Australian charities receive a healthy funding boost to deliver youth and carer programs

Ten charities across Australia have received a welcomed funding injection to support their health and wellbeing projects with nib foundation today announcing its 2018 Community Grant charity partners.

The worthy grant recipients will share in over $280,000 of funding, with the much-needed funding support used to deliver grassroots programs that tackle key health challenges facing vulnerable youth and carers across the country.

nib foundation Executive Officer, Amy Tribe said the unique and personalised approach taken by the charities to deliver targeted health prevention and intervention programs for at-risk people was a real standout during this year's grant round.

"We've supported charities that demonstrate a deep understanding of the needs of the people they serve as we believe this is a key factor in designing engaging, accessible and practical programs," Mrs Tribe said.

"For example, Epilepsy Action Australia noticed a gap when it came to the availability of accurate and reliable information surrounding medicinal cannabis use for children with intractable epilepsy. With our grant, they will develop and deliver an accessible evidence-based website to help parents and carers make an informed decision on the use of medicinal cannabis for the child," she said.

The other chosen partners will use the funding boost to develop engaging and inclusive programs that address a range of issues facing youth and carers, including, mental health, social isolation, chronic pain management, inaccessibility to health education and the social barriers impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

nib foundation is proud to have committed over $17 million in funding to support more than 120 partners to deliver impactful health and wellbeing projects across Australia since 2008.

"In our 10th year of giving, we're thrilled to continue to work in partnership with so many incredible charities to deliver lasting improvements on the physical, mental and social health and wellbeing of Australians," Mrs Tribe said.

The beneficiaries of nib foundation's 2018/19 Community Grants program are:

• Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation (Hunter Region & Central Coast)

• Black Dog Institute (Regional NSW)

• Cerebral Palsy Alliance (Hunter Region)

• Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation (Far-West NSW)

• Epilepsy Action Australia (National)

• Got Your Back Sista (Hunter Region)

• Support Kids in Pain (QLD)

• The Place (Hunter Region)

• Tuberous Sclerosis Australia (National)

• Very Special Kids (VIC)

For more information on the 2018 Community Grant partners and their programs visit our website at, www.nibfoundation.com.au