Media releases: 12 August 2024
Grants awarded to 18 communities, including funding for farmers
FRRR’s In a Good Place (IAGP) program has awarded $286,992 to 18 not-for-profit organisations in remote, rural and regional communities for community-driven projects, services, activities or initiatives that help people at risk of, or currently experiencing, mental health challenges.
The grants, of up to $20,000, have been awarded by FRRR thanks to support from long-term partner CCI Giving, as well as Macdoch Foundation, Jibb Foundation, Morris Family Foundation, Norman Family Foundation and Rebecca Gorman & John Sevior, all of whom have come on board this year to support an expanded program.
For the last seven years, the focus has been on supporting mental wellbeing in rural communities. However, following the release of the NFF’s National Farmer Wellbeing Report, the six new partners have joined with FRRR to support a second stream of funding focusing specifically on mental health of farmers and farming communities.
Jeremy Yipp, Chair of CCI Giving, said social isolation is a big challenge in remote, rural and regional communities.
“Most applications this round focused on addressing current and emerging mental health issues that are a result of social isolation – an impact of the pandemic that’s still being felt in rural communities. Programs like IAGP mean that small grassroots organisations, community health providers and even local councils can access funding to create opportunities for social connection to support both personal and community resilience,” Mr Yipp said.
Michelle Gortan, CEO of Macdoch Foundation, one of the new IAGP partners, said that applications for the new stream of funding confirmed the importance of community-led initiatives to support mental health.
“The applications for the farmers and farming communities stream confirm that grassroots, non-clinical initiatives play an essential role in filling growing gaps in the system. We’ve been impressed by FRRR’s wide and deep reach into rural and regional communities, which has highlighted the need for investment in projects that promote preventative and responsive mental health approaches in farming and agriculture-dependent communities, all over Australia.”
Jill Karena, FRRR’s People Programs Portfolio Lead, said there are a range of factors in agriculture-dependent communities that affect wellbeing.
“The new farmers and farming communities stream of the IAGP program has given us the chance to offer more funding and support to projects that are filling the gaps in mental health services in farming communities. These places are often under a lot of pressure due to natural disasters, inflation and financial stress – all of which can lead to high levels of mental health struggles. We’re thrilled to have our new partners on board the IAGP program to help promote positive mental health outcomes in these communities,” Ms Karena said.
Ms Karena went on to highlight the importance of supporting initiatives in First Nations communities where mental health projects go hand in hand with culture.
“During this round, we also saw an increase in applications from First Nations organisations, many of which highlighted the vital nature of connection to culture and Country for social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations peoples. It means a lot for us be able to support these initiatives, as we strive to play our part to help close the gap in access for these communities,” Ms Karena said.
A list of the grant recipients and their projects, which include some innovative ways to promote current mental health services to vulnerable cohorts that wouldn’t normally seek assistance – such as working dog training, art, or environmental projects – is available below.
To support more projects like this through FRRR, make a tax-deductible donation at https://frrr.org.au/giving/.
