Coolaroo Foundation News
Latest happenings amongst our Foundation care partners and team.
Congratulations to grant recipient, the RAS Foundation
We know the difference a scholarship can make to young people in rural and regional areas — especially those whose opportunities are limited by distance. That’s why continuing our support of Rural Scholarships in 2027 was an easy decision.
How training dogs helps heal marginalised boys
If you want to understand why our board is so invested in the work of BackTrack Youth Works, watch Backtrack Boys.
Inside the Sonder Youth Changemakers Program
The Changemakers Program is Sonder Youth's flagship program for young people in the Shoalhaven and beyond. It brings young people together to learn about themselves, build strong connections with their peers, and develop the skills to design and deliver a project that tackles an issue that matters to them.
What Nearly a Decade of Data Tells Us About RAS Foundation's Rural Scholars
Since 2010, the RAS Foundation's Rural Scholarship program has helped hundreds of young people from rural and regional NSW pursue further study. But scholarships are only half the story — the real question is what happens afterwards.
Welcome to our newest Grantee: Sonder Youth
We're delighted to welcome Sonder Youth as our newest grantee. The Coolaroo Foundation board has awarded a grant to bring the Changemakers Program to local high school, right here in Shoalhaven.
Why Peer Support Belongs at the Heart of Trauma Recovery
When women come to ROCC for Women, they often arrive carrying more than one kind of hardship — a history of trauma, contact with the criminal justice system, the weight of addiction, and isolation.
Introducing ROCC for Women's Peer-Led Support Program
Since 2025, Coolaroo Foundation has partnered with ROCC for Women to deliver trauma-informed education and wellbeing workshops for women in the Shoalhaven region who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or navigating complex disadvantage.
Paws Up: The Program at the Heart of BackTrack
If you spend any time at BackTrack, one thing becomes clear fast: the dogs are everywhere. Not as a mascot or a sideline, but as a genuine part of how the organisation works with young people, every single day.
Levelling the Playing Field: Why Rural Scholarships Matter
For a young person growing up in a major city, the path into further study is often straightforward — a local TAFE or university, a short commute, and maybe a part-time job nearby. For a young person growing up on a rural or regional property, that same path can look very different.
Standing With Taree: BackTrack's Flood Recovery Response
In May 2025, record floods tore through Taree and the NSW Mid North Coast, leaving a trail of loss across the community. In response, the team at BackTrack Youth Works — alongside the young people in their care — rolled up their sleeves to help the town rebuild.