A video game that aims to build financial literacy for neurodivergent women, and a print edition of ANU’s Bossy Magazine are among the recipients of YWCA Canberra’s 2023 Great Ydeas Small Grants Program.

Each year, the feminist not-for-profit provides $9,000 in micro grants to women, girls, and non-binary people in the ACT. In 2023, Beyond Bank, Sustineo, Ernst & Young (EY) and The Joyful Business Club each sponsored an additional grant, bringing the total funding pool to $18,500.

YWCA Canberra CEO Frances Crimmins said these projects prove how the whole community can benefit “when we support and empower women and non-binary people to explore their great ideas”.

Local mum and financial counsellor Deb Shroot was the recipient of EY’s grant, for her mission to build financial literacy for neurodivergent women via gamification.

She was inspired by the risk of financial insecurity that women face due to disproportionate caring and unpaid work, lower average incomes, and domestic violence, which is even higher for neurodivergent women.

“I want to develop a financial literacy tool, thinking in the way of Game of Life,” Ms Shroot told CW.

Her project is a free, not-for-profit, financial literacy program for neurodivergent young people to help them develop skills that keep them safer from financial harm.

“It’s important to me because I’m neurodiverse, my children are neurodiverse – it’s a very vulnerable group.”

Through her career, Ms Shroot witnesses every day how important financial literacy is. “I see how it’s a really big barrier to people gaining independence.”

ANU student Imogen McDonald won the Beyond Bank Grant to fund a 2023 print edition of Bossy Magazine.

Bossy is the ANU Women’s Department’s autonomous feminist publication, “dedicated to upholding intersectional feminism and empowering the community”.

As content editor, Ms McDonald created the theme of the print edition, ‘Vestige.’

She hopes to encourage the community to delve deeper into the “relics of the past” that have been used to shape the history of women and marginalised identities, and “reclaim these vestiges to form empowering depictions of history and identity”.

“Bossy Magazine accepts submissions from women and non-binary students, alumni, and staff of the ANU,” said Ms McDonald. “It’s a safe space for them to express themselves, share their stories, and what they want the wider Canberra community to be aware of.”

In a full circle moment, The Joyful Business Club Grant was awarded to Hayley McClellan by Serina Bird, who was herself a Great Ydeas grant recipient.

Ms McClellan’s program, EmpowerHER, aims to run a one-off (initially) Neurodiverse Expo for Canberra providing an opportunity for creative, young, neurodiverse women to showcase their artistic talents.

Finally, Pauline Siteaud received the Sustineo Grant for herprogram,Project Empower, which consists of volunteer-run workshops that educate students about gender equality and encourage young women and non-binary people to embrace their leadership strengths.

The following recipients also received 2023 Great Ydeas Grants:

• Nicole Deen: Mama Connect Walk ‘n’ Talks support pregnant people and mothers in Canberra during a time when they may feel isolated, judged, and overwhelmed. The free Walk ‘n’ Talk sessions will include a gentle walk with a simple afternoon tea and will run at four locations around Canberra.
• Louise Starr: The Fourth Connection aims to provide companionship to single mothers in Canberra during the first 12 weeks of motherhood, reducing risk factors for post-partum depression. The initial 12-month pilot program will include phone services and in-person support.
• Maria Wallace: Stepping for Resilience aims to start weekly community walk/runs in Canberra for parents, seniors, and bubs to provide a generation-up community. It aims to support parents through mental health, post-natal depression and suicide risks post-partum.
• Alicia Martin: TaperMate. As a pharmacist, Alicia is keen to develop an app to support patients to come off antidepressants safely. The grant will be used to enter the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Shark Tank competition to win up to $10,000 to fund a prototype.
• Ros Kewley: Crafty Queens is run by college students and aims to help build skills for young women to connect and explore financial opportunities through selling their products. The grant will be used to deliver a market stall and help professionalise the Crafty Queens product range.

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