What we fund
To give you a better idea of the type of projects The Ian Potter Foundation funds, here is a collection of short summaries of previously funded projects.
It is important to read each section prior to downloading the form.
Download Application Form
Program Area
Arts
Arts Project Australia, VIC
$100,000 in 2000
For the Building Acquisition and Refurbishment Project, Northcote, Victoria
Arts Project Australia was founded in 1974 by Myra Hilgendorf OAM with the purpose of ‘exhibiting artwork in a manner that accords artists with an intellectual disability the same dignity and respect as other artists’.
Prior to moving to its current premises, the organisation had been housed in two adjacent single storey shops. The restrictions and difficulties these premises presented were additional barriers, particularly for some of the artists who also had physical disabilities.
The Ian Potter Foundation led a collaboration of funders, including the Victorian State Government and a number of Trusts and Foundations. As a result, Arts Project Australia was able to purchase and refurbish its current building, which was officially opened on 12 November 2003.
Arts Project Australia readily accommodates a diverse range of skills and abilities. Art forms vary from drawing and printmaking to sculpture and animation.
"Arts Project Australia is not about people with a disability who have an interest in art, rather it is about a creative expression of artists exploring their artistic practice with individual integrity and ability." Brendan Lillywhite
Goldfields Brass Band, WA
$10,000 in 2007
The Instrument Replacement Program
Support was sought to purchase two Tubas as part of a larger project to replace aging instruments with longer lasting and better quality instruments. The education and training program is a self sustaining program that involves senior band members volunteering their time to teach adults and children from the local community both musical theory and how to play a brass instrument. Instruments are provided at an annual hire fee of $50 and free lessons have enabled those from lower socio-economic backgrounds to be able to learn to play an instrument.
TasDance, TAS
$15,000 in 2007
Lets Get it Strait
Cape Barren and Flinders Islands are located off the north east tip of
Tasmania and are part of the Furneaux group of islands in Bass Strait.
Due to the remote location and expense of traveling from the island,
the local students and community have little access to high quality
arts programs. Through an eight month workshop program this project
will give the youth living on these islands an opportunity to gain
skills in contemporary dance, and create a work around issues relevant
to them.
Sydney Youth Orchestra Association, NSW
$75,000 (over 3 years) 2007
Sydney Youth Orchestras Regional Touring Program
The program is to be expanded to give secondary school-aged and tertiary music students in regional NSW the opportunity to perform suitable arrangements of popular works of the classical repertoire (such as Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture). The program also offers interactive Toddlers' Proms concerts for children aged 2 - 10 to introduce the instruments and sounds of the orchestra, encouraging interest in learning music.
The Song Room Inc., VIC
$20,000 in 2007
Harmony in the Community
To implement a music program for disadvantaged children in three
primary schools in the Hunter/Central Coast region of NSW. The Song
Room uses the arts as the medium to achieve broader social outcomes; to
create a passion for learning, build self esteem and to encourage
positive engagement in school and community.
Program Area
Community Wellbeing
Lifeline Central West Inc, NSW
$90,775 in 2007
Strong Farming Communities Supporting Each Other - Mates helping Mates mental health training programs
To provide three complementary mental health training programs in each of four Exceptional Circumstance drought-affected communities in central west NSW, where mental illness and suicide rates are increasing as people feel they cannot cope with the effects of on-going (six years) drought.
Ultimately the targeted training will have a flow-on effect in the community, increasing community mental health literacy and community resilience, with the aim of reducing suicide rates by 25 per cent by 2008.
Age Concern Albury Wodonga Inc, NSW
$4,826 in 2007
Tai Chi for people with Low Vision or No Vision
Age Concern and Vision Australia propose to develop a Tai Chi program
and specific Tai Chi script for people with low vision or no vision.
In the proposed program, each student will be assigned an exercise
volunteer to help them make the correct moves, gradually enabling the
student to work independently. The ultimate aim of the program is to
develop a model for community fitness participation that can be
replicated by other communities without ready access to therapists or
dedicated exercise facilities for people with disabilities.
