Doin it for Rural Aussie Kids

Background

Jason grew up in the isolated town of Albert, NSW, 140km west of Dubbo, as the only child in a town of just 12 people. His family, who operated a fuel depot, has been based in rural Australia for generations. Jason is a proud Wiradjuri man (his mother is half Aboriginal) and deeply connected to the land. He has always held people living in rural and remote areas close to his heart.

As an award-winning country music singer and runner up on TV talent show X Factor in 2012, Jason has devoted his life since he was 18 to providing entertainment for rural communities.

As a tireless community supporter with a passionate affinity for isolated children, Jason decided to use his platform for positive change and created registered children’s charity Doin It For Rural Aussie Kids (DIFRAK) in 2019.

Deeply concerned for rural communities after years of hardship, Jason as charity CEO had an idea – to supply presents, groceries, and funds to kids in remote and regional communities, to give them a much-deserved Christmas after a devasting 2019.

This initiative is now the Doin It For Rural Aussie Kids Christmas toy run road trip.

Having grown up in a “forgotten about” town himself, Jason also wanted to inspire kids by delivering a powerful motivational talk on visits. He encourages kids to dream big and know ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE if you work hard and believe in yourself – even if you grow up isolated and are Indigenous. What Jason was able to bring was invaluable with teachers saying it was the highlight of the year for many students.

Jason’s road trip is a completely unique initiative – there’s nothing like it in Australia. Plus, unlike many charities where funding is used for projects, all DIFRAK activities benefit children and families directly – with funds and presents placed in their hands and personal chats creating immediate joy and powerful memories.

In 2019 Jason quickly responded to bushfire and drought areas. He set up a GoFundMe page raising money for goods which he spent many hours buying himself, contributed funds from his merchandise sales and secured sponsor donations.

He visited five schools – Murrays Bridge, Wyrallah, Rappville, Woolbrook and Tottenham.

He also visited 11 families in their homes and gifted personalised Santa Sacks for every child, over a week benefiting over 250 children.

With schools damaged by fires and struggling for resources, Jason embarked on a January 2020 road trip, supplying hundreds of back-to-school backpacks containing stationery – often left to teachers to supply.

Vowing to tackle another Christmas run in 2020, little did Jason know it’d be the most challenging year yet. However, with sheer determination he completed an 8,000km road trip driving 10 days from December 6-16, 2020, visiting 21 outback schools in NSW, QLD, SA and Victoria. Accompanied by his mother, Jason drove sometimes 10 hours a day on some of Australia’s most inhospitable roads in scorching heat.

Jason visited more than 1,000 kids at schools or homes including Wongarbon, Dubbo, Dubbo Base Hospital, Parkes, Forbes, Cowra, Hermidale, Girilambone, Lightning Ridge, Goodooga, Hebel, Roma, Bymount, Arcadia Valley, Emerald, Lochington, Blackall, Cunnamulla, Tibooburra, Broken Hill, Mildura, Jeparit, Tempey, Ultima, Nullawil, Bendigo, Lake Charm, Leitchville, Wakool, Narranderra, Carrathool, Rankin Springs, Griffith, Lismore and Kenilworth. Many schools had few students – Ultima Primary School had three, and rarely get any visit.

Mid-year Jason directs his team (just two others) to start planning. They identify towns and families reeling from drought, bushfires, floods, COVID 19 fall out, border closures, isolation and personal tragedy. These communities have been doing it incredibly tough, with little to spare.

In 2021 Jason will visit all eight states over a month covering a huge 15,000 km and is also aligning with two prestigious national bodies – Kids Helpline and the Isolated Children’s Parents Association to spread awareness about their key issues.