Our annual Helping Hepburn Fund supports young people and families across Hepburn Shire in three ways. Our distributions have grown since 2019, and in FY2026 we gave $324,584 back to the community.
Our founders cover our running costs, so every dollar donated goes to this work.
Pillar 1
Schools Support
Every school in Hepburn Shire is eligible. Each manages its own allocation from us, so teachers can help students straight away, with lunches and breakfasts, literacy, camps, uniforms and more.
$360,000+invested in Hepburn Shire schools since 2023
Literacy
Half of our Schools Support funding goes to literacy, through MiniLit and MacqLit small-group reading programs. We invested $75,200 in FY2026, and $137,564 since January 2024.
Pillar 2
Scholarships
Most young people here have to move away to keep studying. Our scholarships help local students get to university, TAFE or an apprenticeship, with funding for up to three years and support to settle in.
Students living or studying in Hepburn Shire can apply. Applications open in June and close in August, including for students taking a gap year.
34scholarships awarded since 2022
Pillar 3
Local Impact
We fund trusted local partners who know the families who need help:
- Central Highlands Rural Health
- Child and Family Services (CAFS)
- Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre
- Clunes Neighbourhood Centre
- Good Grub Club
- Daylesford Community Op Shop
- L2P learner driver program, run by The Ballarat Foundation
- Carmen’s Legacy road safety education at Daylesford Secondary College
2,000+food and fuel vouchers since 2020