Grant Impact Stories
Real change for animals — empowered by the Voiceless Grants Program
At Voiceless, every dollar you give supports evidence-based advocacy, compassionate education, and systems-focused solutions. Because 100% of donations go directly to grants, your support has an immediate and transparent impact.
Here are just some of the powerful outcomes your generosity has made possible.
End Greyhound Racing Win for Kangaroos Mentoring Photojournalists Plant-Based Culinary Training Change in Meat Production Schooling in Compassion Climate Impact of Animal Agriculture Veganising Everyday Products Ending Greyhound Racing Challenging Cruel Shark Nets Ending Live Sheep Exports
Tasmania to End Greyhound Racing | Landmark Decision
The Tasmanian Government has committed to ending all state funding of greyhound racing by 2029, effectively phasing out the industry.
In 2023, Voiceless supported a coalition of Tasmanian greyhound protection groups to commission polling research that revealed overwhelming public opposition to continued industry funding. This evidence-based strategy helped fuel the campaign that led to this historic decision.
“Obtaining a grant from Voiceless was such an important turning point in our decade long campaign to end dog racing in Tasmania. It provided such an important benchmark and powerfully persuasive tool in convincing politicians to summon the courage to tackle the greyhound racing scourge. Tasmania is a small state, seen by many as insignificant, but Kate and Ondine immediately recognised that achieving a ban on the Apple Isle would add tremendous momentum to the bigger battle which is of course to see it driven out of Australia altogether. Australia remains the global epicentre of greyhound racing with by far the majority of the world’s remaining tracks. We are so heartened to see the encouragement this has provided to greyhound advocates in other states.” — Deborah Fleming OAM, greyhound advocate.
This win honours the tireless efforts of Tasmanian advocates and, most importantly, spares countless greyhounds from suffering.
Back to Country – A Win for Kangaroos
Our Back to Country grant amplified Indigenous leadership on the global stage. As part of the EU Kangaroo Task Force, Indigenous Australian advocates travelled to Europe to share their cultural knowledge and highlight the disrespect shown to kangaroos through the commercial killing industry.
Their advocacy achieved tangible progress:
Italy
A press conference in the Italian Parliament sparked a new bill to ban kangaroo imports, now under parliamentary consideration.
Belgium
Presentations in Brussels and Flanders led to commitments by the Greens to introduce kangaroo import bans.
The Netherlands
Within a day of meetings, a majority of MPs called for restrictions on kangaroo products.
European Union
Delegates addressed the Intergroup for Animals in Strasbourg, securing strong support from multiple countries.
This Indigenous-led advocacy not only advanced legislative reform but also revealed Europeans’ deep respect for kangaroos — and their shock at Australia’s treatment of one of our most iconic animals.
We Animals – Mentoring Photojournalists in India
With Voiceless’ support, We Animals ran workshops in Delhi, Mumbai, and Eluru, mentoring India’s animal advocates in ethical photography, visual storytelling, and campaign communication.
“Watching these students gain confidence and vision – that was incredibly moving. I left with a deep sense of hope for the future of animal advocacy in India.”
— Jo-Anne McArthur, Founder, We Animals
One participant, Shriram Saini, reflected:
“This is not just our story—it is theirs too. We do not exist alone in this world; our journey is intertwined with the creatures who walk, fly, and swim beside us… when we choose compassion, we choose a world where every life is valued, every connection is cherished, and every story—human or animal—is one worth telling.”
Modern Agriculture Foundation – Plant-Based Culinary Training
Voiceless supported a pioneering initiative equipping chefs and culinary professionals with plant-based cooking skills. Through hands-on workshops, participants learned to create sustainable, animal-free dishes using cutting-edge food technologies.
Impact:
- 15 chefs trained, with another 15 expected in the next year.
- 10% rise in menu inclusion of alternative proteins.
- 100% of participants would recommend the workshop.
Magic Valley – Cultivating Change in Meat Production
In our first investment grant, Voiceless supported Magic Valley, an Australian cultivated-meat start-up working to launch the world’s first cultivated lamb mince by 2026.
This ethical, non-GMO, serum-free process has the potential to save nearly half a million lambs annually by 2029. Our funding is helping Magic Valley progress its regulatory submission — with any profits reinvested back into Voiceless’ mission.
Freedom Farm – Schooling in Compassion
With Voiceless’ support, Freedom Farm is expanding its School of Compassion program, engaging 2,000 students in 2025. By meeting rescued farmed animals and hearing their stories, children are encouraged to develop empathy, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.
Impact:
- Over 60% of students are expected to show greater compassion.
- Around 10% are likely to reduce animal-product consumption.
Food Frontier – Putting Animal Agriculture on the Climate Agenda
Voiceless funded the 2024 Food Frontier Consumer Survey, shaping national conversations about the climate impact of animal agriculture.
Findings:
- 44% of Australians recognise animal agriculture as a contributor to climate change.
- 22% are reducing or eliminating animal meat; 16% are cutting back on dairy.
- 483 media items reached 12.7 million Australians — with coverage in The Age, Forbes Australia, ABC, and more.
For the first time, alternative proteins were acknowledged in the Australian Government’s Climate Change Authority’s 2024 report.
Vegan Friendly – Veganising Everyday Products
Voiceless continued support for Vegan Friendly’s Food Engineering Project, reformulating popular products into plant-based alternatives.
Impact:
- 55 products reformulated by major food companies.
- 3.6+ million eggs spared annually.
- Savings equivalent to 12,200 hens, 3 dairy cows, 1 bee colony, and 10 cattle or pigs each year.
- Total annual reduction of over 531 million litres of animal-based ingredients.
Blue the Grey – Ending Greyhound Racing Cruelty
Voiceless supported Blue the Grey in a groundbreaking social research project that revealed how best to mobilise public support against greyhound racing.
Key findings:
- Major gaps in public awareness, especially in rural communities.
- Empathy and pet relatability are the strongest emotional drivers.
- A hybrid model — heartfelt storytelling + hard-hitting facts — is most effective.
- Exposing industry secrecy and self-regulation failures reduces trust.
- “Pre-bunking” industry propaganda can shift public perception before misinformation takes hold.
Envoy Foundation – Challenging Cruel Shark Nets
In partnership with Envoy Foundation and the Nets Out Now coalition, Voiceless is helping push for non-lethal, science-backed alternatives to shark control in NSW and QLD.
Wins so far:
- Exposed NSW’s failure to comply with shark-net reporting obligations since 2016.
- Helped shorten the NSW shark-net season for 2024–25 — the most significant reform in 40 years.
- Supported Randwick Council’s successful motion to remove shark nets and adopt humane beach-safety measures.
Australian Alliance for Animals – Ending Live Sheep Exports
Voiceless joined and supported the Australian Alliance for Animals (and the broader End Live Sheep Exports working group) to continue lobbying for a national phase-out of the live sheep export industry and the creation of an Independent National Animal Welfare Commission.
This united effort achieved a historic breakthrough:
- In May 2024, the Australian Government announced that it will end the live sheep export trade by 1 May 2028.
- The decision followed years of advocacy, public pressure, and mounting evidence of systemic cruelty within the trade.
- This marks one of the most significant animal protection policy wins in recent Australian history — sparing millions of sheep from suffering and reinforcing that change is possible when strong coalitions unite.