Broken Hill & District Hearing Resource Centre Inc, NSW
$20,000 in 2007
Expansion of services and accommodation for the hearing impaired
The Foundation’s grant will contribute to the cost of the purchase of a building to be converted to appropriate accommodation for their services to the hearing impaired. These services include provision of information related to hearing loss, provision of audiology booths for hearing tests for children and adults that are conducted each month at the Centre by audiologists from Australian Hearing, counselling, and distribution of hearing aid batteries.
The Old Colonists' Association of Victoria, VIC
$4,600 in 2007
To assist the Rushall Park Kiosk Group support the garden 'greening' project
The Old Colonists' Association provides residential facilities for aged
and needy people at four sites across Victoria. At Rushall Park in
North Fitzroy, the Kiosk Group works to generate income for improved
facilities with the recent focus on the beautiful and historic gardens
surrounding the cottages. The current drought has created additional
demands for water tanks and further irrigation systems so that the
gardens can be preserved. The Kiosk will be upgraded so that the group
can operate the Kiosk all year round, enabling them to raise more money
to contribute to the garden "greening" project.
Stroke Recovery Association NSW
$20,000 in 2007
To produce a 20-minute DVD promoting the benefits for stroke survivors of Stroke Recovery Clubs
A 20 minute DVD will be developed and produced to promote the benefits
of Stroke Recovery Clubs for survivors of strokes. This will be a
companion DVD to one produced last year which gave information about
recovery from stroke. The proposed DVD will include additional
information about the benefits of participation in local stroke
recovery clubs. The completed DVD will be distributed to people being
treated for strokes through hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and the
Stroke Recovery Association itself.
Inala Youth & Family Support Service, QLD
$35,000 in 2007
The Vietnamese Parenting Project
The grant will assist the Service to introduce further parenting group
work and education to Vietnamese parents in the area. This will complement the
work already being done by the agency's Vietnamese Child Protection
Program. Using a group modality will allow the worker more time for
individual casework etc., and will also allow those who attend to learn
from and share with each other.
Program Area
Education
Jewish Museum of Australia, VIC
$30,000 in 2005
Towards Access and Education at the Jewish Museum of Australia
The Access and Education project at the Jewish Museum of Australia aims to maximise regional and disadvantaged students’ educational experiences while engaging with themes of social harmony and tolerance. The children all participated in the wildly popular exhibition Where the Wild Things Are: Maurice Sendak in his own words and pictures.
The project has exceeded expectations and in its first year, provided educational opportunities to 50% more children than originally expected. The project has been largely successful due to the overwhelming response from the schools invited to participate. Excursion costs are prohibitive for many schools and students, and the participant schools were very grateful for the opportunity to attend. The children's exhibition also meant that the program was extended to younger students, thus increasing the museum's profile and audience.
Advisory Council for Children with Impaired Hearing
$100,000
To Taralye's Rural Outreach and Professional Education Program 2005 - 2006
Taralye was established in 1968 and aims to improve the linguistic, education and social outcomes of deaf children through a range of early childhood programs for children aged 0 - 6 years. Taralye is working towards up-skilling rural professionals through education and close liaison so that they have up-to-date accurate information about deafness, early intervention options and outcomes for deaf children.
South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre Inc, VIC
$15,500 in 2006
To the Homework Support Program
The program offers the opportunity and environment for newly arrived migrants and refugees in secondary school to complete their studies with access to computers, internet and assistance from volunteer tutors. These newly arrived refugee students now have a safe space where they access much needed support with their studies.
University of Tasmania, TAS
$20,000 in 2006
To the Webbing the Islands Project
Webbing the Islands is a novel program to initiate and foster networks, events and partnerships among 'islophiles' so that all involved develop a greater understanding of contemporary island lives, environments and cultures. With the support of The Ian Potter Foundation, a range of projects on islands for young people and their communities - teachers, parents and friends, are being developed. Some of these will be accessible via a website; www.webbingtheislands.com.
Program Area
Environment & Conservation
Karkana Support Services, Horsham VIC
$16,500 for the diversion and storage of rain water
To upgrade and revamp the inefficient and ineffective storm water drainage systems which results in the majority of water being lost to evaporation and seepage.
