Australia has voted for its Rural Hero!

Nearly 9000 Australians went online to choose their Rural Hero in the Aussie Farmers Foundation’s inaugural $50,000 Rural Hero Grant, with the Healthy Kids Bus Stop topping the public vote.

Healthy Kids Bus Stop is a mobile clinic that provides thorough health screening for children in remote areas of NSW. These children do not have access to the same health services available in the city and the mobile clinic will give kids and their parents advice on improving their health and wellbeing. Project proposed by Royal Far West.

Royal Far West is delighted to have been awarded the inaugural Aussie Farmers Foundation Rural Hero Grant for its award winning rural child health screening program, the Healthy Kids Bus Stop.

Following a three-week voting process, where members of the public were asked to view and vote on shortlisted project videos, Royal Far West was officially announced as the winner on 23 May.

Royal Far West CEO Lindsay Cane said she wanted to thank Royal Far West’s many supporters who helped to ensure the ‘Bus Stop’ was successful.

“We have been inspired and invigorated by the amount of support we have received over the past few weeks from our families, communities, corporate and government friends who have affirmed RFW’s great work and we are extremely honoured to have been shortlisted alongside three other incredible projects.

“This grant is very important to us, as it allows us to bring this vital child health program to isolated communities, to support the health and wellbeing of many more country kids.”

Executive Officer of the Aussie Farmers Foundation, Julia Hunter, said the Foundation was thrilled with the result.

“We were blown away by the response from the Australian people. The Healthy Kids Bus Stop is a great initiative- the health and wellbeing of kids growing up in rural communities is close to our hearts at the Foundation and clearly an area that the Australian people are passionate about too.”

Delivered by Royal Far West in partnership with local health service providers, the program has so far reached over 900 children in over 30 communities across rural, regional and remote NSW.

The screening program includes a child health check, hearing screening, dental, fine and gross motor skill development check, language and speech development check and food nutrition checks.

Children who need further help are referred into services to ensure they receive the ongoing support they need, with linkages and communication back into the community and their local service providers.

Donations are still being accepted for all shortlisted Rural Hero Grant projects on the Aussie Farmers Foundation Website. http://www.aussiefarmersfoundation.org.au/grants/

About the Aussie Farmers Foundation

Aussie Farmers Foundation aims to partner with best practice organisations around Australia who are delivering services in rural and regional Australia, where there has been an identified need of assistance. Aussie Farmers Foundation was formed in 2010 and since then has given over $1.2 million in grants to rural and regional communities in need. It strongly believes in assisting charitable organisations who are working alongside local communities to boost their strengths, plus, where there are gaps, look at ways to make a difference to the health and wellbeing of rural and regional communities. The Foundation was established in 2010 by Aussie Farmers Direct. http://www.aussiefarmersfoundation.org.au/