A regional Australia education business that aims to tackle educational inequality was last night crowned the 2025 Innovate with nbn^® Grants Program Champion.

RAISEducation, based in Sandford (TAS), delivers specialist literacy and numeracy support through online lessons, personalised plans and home resources. The business provides support for families and children living in remote and isolated farming communities across Outback Australia.

Through connectivity, RAISEducation removes barriers to equitable, supportive and meaningful educational experiences for Australian families living in some of Australia’s most remote locations.

Since beginning in 2020, more than 100 children have joined the RAISEducation program, with many advancing more than 6 to 12 months of progress in just one school term.

RAISEducation Founder and Director, Kylie Jones, said her business doesn’t just teach kids, it empowers families and helps to build their future.

“We want to accelerate our mission to ensure every child in rural and remote Australia has the opportunity to learn to read, no matter where they live.

“Literacy should not depend on a family postcode, yet thousands of children still go without help simply because they cannot access specialist support.

"Winning allows us to expand the program to reach more communities, strengthen our digital learning platform and train additional literacy specialists.

“It helps us build long-term change. When a child learns to read, doors open. Confidence grows. Futures shift. Winning this grant will bring us one step closer to educational equity for rural Australia.”

About Innovate with nbn

Now in its sixth year, the Innovate with nbn Grants Program continues to champion regional and remote Australian businesses taking their innovative products and services to the next level. The program is designed to provide support and shine a spotlight on individuals, businesses and organisations that lead the way in innovation, drive digital adoption and advocate for their local communities.

There was a total prize pool of $125,000, category winners received $15,000 and the overall champion another $20,000. More than 162 applications were submitted nationally for an opportunity to win in seven categories including Agriculture, Arts and Tourism, Education, Health, Indigenous Business, Sport and Recreation, and Women in Regional Business.

The awards were held in Sydney and presented in partnership with the Regional Australia Institute.

Gavin Williams, Chief Development Officer, Regional and Remote at NBN Co, said:

“Since the program inception in 2020, we’ve received more than 900 applications from regional businesses across the country who are harnessing the benefits of the nbn^® network to improve digital participation, productivity and social outcomes.

“Innovate with nbn is a special program, which so clearly aligns to our nbn purpose to elevate Australia by connecting people and powering progress. By continuing to support and foster regional business innovation backed by the nbn network, we can continue to play a role in bettering regional communities and ensuring they’re a part of our exciting digital future.

“We look forward to again sharing the inspirational stories behind this year’s program winners, helping them on their journey, and witnessing them take their game-changing product or service to the next level.”

The 2025 Innovate with nbn Grant Program Winners

Education and 2025 Champion – RAISEducation (Sandford, TAS)

Delivering specialist literacy and numeracy support via online lessons, personalised plans and home resources, RAISEducation tackles educational inequality in remote Australia.

Many children in rural areas start school behind – not due to lack of ability, but lack of access. With RAISEducation and nbn connectivity, families living hundreds of kilometres from services now have help. More than 100 children have joined the program, with many making 6 to 12 months of progress in just one school term. RAISEducation doesn’t just teach kids, it empowers families and builds futures.

With their RAISING Readers Intervention Program providing specialist one-on-one literacy support to children in rural and remote Australia who are at risk of falling behind in reading, they deliver weekly online lessons with trained literacy instructors, supported by personalised learning plans, decodable reading resources and short instructional videos so families can continue learning between sessions.

RAISEducation believes where a child lives should not decide their future, with all children deserving to be seen, supported and given every chance to succeed.

Agriculture – Withcott Seedlings (Withcott, QLD)

Withcott Seedlings is one of Australia’s largest and most advanced seedling producers, supplying millions of vegetable seedlings to growers across the country. The operation combines scale with sustainability, using precision agriculture and climate-smart practices to reduce waste and improve yield.

Withcott Seedlings’ commitment to innovation is matched by their dedication to regional employment and community engagement. nbn connectivity has enabled Withcott Seedlings to implement precision agriculture and climate-smart practices at scale, supporting innovation and sustainability in regional horticulture.

