The new executive officer of The Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation is ready to steer the organisation in its new focus of using arts and culture to boost youth engagement.
Vanessa Parry steps into the role with two decades of experience in philanthropy and the foundation’s new focus is a cause close to her heart.
For her own son, taking up ballet when he was in Year 7 turned around his engagement in education.
Ms Parry would have her home in Melbourne full of young dance students from Ballarat and Bendigo (who were friends of her son), who could not access the opportunities they sought in regional Victoria.
“It was first-hand experience to see how young guys who sometimes are on the brink of disengaging from school, can reconnect through a different way of education,” Ms Parry said.
“It was a real turning point for me wanting to assist children and young people in regional areas who have artistic interests.”
Arriving in Victoria 15 years ago, Ms Parry said she took interest in the foundation as a place-based funder; where money raised directly benefited people in Shepparton.
The foundation will continue its dedication to tackling ongoing socio-economic disadvantage through its partnership with the Greater Shepparton Foundation, while its efforts will be directed towards taking a different approach – bringing art, music and cultural activities to young people and children.
“I’ve had some experience in how beneficial art education can be and how it’s linked to lessening social disadvantage,” Ms Parry said.
“It’s really tough for regional young people to get the same opportunities as some of our city kids, and some of them go on to achieve amazing things.”
Ms Parry is not new to the regions, living and working in regional Queensland and now living in Woodend – an hour north-west of Melbourne – and she’s keen to see the positives of Shepparton highlighted more.
“I think city people tend to focus on how much money is being poured into Shepparton to support social disadvantage, but there’s reasons this is happening,” she said.
“I feel like Victoria does focus on Shepparton as a region of disadvantage and I don’t know if that’s the full picture.”