TRUSTING COMMUNITIES TO LEAD CHANGE
With support from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, The Denmark Community Foundation set up a free youth mental health counselling service after identifying a need in the community.
Western Australia's Great Southern is renowned for its spectacular coastline, towering forests and welcoming country towns.
Yet beyond the postcard image, many communities are facing increasing challenges, including housing insecurity, social isolation, financial hardship and growing demand for mental health and community support services.
For the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, responding to these challenges begins with a simple belief: the people who live and work within their communities are often best placed to understand what support is needed and how lasting change can be achieved.
That philosophy has its roots in the values of the Foundation's founder, Stan Perron.
“Our passion for Community Foundations is due, in part, to my dad Stan's belief that the greatest impact comes from supporting individuals and organisations who are committed to giving back to their own communities. That is exactly the role Community Foundations play,” Stan Perron Charitable Foundation Executive Chair Elizabeth Perron said.
Rather than directing funding from Perth, the Foundation has chosen to partner with community foundations across Western Australia, placing its trust in local leaders to identify priorities, respond to emerging needs and invest where they believe they can make the greatest long-term difference.
Elizabeth said community foundations offer something no external organisation can replicate because they are created by local people, for local people.
“Because Community Foundations are created and led by local people, they have an intimate understanding of their communities' priorities and are uniquely positioned to invest in the initiatives that will deliver the greatest long-term benefit,” she said.
The Foundation's partnership with the Denmark and Albany Community Foundations began with a simple conversation.
Elizabeth recalled contacting Denmark Community Foundation Chair Karen Burford to offer the Foundation's support.
“I told Karen the amount of the contribution and she cried with joy. It has been an enduring relationship since,” she said.
Today, that relationship has grown well beyond individual grants into a genuine long-term partnership built on trust, shared values and a common goal of strengthening local communities.
Rather than requiring detailed oversight of every project, the Foundation gives community foundations the flexibility to respond to local priorities while keeping it informed about the outcomes being achieved.
“We had confidence in them from the beginning; that trust is now embedded,” Elizabeth said.
The Foundation also encourages community foundations to bring forward larger initiatives they believe could benefit from one-off support, recognising they are often best placed to identify emerging needs and opportunities.
Local knowledge. Lasting impact.
Across the Great Southern, that local knowledge is helping deliver practical solutions to complex challenges.
In Denmark, funding has supported a range of community-led initiatives, including Youth Focus counselling services for young people, upgrades to the Gumnut Corner Occasional Day Care centre, an all-abilities pathway at Denmark Primary School and the Happy Plate Café social enterprise, creating opportunities for connection, employment and inclusion.
In Albany, the Albany Community Foundation continues to strengthen local organisations such as Pivot Support Services, helping people experiencing homelessness, family violence, financial hardship and other crises to access practical support when they need it most.
While each initiative is different, they all reflect the same philosophy: local communities identifying local priorities and delivering solutions designed specifically for the people they serve.
As Elizabeth explained, community foundations have become trusted first points of contact for local people seeking help or support.
“People in the community know to call the Albany or Denmark Community Foundation when they have a challenge,” she said.
More than funding
For the Foundation, the partnership extends beyond providing financial support.
It also uses its networks to connect community foundations with other philanthropic organisations where opportunities align, helping attract additional support for projects that can strengthen regional communities.
A recent visit to Denmark and Albany gave Elizabeth the opportunity to see the partnerships in action and meet the people driving change on the ground.
The visit reinforced her belief that community foundations are creating lasting change rather than simply responding to immediate needs.
“It just confirmed that they're amazing with what they do. And it's not just short-term fixes. They're really trying to make a difference for the long term and to shift policy,” she said.
Elizabeth was equally inspired by the collaboration taking place across the region.
“Collaboration is the greatest thing with funders and community partners. Albany and Denmark work hand-in-hand well together. They know where their boundaries are with what they support. And they want the same thing – the best outcomes for their communities,” she said.
One moment from the visit continues to stay with her.
“Seeing the passion that people like Karen have and how they're recreating safe spaces for adults and young people,” Elizabeth said.
Reflecting on the partnerships, Elizabeth said seeing the difference community foundations are making has only strengthened the Foundation's commitment to supporting local leadership.
“It's amazing to see the change that the community foundations are making in Denmark and Albany,” she said.
By backing trusted local leadership, the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation is helping communities respond to today's challenges while creating stronger, more connected and more resilient futures.
Read more about the Foundation's partnerships in the Great Southern:
Denmark Community Foundation – Youth mental health and creating real local change
Community Foundations Australia – Major funder backs trusted local leadership through WA community foundations
Published: July 2026