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In a Good Place - Round 8 - 2024 | ||||||
| NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
| Baaka Cultural Centre Wilcannia Aboriginal Corporation | Baaka Cultural Centre Yarning Circle Project Provide a co-designed culturally appropriate outdoor space for yarning circles and discussions to facilitate cultural knowledge exchange, enhance a sense of belonging and identity and support social and emotional wellbeing for local Aboriginal people. | Wilcannia | $16,500 | |||
| Murrumbidgee Landcare Incorporated | Connecting Young People With Nature Help cultivate a deep sense of social and emotional wellbeing and connection to Country through a series of outdoor learning opportunities for students in need of additional support. | Wagga Wagga | $20,000 | |||
| One Vision Productions Limited | MPOWER PRO - Empowering Our Youth Expand an existing online Mental Health Tool Kit for youth through the rollout of the MPOWER App, and offer access to extended resource content to at-risk young people to help develop awareness skills, mental health knowledge, self-care, emotional regulation, resilience, and healthy relationships. | Byron Bay | $8,700 | |||
| The Returning Indigenous Corporation | Indigenous Health & Wellbeing Community Days Provide care and cultural connection for flood-impacted Indigenous women through regular, trauma informed shared activities, yarning circles and meals to support social and emotional health and wellbeing. | Lismore | $20,000 | |||
| QUEENSLAND | ||||||
| Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation Inc | The Saleyard and Beyond: Fostering Wellbeing in Rural Farming Communities Leverage the social value of saleyards to promote mental health and wellbeing and local services through direct engagement with farmers at cattle sales. | Murgon | $18,500 | |||
| Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (Queensland Section) Limited | Building Mental Health and Wellbeing in Communities Reduce social isolation, develop farmer support networks and increase awareness and access to mental health services using working dog training sessions to demonstrate the practical application of mental and emotional regulation skills. | Winton | $15,042 | |||
| Texas and District Drought Support (TADDS) | Be the Ripple in the Wave Improve resilience, social connection and information sharing by providing community sessions with positive mental health speakers, combined with a shared community meal, across 10 different locations. | Texas | $20,000 | |||
| Toowoomba Hospital Foundation | Calm the Farm Increase resilience and develop supportive networks through targeted workshops that improve the mental health and wellbeing of farmers. | Millmerran | $17,369 | |||
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| The Food Embassy Incorporated | Healthy Minds, Healthy Farmers, Healthy Landscapes Enhance mental health literacy among farmers in the Southern Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu region of South Australia through a series of free events, codesigned workshops and mental health first aid training. | Mount Compass | $19,980 | |||
| The Pinnaroo Project Association Incorporated | Pinnaroo Connections Cultivate meaningful social connections to reduce social isolation by providing targeted activities featuring guest speakers to deliver positive mental health messages. | Pinnaroo | $20,000 | |||
| TASMANIA | ||||||
| Big Hart Inc | Watershed Half Pipe: Community Activations Harness an activity that requires resilience and is culturally appealing to young people to help reduce stigma, promote help-seeking behaviours, increase sense of belonging, and improve community capacity in mental health crisis response. | Wynyard | $19,835 | |||
| VICTORIA | ||||||
| Corangamite Shire Council | Illuminate U: Youth Creative Arts Program Harness the mental health benefits of creativity and self-reflective activities by using art therapy to support young people showing early signs of mental health issues and help them to develop skills in resilience and emotional flexibility. | Camperdown | $12,697 | |||
| East Wimmera Health Service | Supporting Farmer Mental Wellbeing in St Arnaud Raise awareness, encourage open discussion and promote help seeking in farming communities via a public screening of Just A Farmer, with post-screening community discussion, and providing Mental Health First Aid training. | St Arnaud | $10,250 | |||
| Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-Operative Limited | Wata Takoort Cultural Camp 2024 Create a culturally enriched and safe environment for Elders, Indigenous community members with disabilities, and their carers to experience greater social and emotional connection to Country and with each other through travel and cultural visitation. | Warrnambool | $10,000 | |||
| Mallee Landcare Group | Mallee Mates Working Dog School Foster support networks and social connection for farmers through working dog training that teach practical mental and emotional regulation and wellbeing skills. | Ouyen | $15,922 | |||
| Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc | Amplifying Mental Health Voices: Empowering Community Through Podcasting Raise awareness and normalise mental health discussion and help-seeking in a flood-affected community by providing equipment to create a series of podcasts that showcase resilience and promote local resources, services and community activities. | Rochester | $4,500 | |||
| Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre Inc | Back On Track Support farmer wellbeing, reduce social isolation and improve access to local health services by enabling community health outreach to visit isolated properties and small towns to provide health and welfare checks and referrals. | Swifts Creek | $20,000 | |||
| WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| 1922 & You Inc | A Centenary Stronger: Nuturing a Mentally Healthy Community Increase the capacity and skill of local leaders to provide a variety of activities that promote social connections and enhance personal and community resilience through the provision of equipment, materials and training. | Corrigin | $17,697 | |||
