More than $1M in grants set to strengthen rural Australia

Media releases: 7 November 2024

Funding awarded to more than 100 community groups and NFPs

FRRR has awarded $1,051,688 to 103 community groups to enhance the vitality and liveability of remote, rural and regional places across Australia, through the Foundation’s flagship grants program, Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC).

Thanks to the SRC program’s two streams of funding, these grants will empower local organisations to take the lead on ‘small and vital’ projects, like community hall maintenance or mental health first aid training, as well as support regions recovering from, or preparing for, disaster events such as bushfires or floods.

FRRR Place Portfolio Lead, Jill Karena, said the Foundation is committed to empowering local groups and organisations to develop and lead projects that will best meet the needs of their community.

“We know that for every state, region and town, priorities will be different, and we are here to work with local groups to help them address their needs and strive to celebrate their vibrancy and acknowledge their tenacity.

“The projects we fund truly matter and have a meaningful impact. Our Strengthening Rural Communities program proves that a grant, no matter how small, can make a big impact in a regional place.

“Although innovative and resilient, local not-for-profit organisations just don’t have the resources to withstand the acute impacts that wide-sweeping policy changes can have on remote, rural and regional Australia.

“For example, in South Australia, we have seen an increase in requests for kitchen and bathroom upgrades in community halls and buildings to meet increased hygiene standards required by the state’s revised Health Act. These community spaces are gathering places for the community, in times of celebration and when disasters strike, so it’s critical that we support local groups, like the Riverton Bowling Club, to make these upgrades to community spaces.

“In New South Wales, a directive for public sector employees to return to working in offices has meant an increase in supply of housing and a drop in house prices in some parts of regional NSW. This migration back to metro areas has a knock-on effect, impacting the economic and social wellbeing of these regional NSW communities with fewer people and less money to buoy the regions.

“Creating activities that bring people, and money, back into these towns, is one way that communities are working to remain sustainable in the face of this changing social and economic landscape. Warren’s ‘Turn Right for a Night’ Tourism Sign Project is a great example of this. The local Rotary Club will use a $10,000 grant to promote tourism and boost the local economy by installing signage at key locations to encourage drivers to visit the region.

“The upcoming 2025 Western Australia election build-up has seen some disaster-affected communities suddenly getting cash injections from the state for rebuilding projects. But we know that disasters affect more than just infrastructure, so we will continue to be here to support projects that strengthen the social fabric of these communities by funding preparedness, capacity and resilience-building activities.

“For example, the Warmun Art Aboriginal Corporation will use an SRC grant, funded through the Prepare & Recover stream, to prepare for future flooding events by developing flood-proof infrastructure to protect a nationally significant Aboriginal art collection.

“In both Queensland and the Northern Territory, we are hearing that Government promises of crackdowns on youth crime are causing anxiety in some regional communities. Projects that foster and encourage community members to connect, like the Kilkivan Great Horse Ride Street Market and Family Fun Day in Queensland or the Northern Territory Writers Festival, are vital for communities, and we are funding these kinds of activities as much as possible.

“In Tasmania, groups are acknowledging the strain that their volunteers are under and are seeking ways to support those people who are helping to keep their doors open. In Chudleigh, the Agricultural & Horticultural Society is increasing volunteer safety and satisfaction by using an SRC grant to upgrade the kiosk kitchen.

“More generally, we are seeing an increased numbers of applications from more rural and remote communities across the country looking to improve online access and reliability through Starlink connectivity. Like in Burren Junction, New South Wales, where the Burren Progress group will use a $10,000 grant to install a Starlink internet service and new digital equipment at the School of Arts Hall to improve the community’s internet connectivity.

“We are also supporting an increasing number of projects to ensure established local newspapers, newsletters and community radio continue, with locals concerned about the loss of community connection and identity and increased social isolation if these local institutions, like the Prom Coast News in Foster, Victoria, and the Midwest Aboriginal Media Association in Carnarvon, Western Australia, are lost,” Ms Karena explained.

Small grants are catalytic

Since its inception in 2019, FRRR’s SRC program has been a vital source of funding for more than 2,360 remote, rural and regional communities, distributing more than $27.4 million to NFPs across every state and territory in Australia.

“Our funding is often the critical catalyst that community groups need to get their projects off the ground. A grant from FRRR can encourage other organisations to invest in local solutions or can be used to leverage the additional funding their project needs,” Ms Karena explained.

In just this round, FRRR was able to contribute more than $1 million in grants for 103 projects that are worth over $2.3 million.

However, demand for funding continues to outstrip what FRRR has available, with this round seeing more than 32 ‘funding-ready’ and worthy small and vital projects seeking $362,000 in support missing out.

“To meet the continued demand for funding, FRRR needs the support of the philanthropic and corporate sectors to empower rural communities to lead projects and local solutions that will ensure their future is vibrant and sustainable,” Ms Karena said.

The SRC program is collaboratively supported by donors, ranging from private individuals to larger foundations, who are acknowledged on the FRRR website.

If you would like to help, you can donate at www.frrr.org.au/donate.

FRRR always accepts applications to this program, which awards funds around four times a year. Local not-for-profit organisations and community groups are encouraged to review the program guidelines and apply. More information about the SRC program is available at www.frrr.org.au/src.

The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.