Rural and Remote Funding to Deliver Social Impact

About this webinar

Over the past 12 months, Sefa Partnerships has been convening a dynamic peer learning community bringing together a group of rural and remote leaders working to deliver social impact, and a group of funders wanting to support social impact in rural and remote Australia. From experiences of frustration, participants in this learning community explored obstacles and opportunities to increase the flow of funding across Australia’s diverse geographies.

Moderated by Jennifer Jones, this session will share insights from the perspective of participants who contributed to this learning community.

The conversation will explore:

How funding is designed and delivered.
Financial instruments available to fund impact.
Tools that help communicate risk and value.
Language that connects us.
What has shaped the current funding system?
How is the system experienced, lived and felt by those in it?
Where are the opportunities for change?

About Sefa Partnerships

Sefa Partnerships and its sister organisation, Social Enterprise Finance Australia (Sefa), have a unique depth of experience in strengthening capability, capital, and innovation for social enterprises across Australia. This includes building capability and unlocking capital for social enterprises in regional areas throughout the country, from far north Queensland to regional NSW and Tasmania.

Sefa Partnerships was established by Sefa as a public benevolent institution in 2016 to boost the resources available for social enterprises supporting disadvantaged communities across Australia. Since 2016 Sefa Partnerships have unlocked capital and capability resources for more than 80 purpose driven social enterprises and 100 social entrepreneurs.

Sefa and Sefa Partnerships work collaboratively and share a joint strategy for the continued growth of social purpose organisations across Australia.

Rachel Miski

Rachel is a graphic designer, storyteller and forager of meaning. She’s known for asking the big questions – and listening closely. Founder of the multidisciplinary team at Minta Viski, Rachel builds visual identities grounded in country, connection and care. She collaborated with Sefa Partnerships to create a visual story that captures the challenges and possibilities of funding for impact in rural communities. “I live and breathe my creative practice in Regional NSW. I’ve picked the field mushrooms as a toddler, chewed the fat with the people while buying the paper. Bought the show society raffle tickets. I get it. I understand the thirst for humans, not just to tell, but to have others understand their stories.”

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Andrea Hogg

Andrea is the Director of Leadership Innovation at the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. She grew up in regional North Queensland and her favourite memories are of time spent in the top end of Queensland and in the Torres Strait. Andrea worked for many years at the Australian Institute of Sport, and has worked globally, supporting programs in the Pacific, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with a focus on education for girls, maternal health, water and sanitation, economic development, human rights and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. “The clarity of the water as you arrive at Thursday Island, the swaying palm trees, the humidity. It reminds me of my years living in the Pacific ... When I am not working you will find me walking in the bush near my house, dancing, reading, and enjoying the magnificent cultural institutions in Canberra – museums and galleries and the sand and sea on the New South Wales south coast.”

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Clare Wood

Clare Wood is the Director of Enterprise Partnerships. Clare uses a trauma informed and decolonising approach to enterprise development, which promotes economic inclusion whilst fostering connection to country, culture and language. Clare is an Occupational therapist with a masters degree in Narrative therapy and Community work. Clare has over 15 years experience working in community development and mental health settings, in particular in first nation communities in the Kimberley. Clare explores innovative and creative approaches to community-led solutions to mental health concerns via enterprise development. Clare facilitates women to hope, dream and build leadership and entrepreneurial skills with a focus on the health and wellbeing of their families and communities.

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Sarah Kilalea

Sarah is an experienced communications and development professional with a strong background in community engagement, strategic partnerships, and grant writing across the not-for-profit and arts sectors. She has led successful funding and storytelling initiatives for organisations including Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR), YWCA, JOY 94.9 and Queensland Music Festival (QMF), securing support for programs that deliver measurable social, cultural, and community outcomes. Sarah holds a BA (Hons) in Acting from the Arts Educational School of Acting in London. Her creative career began in film and theatre as an actress, director, and producer before expanding into broadcasting, where she became a breakfast and drive presenter in Dubai on Dubai 92 and Radio One, later serving as Program Director and Presenter of JOY 94.9 in Melbourne, a leading community radio station with a listenership of over 700,000. Sarah has directed and produced plays throughout Africa and teaches drama in Brisbane in her spare time. Merging her arts expertise with community storytelling and social impact has led her to QMF where music meets social impact. The perfect fit. Her work spans everything from large-scale event funding and tourism award submissions to grassroots outreach programs — all driven by a commitment to creating positive impact and sustainable community growth.

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Rebel Black

Rebel Black is a human agronomist and syntropic entrepreneur dedicated to empowering rural, regional, and remote women to develop impactful social enterprises. As the founder of THE RW Collection, Rebel supports community-minded entrepreneurs in building wealth and leaving lasting legacies. With over 24 years of experience in community development, Rebel has secured approximately $50 million in funding and investment and led transformative initiatives, including the successful 'community exit' of her company to THE Rural Woman Cooperative, which she co-founded. Rebel and her husband also operate a social enterprise in Lightning Ridge, fostering micro businesses in food, accommodation, education, and performance. Recognised nationally and globally, Rebel has received numerous awards, including NSW Woman of the Year Finalist and Jury’s Choice in the Global Women in Tech Committed to helping women thrive, heal, and evolve, Rebel is building networks that inspire resilience, innovation, and community impact.

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Trevor Meldrum

Trevor Meldrum is the Operations Manager and Secretary of Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Inc. He is a proud born and bred Cape York Peninsula Indigenous local. Trevor’s family has ties with the Princess Charlotte Bay region, as well as Lakefield, and the Palmer River. In his work at CYWAFA, Trevor builds healthier communities by preserving cultural pathways, building traditional and contemporary skills and having a direct and positive impact on the natural environment in Far North Queenland. This year marks 32 years of service in the Environmental Field for Trevor.

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Fiona Maxwell

Fiona Maxwell was appointed JVT's CEO in May 2025. She is an experienced CEO, Board Chair, and Director with 20 years’ experience in social-sector leadership and governance. She is the Queensland Executive Director for FareShare, Australia’s largest charity kitchen, and Deputy Chair of DVConnect, a statewide domestic violence crisis service for Queenslanders. Fiona was the CEO of Brisbane Powerhouse, the Queensland Manager for Philanthropy Australia, and the Executive Director of the Next Wave Festival for youth arts. She holds a Master’s degree in Arts Administration and has shared her deep expertise in philanthropic strategy and governance by serving on industry peak bodies and grant-making committees throughout her career. Fiona was born in Townsville, and grew up in Winton, Brisbane, Mt Isa and Cairns. She is passionate about opportunities for young people in regional Queensland.

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Jennifer Jones

Jennifer has spent over two decades weaving her multidisciplinary expertise into impactful initiatives across Australia and beyond. From co-designing projects in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos to pioneering the first grant-backed SME loans for female entrepreneurs in Myanmar, she brings a deep understanding of community development and social innovation to her role as Program Lead at Sefa Partnerships. Jennifer is not just a connector of ideas but also of people, thriving in collaborative environments where co-designing solutions is key. Her passion for making a difference is evident in her work and in her personal achievements, such as co-founding Room to Grow Children’s Foundation, which served children on the Thai-Burma border for 15 years. In her downtime, you’ll find Jennifer immersed in speculative fiction, exploring the underwater world through scuba diving, or taking on the great outdoors with hiking and ocean swimming. Jennifer lives and works on unceded Wurundjeri land.