FRONTRUNNERS
ABOUT FRONTRUNNERS
The Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) FrontRunners are young Indigenous men and women who have graduated from the Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) by completing their IMP Education program and completing their IMP international marathon.
- Mentoring
- Resilience
- Beyond the finish line
- Empowerment
IMF is committed to providing ongoing opportunities to its Graduates to ensure they continue to achieve in a personal and professional sense.
In completing their IMP year, Graduates have demonstrated significant leadership, courage, determination, capacity, and commitment, and have also been elevated with their families, friends, and their community, to a position of significance.
Post IMP and post-marathon, Graduates continue their journey to have a significant impact on advancing Indigenous Australia. This is where IMF FrontRunners QANTAS Grants come in. Grants will endeavour to use running as a common thread and with the aim of addressing significant issues affecting Indigenous Australians.
IMF’s FrontRunners program provides the opportunity for IMP Graduates to access grants to establish running and fitness groups, establish their own business, and/or undertake personal, professional, and career development courses.
Grants & Scholarships
FrontRunners QANTAS Grants will be awarded to IMP Graduates, following an assessment of their Expression of Interest and application. An assessment of the individual’s capacity to drive positive change and effectively deliver the outcomes sought.
Grants may also be provided to events, programs and opportunities that showcase incredible resilience and achievement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture, and heritage as a national treasure.
Grants may address issues and areas such as:
• Chronic disease
• Education
• Employment and business
• Mental health and self-harm
• Incarceration and crime
• Substance abuse
• Violence and abuse
Recipients
Taneshia Atkinson 2019
Education, Business, Fitness
Purchase of text books for a psychology course Taneshia is currently studying.
Sianna Catullo 2019
Social & Digital Marketing
Funding for Sianna to complete a short course in social media and digital marketing.
Neil Sabatino 2019
Mental Health
Funding for Neil to complete a Certificate in Mental Health.
Rikki Wilson 2018
Business, Fitness & Health
Assistance in setting up her personal training and fitness business Tribes United Health & Fitness, including the purchase of equipment, business registration, insurance and ongoing study.
Natasha Leslie 2017
Education
Funding for Natasha to study Naturopathy, including the purchase of a laptop.
Zibeon Fielding 2016
Community, Fitness & Health
Purchase of equipment for the Mimili/Indulkana IMF RAW Fun Runs held each school term, to encourage participation and community ownership.
Tahnee Sutton 2016
Mental Health
Joint application with Jacinta Smith on the creation of a business plan for mental health training services.
Jacinta Rose Smith 2016
Mental Health
Proposal to attend the 2020 World Indigenous Suicide Conference in Winnipeg, Canada; unfortunately the conference was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Rachel Baker 2014
Business, Youth Suicide, Culture for Remote Youth
Funding to help cover the costs of hosting a workshop in Gapuwiyak community focusing on mental health services, suicide prevention and hair, makeup and fashion to boost confidence and self-worth in young women.
Luke Mckenzie 2013
Education, Business & Fitness
Ongoing education to develop and maintain Fitness Leaders’ Accreditation, as well as courses in Rehab Training and Nutrition, First Aid and annual registration with Fitness Australia.
All IMP Graduates are supported by the IMP Leadership Group, a group voted by their peers. Four men and four women are mentors, advocates, and supporters. Leadership Group members are a point of contact for all IMP graduates and are paired in the categories:
• Leadership, Community Development
• Health, Fitness and Wellbeing
• Education, Employment and Building Careers
• Cultural Awareness/Advisors Celebrations
IMP Leadership Group members can also assist the IMF at running events and camps.
QANTAS Contribution
The QANTAS Foundation made a significant contribution to IMF in 2015 which allowed for the establishment of the IMF QANTAS FrontRunners grants.
Graduates can apply for a grant or a scholarship to improve their skills and/or support their community. Grant or scholarships are assessed by the following categories:
- Leadership, Community Development
- Health, Fitness and Wellbeing
- Education, Employment and Building Careers
- Cultural Awareness/Advisors Celebrations
IMF is committed to providing ongoing opportunities to its Graduates to ensure they continue to achieve in a personal and professional sense.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
There are a number of ways your organisation can contribute to this long-term initiative, including providing financial support, employment pathways and opportunities or offering to mentor a Graduate.
IMF can discuss mutually beneficial arrangements with organisations interested in supporting our FrontRunners initiative.
Through your support, our Graduates will have the opportunity to further their education, establish their own business, or learn on-the-job training in an area of their passion to learn more about their career of interest.
FrontRunners is a vital program empowering IMP Graduates to take on further challenges applying the skills and knowledge they learned during their IMP experience.
To find out more information about the FrontRunners initiative, please contact the office on (02) 6162 4750.
