Our Strategy

FRRR is the only the only national foundation specifically focused on ensuring the social and economic strength of remote, rural and regional communities. We connect common purposes and investment with locally prioritised needs, to ensure a vibrant, resilient and revitalised remote, rural and regional Australia.

We aim to support holistic and systemic change. This means that communities will have more say and a greater influence over the decisions that affect them. Not only this, but they’ll have the capacity and capability to take advantage of opportunities that arise and will be able to access the resources they need for long-term sustainability.

In turn, they’ll develop diverse economies that harness their unique strengths and make the community more vibrant and connected. By investing in this way, and supporting systems and services that are relevant and accessible, we can help address inequity and improve quality of life through amenities like transport, health and wellbeing, community infrastructure and business services, ageing, education, and energy security. With the proper resources and support, communities can be on the frontline of solutions to issues like climate change and other challenges that arise, now and in the future.

To make our vision a reality, FRRR works in three ways:

Grant and Develop

It’s far more than money. We also provide coaching and capacity building support. FRRR walks with and beside communities to listen, understand, amplify and support not-for-profit organisations to implement local solutions to local problems.

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Leverage and Broker

Harnessing our tax status, knowledge and networks to support innovation, self-generation and unlock more giving to address remote, rural and regional needs. We connect funds from philanthropy, government, business and individuals to genuine community need. We help funders target their giving, and enhance their reach and impact, as well as build collective funding mechanisms to scale efficient access to funding.

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Insights and Learning

Connecting policymakers, communities and funders with ideas, knowledge and lived experiences that inspire and encourage new or better approaches. We also have a culture of continuous improvement, always seeking to learn and share feedback.

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Our approach is to:

Seed and strengthen – supporting and resourcing social, cultural, economic, environmental and physical infrastructure, services and support

Adapt and evolve – investing in adaptive capacity and ability to cope and grow through disruption

Innovate and renew – supporting communities to test, scale and embed game-changing initiatives.

We focus our efforts in three intersecting areas:

People – investing in the power of people to drive prosperity, by strengthening local not-for-profits, community groups and volunteer-led efforts, through leadership, networks and skill development

Place – investing in access to sustainable social and physical infrastructure and service systems to enable vibrant cultures and encourage self-determination.

Disaster Resilience and Climate Solutions – partnering with communities before, during and after natural disasters, and backing locally-led climate solutions that are held in local knowledge of people and place.

The following examples highlight our strategy in action and showcase some of the game-changing work being led by remote, rural and regional communities. Explore others in our Impact section.

People: Building capacity to benefit community

Mujaay Ganma Foundation is an Indigenous-led NFP based in Bowraville, NSW on Gumbaynggirr Country. As a young yet already trusted and effective organisation, they recognised a need to build their own capacity before embarking on an ambitious project that would benefit the whole Valley community.

With a $38,443 FRRR Investing in Rural Community Futures grant, funded by VFFF, plus support from local Facilitators and access to a local not-for-profit network, they hired and trained two Gumbaynggirr people as trainees. On-the-job learning, coupled with mentoring from experienced project managers and support in their culture from the custodial Elders, meant they developed skills needed to take on overseeing development of a complex community garden project.

This initiative is helping to connect young Gumbaynggirr people to Country, strengthen a sense of community and build the skills of local community members, leading to meaningful employment and freedom from welfare dependence, which contributes to community wellbeing. Importantly, it will contribute to a healthy lifestyle – culturally, physically and collectively – and a stronger community.

Place: Social enterprise creates jobs, addresses inequity

In remote communities, lack of access to washing machines and detergent can affect the health and wellbeing of local people, as well as create barriers to education and employment opportunities.

To address this issue, The North Australian Aboriginal Charitable Trust, Aboriginal Investment Group’s charitable arm, developed the Remote Laundries Project, a social enterprise directed by local Aboriginal people.

A $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities grant, funded by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, allowed them to put down the deposit on a washing machine for the Remote Laundry in Yarralin, an NT community of 380 people.

This facility will do much more than simply clean clothes. Each site generates five jobs, is 100% locally staffed and operates 38 hours per week across six days. The many benefits of a simple idea led by community will continue to be realised as this project becomes established.

Disaster Resilience & Climate Solutions: Vocal Locals speak up on mental health

An insight that rural people are willing to talk about mental health issues, if given the chance, coupled with research indicating social networks can drive behaviour change, prompted the University of South Australia to work with locals to initiate the Vocal Locals campaign in Loxton, SA.

With a $148,250 grant via the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program, they set out to empower community members to talk about mental health and support each other through their social networks.

“Vocal Locals” were trained in person and using ifarmwell modules, and supported by a wellbeing coach, to build their awareness of mental health and free support tools. They then shared their experiences via social media and a multi-faceted communications campaign.

The outcome was more conversations and direct engagement in mental health and wellbeing activities.

Our Strategy

To make our vision a reality, FRRR works in three ways:

Grant and Develop

Leverage and Broker

Insights and Learning

Our approach is to:

We focus our efforts in three intersecting areas:

The following examples highlight our strategy in action and showcase some of the game-changing work being led by remote, rural and regional communities. Explore others in our Impact section.

People: Building capacity to benefit community

Place: Social enterprise creates jobs, addresses inequity

Disaster Resilience & Climate Solutions: Vocal Locals speak up on mental health

NEXT: THE NUMBERS

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