We are thrilled to announce that Royal Far West (RFW) has recently expanded its work in Victoria, specifically in the Wimmera region. This expansion includes three new schools joining our Schools and Early Years program, marking a significant milestone in our mission to support country kids.
RFW began its journey in Victoria in 2023, partnering with Rainbow P-12 College under the Emerging Priorities Pilot (EPP) program. In the second semester of 2024, Jeparit Primary School joined our initiative. Our latest trip saw three new schools-Hopetoun P-12 College, St Joseph’s Hopetoun, and Beulah Primary School-become part of our community. This visit was particularly special as it was our first combined in-community visit.
Our dedicated team, consisting of Hayden (psychologist), Jess (speech pathologist), and Lisa (occupational therapist), conducted a range of activities at these schools. These included in-person therapy sessions and assessments, working with staff to discuss strategies and provide advice, group classroom sessions on topics such as regulation, friendships, and feelings, and planning for the next term.
One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Beulah, a town of 329 people in the Wimmera Southern Mallee region. Beulah was famously the filming location of the movie “The Dry,” starring Eric Bana and written by Jane Harper. During our two-week visit, we stopped at five schools in the region, and the reception we received was heartwarming. Staff at the schools were genuinely invested in helping the kids and valued our input, making the collaboration enjoyable and productive. During the visit, one of the schools commented on how good and positive they felt about RFW’s visit in contrast to some previous experiences.
We are excited about the positive impact our expansion will have on the children and communities in the Wimmera region. With the continued support of our community fundraisers and partners, Royal Far West can reach more country families and change the lives of country children.