Parklands Albury Wodonga
$25,000 in 2006
For the High Country Rail Trail
To replace the former railway bridge with a footbridge to fill a 600 metre gap in the middle of the tourist trail linking Albury Wodonga with the Upper Murray.
Benalla and District Historical Society
$5,000 in 2006
Extension to the Benalla Costume & Pioneer Museum
To relocate paper-based archival material housed in an upstairs off-site location, in substandard environmental conditions and quite in-accessible to the elderly and disabled. A currently vacant area in the Museum will be enclosed and will open to an adjoining room, providing an improved environment for storage and a reading room.
Program Area
Health
Royal District Nursing Service of SA Inc
$20,000 in 2006
To outfit the new Education and Research Centre.
The new centre will support the training, up skilling and services for RDNS to continue to deliver a high standard of care to its ever increasing number of clients.
Victorian Deaf Society
$6,000 in 2006
To soundproof three rooms in the Box Hill and Oakleigh branches of HearService.
Soundproofing protects the privacy of clients, assures the confidentiality of conversations and eliminates other excessive or intrusive noise.
Banksia Palliative Care Service Inc
$15,000 Palliative Care Learning Centre - 2006
To disseminate a model of care that enables the terminally ill to live with comfort and dignity within their own communities for as long as possible.
Colac Area Health
$20,000 in 2006
To purchase a purpose built mobile caravan.
The caravan will be used in the pursuit of health promotion and drug prevention strategies for the south western region of Victoria. The caravan will visit every school and many rural social events to promote eating well and the dangers of drug abuse and unhealthy behaviours.
Program Area
Medical Research
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
$750,000 (awarded over three years, 1996 -1998)
to the Nossal Fellow Leadership Fund
In 1996, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) set up a Leadership Fund with the aim of establishing three perpetual five-year fellowships that would support the early career development of future leaders in Australian biomedical science. The Fellowships were named in honour of three of WEHI’s most eminent scientists: Sir Gustav Nossal, Director from 1965 – 1996; Professor Donald Metcalf, Assistant Director from 1965-1996; and Professor Jacques Miller, Head of Thymus Biology from 1966-1996. The Potter Foundation awarded the grant to assist in the establishment of the Fund and to directly support the inaugural Nossal Fellow.
Dr Hamish Scott was repatriated from Switzerland in 1998 as the inaugural Nossal Fellow. Work in his laboratory has focused on genetic predisposition to disease.
Dr Stephen Nutt was repatriated from the UK in 2001 as the inaugural Metcalf Fellow. He is studying how a handful of master-regulatory genes dictate how multiple blood cell types are produced in the bone marrow from a rare stem cell.
Dr James Beeson was appointed as the inaugural Miller Fellow in 2004, following post-doctoral studies in Kenya. He studies malaria, a leading cause of childhood deaths globally and one of the most significant infections of women during pregnancy.
Sydney West Area Health Service (Westmead Millennium Institute)
$100,000 - 2006
To purchase an illumina microarray platform tool
Microarray analysis is a powerful research tool with significant clinical diagnostic and prognostic potential. Variations in gene sequences and changes in expression level account for a major component of diseases affecting Australians. Before microaray, researchers could only evaluate a handful of genes at one time. This equipment will have critical benefits in regard to expression profiling, genotyping, analysis of archival specimens, smaller sample sizes and cost effective research.
The University of Melbourne
$100,000 - 2005
Towards the purchase of a Multiphoton Microscope
The
Multiphoton Microscope has provided the capacity to extend research
into a diverse number of cell and tissue types, including neuroglia
brain cells which become highly activated in inflammatory conditions
such as Alzheimer's disease and stroke.
The funded equipment provided a facility that is also employed by a large number of research groups that are exploring structure:function relationships in a diverse number of cell and tissue types and has provided the essential capacity to extend work to imaging of cell function in whole animals.
