Bupa awards grants to ANZ projects driving mental health and sustainability

The Bupa Foundation has revealed the beneficiaries of its 2024 Community Grants program, distributing $520,000 across 54 community organisations in Australia and New Zealand.

The grants aim to support projects that foster mental resilience, promote sustainable practices, and enhance links between environmental and human health.

Since the program’s inception in 2019, the foundation has invested over $2 million into grassroots initiatives within the region.

Funding allocation

Recipients of the 2024 grants represent diverse geographical locations and project scopes across Australia and New Zealand.

Australian recipients

• 12 Buckets Inc: Mentorship for Year 6 students in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
• AFL Masters Vic Country: Development of an AFL Nines program for individuals aged 35 and over to promote social interaction and health.
• Assistance Dogs Australia: Training 20 assistance dogs for veterans and first responders.
• Batyr Australia: School-based mental health education using lived experience storytelling.
• Berry Street Victoria: Early intervention programs for parents of children under five at risk of neglect or abuse.
• Bonbeach Football Club: Expansion of the “Outside the Locker Room” mental health awareness program.
• Bucaan Community House: Workshops teaching sustainable living and healthy food preparation.
• CAN Community Support: Playgroups for bilingual families with preschool-aged children.
• Cancer Patients Foundation Limited: Delivery of the “Look Good Feel Better” program to cancer patients.
• Carers Collective (North East): Activities designed to promote resilience and connection.
• Collective Being: Mindfulness sessions to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Collingwood Children’s Farm: Initiatives to counteract social exclusion through urban farming.
• Conservation Council of WA: Citizen science ecological surveys in natural areas.
• Cycling Without Age Australia: Acquisition of a bike to improve community engagement for older adults and people with disabilities.
• Down Syndrome Association of NSW: Education and support programs for parents focusing on mental health.
• Electrify Boroondara: Initiatives to lower household energy consumption and emissions.
• Empowering Parents in Crisis: Mental health first aid training for parents and caregivers.
• Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club: Social integration programs for new members.
• Foodbank of South Australia: Distribution of meal packs to families facing food insecurity.
• Legacy Club Services: Programs addressing isolation among older widows of veterans.
• Luma: Cultural and environmental education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
• Mentoring Men: Free one-to-one mentoring for men to improve mental health outcomes.
• Mental Health Association NSW: Combined physical activity and mental health literacy programs.
• Mind Australia Limited: Youth camps promoting positive mental health.
• Momentum Mental Health Limited: Workshops on personal well-being and mental health strategies.
• Proveda Limited: Dance programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities.
• Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria: Therapeutic horse-assisted activities for children and adults with disabilities.
• River Nile Learning Centre: Free staple foods for students facing financial hardship.
• Share the Dignity: A campaign providing essential items for women and girls in need.
• Speak and Share: School-based programs encouraging mental health discussions.
• Star of the Sea Catholic Parish Primary School Henley Beach: Marine science initiatives for families focusing on mental health and climate change.
• The Legacy Club of Brisbane: Programs for children with disabilities who have lost a veteran parent.
• The Man Cave Global: Mental health education for teenage boys.
• The Project Rockit Foundation: Social skills workshops in disadvantaged schools.
• The Push for Better Foundation: The “Push-Up Challenge” for mental health awareness.
• The Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund: Financial assistance for young athletes.
• The Type1 Foundation: Counselling for families with children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
• Tough Guy Book Club: New chapters for building community connections among men.
• Victorian Aids Council: Monthly sustainable clothing workshops for LGBTIQA+ individuals.
• Youth Off The Streets: Programs helping disadvantaged youth re-engage in education.
• Zen Tea Lounge: Empowerment programs for domestic violence survivors. 

New Zealand recipients

• Big Brothers Big Sisters Christchurch: Mentoring programs for children facing adversity.
• Dementia Wellington: Initiatives to combat social isolation for people with dementia.
• Endangered Species Foundation: Freshwater conservation programs focusing on native species.
• Graeme Dingle Foundation Auckland: Life skills education for primary and intermediate students.
• Just Move Charitable Health Trust: Wellness programs for underserved communities.
• Louise Perkins Foundation: Support for individuals with advanced breast cancer.
• Northcross Intermediate: Mental health interventions for at-risk children.
• North Shore Centres of Mutual Aid: Programs reducing social isolation in older adults.
• Oke Charity: School gardens promoting education and healthy living.
• Parents of Vision Impaired: Financial assistance for a parent conference in Auckland.
• The Kindness Collective Foundation: Support for families facing financial hardship.
• Visionwest Community Trust: Counselling services for seniors.
• Wingspan Trust: Programs addressing social isolation among older adults. 

Roger Sharp, chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer for Bupa Asia Pacific, emphasised the importance of empowering smaller organisations to achieve measurable community impact.

“While the Bupa Foundation supports a range of major initiatives across ANZ through major partnerships with organisations such as Kids Helpline, The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, and NZ Landcare Trust, boosting grass-roots programs at a local level remains a vital part of our ambition to help create healthier cities,” he said.