AMP’s Tomorrow Fund awards $1 million to talented Aussies

AMP’s Tomorrow Fund has given away $1 million in grants in its inaugural year to 47 talented individuals across Australia striving to achieve a goal that will make a positive contribution to Australia.

The winners, dubbed AMP’s Tomorrow Makers, are from all fields of endeavour including technology, sport, social enterprise, small business, health, education, non-profit, disability and the arts, with a great idea and a determination to take it to the next level.

AMP’s Director of Media and Community Relations Julia Quinn said the Tomorrow Fund has uncovered some amazing Australians doing great things for our community.

“AMP’s Tomorrow Fund was initiated to promote and nurture clever Australians from all walks of life. We don’t want money to be an obstacle for talented people who have a commitment to something that will make a difference.

AMP’s Tomorrow Makers are truly inspirational, driven people with a purpose to achieve something that will make a positive impact on Australia, and for some even at a global level.

“The recipients cover a wide range of pursuits including social documentary filmmaking, cancer research, disability support, opera and sport to name just a few. The winners range from young teens through to older Australians,” Ms Quinn said.

Recipients were short listed by a panel of judges, with the final 47 winners selected by an expert panel which included AMP CEO Craig Meller.

AMP’s Tomorrow Makers hail from all around Australia. Some of the grant winners include:

Adrian Appo, Indigenous entrepreneur

Shepparton, Victoria

After running one of Australia’s best Indigenous job-readiness organisations – and operating without government funding – Adrian is ready for his next challenge: setting up an organisation that helps Indigenous entrepreneurs run successful businesses. Adrian hopes to continue playing a role in closing the economic gap faced by Indigenous people: “While Australia rates second out of 187 countries in quality of life on the UN Human Development Index, for Indigenous Australians their quality of life rates at only 122. This is unacceptable and something needs to change. We need to move away from welfare dependency and focus on real wealth creation.”

Rebecca Jessen, writer

East Toowoomba, Queensland

Growing up in south-western Sydney, Rebecca was not encouraged to read at home. She says: “I guess my mum was never encouraged to read, so this was passed on. I had to nurture the love of books myself.”

At 21, Rebecca moved to Brisbane to pursue a literary career and study creative writing. She went on to win the State Library of Queensland Young Writers Award in 2012 and the Queensland Literary Award for Best Emerging Author in 2013 for Gap, her debut novel. The grant will help her complete a memoir of her teenage years: “This recognition means a lot as writing can feel like an invisible pursuit. It’s not just about the money, it’s also a validation.”

Nicholas Gleeson, blind adventurer and advocate

Padstow, New South Wales

Nick lost his sight at seven when an automatic supermarket door struck his head, causing a retinal detachment. However, being blind has never held him back. He has raised two children with wife, Heather, who is also blind; climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and reached Everest base camp, and completed the New York Marathon three times as well as the gruelling Comrades Marathon in Africa. Now an accessibility advocate and motivational speaker, Nick will use his AMP Tomorrow Fund grant to take on another challenge – trek the Simpson Desert from Poeppel’s Corner to Birdsville. Nick says: “I’m an ordinary person who has followed my dreams. I hope my trek will inspire Australians of all abilities to do the same.”

Lily Wu, Chinese internship program founder

Willoughby, New South Wales

Following a work experience trip to China last year, 20-year-old university student Lily recognised the need for much better cultural understanding between Australian and Chinese business people. Through her program, Austern International, Lily now facilitates Chinese study tours for Australian students, covering work experience, language studies and business etiquette, to bridge the cultural gap. Lily is using her AMP Tomorrow Fund grant to help expand the program: “This program promotes greater work opportunities for the next generation of Australian leaders to adapt in a global environment and in a sensitive manner that promotes cultural harmony.”

Kaviya Kalyanasundaram, young inventor

Mitchell Park, South Australia

The future of Australian science and technology is bright with this 14-year-old emerging as a promising inventor. A student at the Australian Science and Mathematics School in Adelaide, Kaviya has invented two electronic gadgets: a voice-controlled wheelchair to help elderly patients move around and a device that senses soil moisture levels and sends a text message alert if it’s too low. Kaviya will use the grant to develop her working prototypes: “The AMP Tomorrow Fund will help me to build my gadgets and take them into the community to people like farmers and senior citizens who would directly benefit from my inventions.”

Suresh Sundram, psychiatrist and medical researcher

Parkville, Victoria

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for young Australian males, despite great efforts in recent years to raise awareness of mental health issues in the community. Suresh, who is a psychiatrist and medical researcher at the renowned Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, is investigating markers for suicide risk and conducting research that could lead to better detection and treatment: “Eventually, I hope to develop a test that will provide clinicians with the ability to rationally decide on treatment and to actively intervene where required. It will give individuals and their families’ confidence to act where needed.”

Cody Meakin, wheelchair rugby player

Bowen Hills, Queensland

At 17 Cody was a sporty Canberra Grammar boarder with the world at his feet. On a visit back to the Northern Territory, he asked a stranger for a lift home from a party. The driver lost control and Cody flew out of the ute’s tray and hit a power pole, rendering him a quadriplegic. During a long stint in rehab, he decided to put his energy into wheelchair rugby. The passion grew and he went on to win gold as part of the gutsy 2012 London Paralympic team. Now, the business student is training six days a week with the hope of making it to Rio in 2016. A new custom-made rugby chair will help him on his way: “I want to inspire people with disabilities to take up recreational activities that allow them to achieve.”

AMP’s Tomorrow Fund will give away another $1 million next year, with applications for the 2015 program to open in April 2015.

AMP’s Tomorrow Fund is an initiative of the AMP Foundation, AMP’s charity arm. Since 1992, the AMP Foundation has donated over $70 million to hundreds of charities which do great work in their communities.