Arts & Tourism – Australian Centre for Regional Events (Rangeville, QLD)

The Australian Centre for Regional Events (ACRE) celebrates the vibrancy of regional arts and tourism through immersive experiences and community-led programming. From festivals to exhibitions, the Centre showcases local talent and fosters cultural exchange. It’s a place where creativity meets connection, and where regional stories are told with pride.

By supporting artists, hosting events and promoting tourism, the Centre strengthens the social and economic fabric of regional Australia. nbn’s network empowers the Centre to host virtual events and promote regional arts and tourism to a wider audience.

ACRE aims to develop a custom AI-powered digital platform to streamline event planning, delegation and delivery for volunteer committees, reducing the administrative burden, improving communication and creating a scalable model of support for events across regional Australia.

Health – Well Balanced Care (Parramatta Park, QLD)

Well Balanced Care delivers allied health services across rural and remote Queensland through clinics, outreach and telehealth. They use a business model that ensures every client, regardless of postcode, has access to consistent, personalised care. Recognising the challenges faced by remote communities, they bridge service gaps with innovation, including therapy boxes and digital education, and work closely with families and local networks to build capacity and connection.

Their therapy boxes were born out of the dream to make therapy more accessible for people living in rural and remote areas. Each therapy box is custom designed to match each client’s therapy goals, containing hands on resources, visual guides and digital tools to use alongside telehealth sessions. The project leverages nbn connectivity to bridge the gap between distance and engagement; enabling families to continue therapy confidently at home with remote clinical guidance.

At their core is a belief that health should never be determined by geography and that everyone deserves consistent and personalised support. nbn connectivity enables Well Balanced Care to deliver telehealth and digital education, ensuring rural clients receive world-class allied health services.

Indigenous Business – First Nation Certified (Cairns North, QLD)

First Nation Certified is a First Nations-owned and run verification and capability organisation that makes authentic First Nations businesses visible, trusted and procurement-ready.

They close the gap between good intent and real contracts by combining culturally safe assessment with practical buyer tools. Their two-step process includes documentary checks and a respectful cultural yarn, with verified businesses receiving a badge, profile and evidence pack.

Beyond certification, they offer hands-on coaching, tender support, cultural-awareness training for buyers and buyer introductions. Everything is consent-based and governed by First Nations protocols, turning reconciliation commitments into verifiable, lasting economic opportunity for First Nations communities. Operating nationally, they prioritise regional and remote suppliers and track real outcomes – contracts won, jobs created.

nbn connectivity enables First Nation Certified to connect, verify and support Indigenous businesses nationwide, creating real economic opportunities and helping Australian businesses embed cultural integrity into procurement, operations and partnerships.  

Sports & Recreation – Alpha Learn to Swim (Alpha, QLD)

Alpha Learn to Swim (ALTS) is a family-led rural social enterprise transforming access to aquatic education, water safety and community wellbeing across some of Australia’s most remote regions.

Alpha Learn to Swim brings water safety education to remote communities with their mobile swim school, ensuring children learn life-saving skills, regardless of location.

With a focus on early childhood and family empowerment, they make swimming accessible and safe. Their flexible model adapts to community needs, offering high-quality instruction where traditional facilities don’t exist.

The business aims to build confidence, resilience and safety in the bush. nbn connectivity enables Alpha Learn to Swim to deliver water safety education and resources to remote communities.  

Women in Regional Business – iDecide (Kellys Plains, NSW)

iDecide helps Australians prepare for life’s toughest moments, from natural disasters to medical emergencies, they give individuals, families and businesses a secure digital vault for vital documents.

Born from personal loss, iDecide ensures regional families can access what matters most – anytime, anywhere. From wills to insurance, everything is organised and accessible so that critical documents and vital information can be found during times of crisis. iDecide empowers people to plan, respond and recover with confidence.

Powered by nbn connectivity, the secure, cloud-based digital vault enables users to store, access and share essential information safely, removing the distance disadvantage for regional and remote Australians.

iDecide connects communities, empowers families and builds resilience, ensuring that no matter where people live, they can plan with confidence, respond effectively and recover faster.  

Notes to Editors

For more information, visit Innovate with nbn Grants Program.

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