The Cancer Council Victoria
$100,000
To the Health 2020 Cohort Study 2005 - 2006
Health 2020 is a major Australian study, which is seeking to increase world understanding about links between diet, lifestyle and genetic factors and diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The study is following up to 40,000 Victorians over 15-20 years. 2006 has been a year of important advances for Health 2020. More than half of the original 40,000 participants have been followed up, and the aim is to re-interview 30,000 people by the end of 2006.
Program Area
Science
Murdoch University, WA
$80,000 in 2004
to the STAR Program
The STAR (Science and Technology Awareness Raising) Peer Tutoring Program addresses the twin goal of embedding a commitment to volunteerism in young people, and raising awareness of science and science education. The program began modestly at Murdoch University 14 years ago, with six peer tutors engaging with three schools. The concept was simple. University students, near in age to secondary schools students, were well placed to serve as mentors, conveying and sharing their enthusiasm for learning and science.
Two grants from The Ian Potter Foundation helped to expand and promote the program to universities across Australia and assist in evaluating its effectiveness. Over the last 14 years the STAR Program has grown to involve around eighty peer tutors and seventy-two schools in urban and regional areas.
While the program continues to grow, there are currently 15 universities involved actively in the program, which collectively have several hundred peer tutors working in hundreds of schools within every State and Territory in Australia.
Many of the learnings from the STAR evaluation are transferable to other mentoring and peer tutoring programs. STAR has demonstrated itself to be an outstanding success and one that is replicated in many formats across Australia. The STAR Program is currently in discussion with the Federal Government to examine opportunities for the broader expansion of the program across Australia and has also been nominated for the Eureka Prize for Promoting the Understanding of Science.
James Cook University of North Queensland, QLD
$19,200
in 2005
To Enhancing the Ecological and Genetic Basis for the Conservation and
Management of Two Insufficiently Known Cetaceans: Australian Snubfin
and Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins.
The data collected will aid in the identification of high conservation priority for snubfin and humpback dolphins and help ensure their long term survival in Australian waters.
Program Area
Travel & Conference
National Stroke Research Institute, VIC
$3,000 for Dr Michelle Porritt to work in the laboratory of Professor
Michael Nilsson, The Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Goteborg
University, Sweden, September – November 2007 and to attend the Society
for Neuroscience Annual Conference, San Diego, USA, 3 - 7 November
2007.
During this time a new animal model of stroke was gained which involved injecting a photosensitive dye into the leg vein of a rat or mouse and illuminating the blood vessels within the brain with a laser. Time was spent validating the technique so that it could be reproduced by Dr Porritt and in transferring the skill from rats to mice. At the conference Dr Porritt presented her results on regeneration after stroke and she was interested to learn of further animal models and new ways of using imaging modalities. These will directly affect the way Dr Porritt plans future experiments and will allow her to fully utilise the data generated in her current animal models of stroke.
University of Melbourne: Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, VIC
$2,600 for Dr Andrea Bialocerkowski, School of Physiotherapy to attend the American Society of Hand Therapy Electives Course, February 2008 and visit Professor Richard Berger at the Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota and Assistant Professor Robert Medoff at Hawaii University, Honolulu, February 2008
“My travel to the USA was such a rich experience on so many levels. It has made me think about my work not only with respect to the theory that underpins my research, but how I organise my research, my research collaborations and my research goals and ambitions. I was also fortunate to have to opportunity to spend time learning about educational processes and this is directly applicable to my current position and to the development of our new physiotherapy curricula at The University of Melbourne”. Dr Andrea Bialocerkowski
Menzies Research Institute, TAS
$3,000 for Dr Ingrid
Aaltje Frederika van der Mei to undertake a study tour to Harvard
School of Public Health, Boston, USA, December 2007 - February 2008
Three international study groups were identified as having data suitable for an examination of gene environment interaction in MS. The requirement was that they had a case-control study or cohort study on MS risk with DNA available for genotyping and environmental data available including biological specimens such as serum. The data of the three studies was pooled and a publication examining the interplay of three known risk factors of MS: high Epstein-barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) IgG antibody levels, past smoking and being positive for the gene region HLA-DR15 is currently in progress.
