Hi, my name is Rebecca Bazley, and I am the Philanthropy & Major Gifts Manager.
What does your role involve?
In my role, I’m a connection point between the philanthropists and our important work at Royal Far West. Giving is very personal, and values led, and I’m honoured to be working with people that connect with our work and want to help us achieve the positive outcomes for country kids that we’re working towards.
How long have you been with RFW?
I’ve been at Royal Far West for almost 2 years now.
What led you to work at RFW?
I’m from a 6th generation farming family so our work is deeply personal to me. Giving back and contributing to the community is something that has always been important to our family, but seeing the impact of the drought, then floods against the backdrop of the increasing lack of services in the communities that were doing the most important work – providing us with food & fibre- was the inflection point in my career.
I realised that I wanted to spend my time working with the rural charities that were making a positive difference in rural communities.
Can you describe your typical day?
My day really depends on where we are in the year. Ideally, I like to start my day with coffee meeting, it could be with a donor, or networking with someone working in a family office, an advisor or someone that is interested in our work. I could also be taking people on tours of our beautiful Centre for Country Kids in Manly, writing grant applications, developing proposals for funding, creating opportunities for our donors to deepen their engagement with our work, including donor events around specific areas they might be interested in.
What do you love about working with families from rural and remote Australia?
Honestly, it’s a great cure for my homesickness! I feel most at ease around my fellow countrymen – If you’re from the country, you get it! They also remind me of my why.
What do you think makes RFW unique?
Our holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to early intervention. It’s best in class. It’s so important to look at the whole picture when treating a child, and their environment. Where children do have access to specialists, there is often an hour appointment, then it could be months before the next appointment.
Our clinicians work together as a team over 1-2 weeks to treat the child and support the family. Because they stay at Royal Far West and attend the Royal Far West school during their visit, we get a deeper understanding of what is going on. Even before they arrive at Royal Far West, our team connect with the parents and the key adults around the child for 6 weeks before their visit! We also work to support the local teachers and give them skills so they can best support the child. After their visit, they’re connected back in with local support services and can stay in the RFW orbit for up to 18 months if they need it.
It’s such a unique way of supporting children at the most critical time in their development, and a gift that I think all children should have access to.
Where’s your country? – Where do you feel most connected to?
I’m from the Darling Downs in Queensland. I feel most connected to our land and community. Being at home on the farm is the remedy for everything! Knowing the family members before me that have developed and worked the land, raised their families there, faced adversity and overcome it on that land, is everything.
Can you share some career highlights from your time at RFW?
Being in the income generating side of things – my highlights are seeing generosity in action. When someone decides to give a transformational gift – be it funding a paediatrician to assess more kids, or a project that helps more kids access the services they need to get through life easier, it’s a great feeling. I find it exhilarating!