patrick Lawrence, CEO, The First Step Program
Patrick began his professional life as a concert pianist and vocal coach before transitioning to the community sector in 2002. He began working at First Step in 2005, while simultaneously joining the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre where he held a number of roles over ten years. He later reconnected with First Step to became CEO in 2017.
Established in 2009, CASSE (Creating A Safe Supportive Environment) works with Aboriginal communities to overcome trauma through evidence-informed cultural revival and psychological healing programs. CASSE applies cultural and psychoanalytic methods to enable change and recovery in Aboriginal communities, specifically addressing mental health issues of trauma reflected in high suicide and violence rates in Central Australia. CASSE is pitching for funding to provide cultural camps for traumatised youth in the justice system and their elders. Find out more: casse.org.au
About the presenter: Pamela Nathan, Director Australian Aboriginal Relations Program, CASSE
Pamela Nathan is a clinical and forensic psychologist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist. She has worked in Central Australia for nearly forty years, first joining the Victorian Aboriginal Health service in 1999 as a sociologist. She has published several books and papers on the health needs of Aboriginal people in Victoria.
Mindfull Aus encourages those affected by mind and behavioural health challenges to put wellness back in their own hands so that they can lead healthy, happy and fulfilling lives. Its work is largely focused on suicide prevention, facilitating programs and training to youth within primary schools and holiday programs, and supporting regional and rural communities. Mindfull Aus will be pitching for funding to implement its primary school program in high risk areas of suicide in Gippsland, Victoria. Find out more: mindfullaus.org
About the presenter: Matt Runnalls, CEO, Mindfull Aus
Matt is a mental health advocate and speaker, as well as the CEO and founder of Mindfull Aus. He uses his lived experience to encourage others to speak up and manage their mental wellbeing, and is passionate about creating awareness, acceptance and education of mental illness.