Investing in Rural Community Futures Victoria
Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) is a grassroots program that aims to build the capacity of not-for-profit (NFP) organisations.
After being delivered in eight NSW communities, the program is now running in the Victorian communities of Colac, Maryborough and Swan Hill, thanks to the support of Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, The Jack Brockhoff Foundation, The Ross Trust and The William Buckland Foundation.
Run over five years, the program will offer flexible and tailored support, including grants, workshops, and participatory planning processes, to strengthen the local NFP sector, so it can work collectively to more effectively advocate on shared issues, contribute to a thriving community and achieve long-term impact across agreed priority areas.
IRCF Victoria partner communities
Over the next five years, the Colac, Maryborough and Swan Hill communities will travel their own path, guided by local voices and actions, informed by their unique Community Roadmap. The Community Roadmap sets out the goals and priorities for the not-for-profit sector and is a living resource that will evolve throughout the program.
Learn more about what’s happening in each community below:
Community Pages
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Hear from our IRCF Victoria Partner Communities
Local leaders from our new partner communities share their thoughts about what it means to join the IRCF program.
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IRCF VIC Grant Recipients
The following grants have been awarded to communities as part of the IRCF VIC program.
| Organisation | Project | Grant | Awarded | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLAC | ||||||
| Community Hub Inc | Community Directory - Review, Update and Conversion Improve awareness, access to services, resource sharing, and local networking through an online Community Directory. | $35,706 | Mar 2026 | |||
| Anam Cara House Colac Inc | Inclusive Learning for Staff Grow cultural awareness and embrace diversity within Colac's NFP sector through an online training program. | $6,000 | Mar 2026 | |||
| MARYBOROUGH | ||||||
| Maryborough Volunteer Resource Group | Maryborough Community Hub Feasibility Study Explore the future of a Community Hub to boost volunteerism, skills and connection in Maryborough through a feasibility study. | $26,000 | Dec 2025 | |||
| Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail | Connecting Communities: A Strategy to Fund the Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail | $45,000 | Jan 2026 | |||
| Committee for Maryborough | Thriving Maryborough Workshop Series Boost the skills and confidence of staff, volunteers and community groups in Maryborough through a series of workshops. | $25,785 | Feb 2026 | |||
Community Roadmap Co-Design
Representatives from NFP organisations, community groups, and local leaders in Colac, Maryborough and Swan Hill came together in May 2025 for a Community Roadmap Workshop in each of their regions. These workshops explored the four key capacity building pillars of the IRCF program and identified shared goals and priorities for the NFP sector to work towards over the next five years.
The many ideas and information gathered at the workshops and via subsequent feedback channels has been consolidated into the first version of the Community Roadmap for each community. The goals identified in the Roadmaps will inform how funding available through the IRCF Victoria program is invested in local projects.
The Community Roadmaps are living documents and will be reviewed annually throughout the program. You can explore them below.
Colac Maryborough Swan Hill
Local Community Facilitators appointed
A locally based Community Facilitator plays a key role throughout the five year IRCF program, fostering relationships and building partnerships in each community. The Facilitator is a local conduit with the FRRR team, supporting the delivery of the Community Roadmap, liaising with NFPs to develop, seek funding, and deliver projects aligned to the IRCF priority areas, and assisting with program evaluation activities.
We’re excited to introduce the locally-based Community Facilitators, who will be walking alongside their communities throughout the five-year program:
- Liz Bishop – Colac | ircf.colac@ninjatest-frrr.madeneat.dev
- Alistair Shaw – Maryborough | ircf.maryborough@ninjatest-frrr.madeneat.dev
- Bronwyn Hogan – Swan Hill | ircf.swanhill@ninjatest-frrr.madeneat.dev
I have a question, who can I talk to?
If you have a question about the program or Community Workshops, please don’t hesitate to reach out:
Jo Kemp, Program Manager j.kemp@ninjatest-frrr.madeneat.dev or 0448 990 800
Emily Duffield, Program Officer e.duffield@ninjatest-frrr.madeneat.dev or (03) 5430 2339