Media releases: 27 March 2023
Earlier this year, one of FRRR’s long-term supporters, the Pratt Foundation, made a generous $250,000 donation to FRRR’s Flood Recovery Appeal to support Victorian areas affected by the flood.
Over the last two months, FRRR has leveraged its networks to make ‘quick response’ grants to 23 community groups and not-for-profit (NFP) organisations in flood-affected areas of Victoria. The grants are helping to meet short-term recovery needs and help communities as they begin to get up and running again following the flooding events of this past summer.
Anthony Pratt, Chairman of the Pratt Foundation, said the work of the flood-affected not-for-profit groups is admirable and critical to recovery.
“The organisations that have benefitted from these grants are key to the recovery of these communities following the floods. We are very happy to be able to assist their efforts to provide support to the most vulnerable in the community, by providing the resources they need to start building back,” Mr Pratt said.
Sarah Matthee, FRRR’s Acting CEO, said the projects receiving funding will be crucial to the recovery process in the coming months.
“The Pratt Foundation’s generous support has enabled FRRR to work closely with communities across flood-impacted areas of Victoria to identify organisations who are playing key roles in recovery, by responding to local priorities.
“These grants are supporting a range of projects, including many neighbourhood and community houses, who are acting as key hubs to support community members, particularly vulnerable people. The funding will also help communities to build capacity, through activities such as mental health first aid training, so that they are better able to navigate disaster response and recovery challenges that they are likely to face in the coming months. Other grants focus on the repair of critical infrastructure, such as local community radio facilities, and providing immediate aid, such as distributing insect repellent to reduce the risks of mosquito borne diseases.
“This funding will not only help to address short-term challenges these flood-impacted communities are facing, but will also contribute to the long-term social and economic recovery of these areas,” Ms Matthee said.
Three of the 23 projects funded are listed below:
- Rochester Community House Inc – Rochester, VIC – Rochester Community Flood Recovery – Boost ability of a community house to provide emergency assistance through additional staffing hours. $10,000.
- International Association for Psychiatric Nurses – Shepparton, VIC – Mental Health First Aid Training – Support community recovery from flood events with mental health first aid training to build awareness, healing and recovery skills. $10,000.
- Gnarly Neighbours – Seymour, VIC – Supporting Youth Programs – Boost organisational capacity and support young people impacted by flood events to access youth programs. $10,000.
The full list of projects funded can be accessed on the FRRR website.
The Prepare & Recover stream of the SRC program is accepting applications to support disaster-impacted communities. More information is available at https://frrr.org.au/src-prepare-recover/.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VICTORIA | ||||||
| Bonnie Doon Football Club Inc | Drainage at the Reserve | Bonnie Doon | $8,072 | |||
| Bridgewater Recreation and Public Reserve Committee Incorporated | Cleaning after Blaze Aid Boost volunteer capacity and community recovery through purchasing new equipment and cleaning a BlazeAid staging ground. | Bridgewater | $2,157 | |||
| Cohuna Neighbourhood House Incorporated | Future Printing Project Enhance Cohuna Neighbourhood House’s provision of information and support to flood-impacted community members by purchasing a multi-functional printer / photocopier. | Cohuna | $10,000 | |||
| Echuca Historical Society Incorporated | Two Men in a Boat Exhibition and Riverlife & Romance: a Tribute to "All The Rivers Run" Film Foster social reconnection and recovery in a flood-impacted region through free community events at the Echuca Museum. | Echuca | $2,250 | |||
| Echuca Neighbourhood House Inc | ENH Flood Recovery Program Strengthen a Neighbourhood House's capacity to deliver emergency response and support community recovery from floods through the provision of material aid. | Echuca | $10,000 | |||
| Gnarly Neighbours | A Roof for Gnarly Neighbours Boost organisational capacity and support young people impacted by flood events to access youth programs by covering rental costs to temporarily house equipment and provide a space resume regular programs and workshops. | Seymour | $10,000 | |||
| Greater Shepparton Foundation Limited | Mosquito Borne Disease Education and Intervention Project Supporting flood recovery and health promotion in multicultural communities through developing educational material and distributing insect repellent to reduce the risks of mosquito borne diseases. | Shepparton | $10,000 | |||
| Heathcote Community House Incorporated | Heathcote Community Flood Recovery & Support Boost Heathcote Community House’s capacity to deliver targeted support and programs for flood-impacted community members by funding community mental health programs (particularly for vulnerable and elderly residents) and extended hours to meet community need. | Heathcote | $10,000 | |||
| Indigo Shire Council | FLOOD RECOVERY EXPO "Are You Bogged Mate!" Strengthen recovery and wellbeing by holding an information and mental health expo for the agricultural sector in the Indigo Shire. | Rutherglen | $7,560 | |||
| International Association for Psychiatric Nurses | Mental Health First Aid Training Support community recovery from flood events with mental health first aid training to build awareness, healing and recovery skills. | Shepparton | $10,000 | |||
| Lockington Recreation Reserve Incorporated | Lockington and Surrounding Districts: Flood Recovery Assistance Sustain volunteer capacity and support community recovery through cleaning and covering utility costs at a BlazeAid staging ground. | Rochester | $3,000 | |||
| Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre Inc | Strengthening Mooroopna Education and Activity (MEAC) Strengthen community resilience and recovery by extending the delivery of community hub activities and programs for flood-impacted community members. | Mooroopna | $10,000 | |||
| Nathalia & District Community Assoc Inc | Safe Streetscape Strengthen Nathalia Community House’s support for flood-impacted community members through upgrades to food relief storage, paths and seating areas. | Nathalia | $7,377 | |||
| Neighbourhood House Murchison (VIC) Inc | Murchison Flood Recovery Programs and Activities Foster community connectedness and recovery in flood-impacted Murchison through supporting Murchison Neighbourhood House activities and programs. | Murchison | $10,000 | |||
| Nexus Primary Health | Seymour Food Relief Collaborative Improve health and wellbeing outcomes for flood-impacted community members by supporting local food relief. | Seymour | $10,000 | |||
| Raywood Recreation Reserve Committee of Management | Replacement Mower for our Six Acre Recreation Reserve Increase the capacity and capability of volunteers to support preparedness and recovery from natural disasters through replacing a flood damaged mower. | Raywood | $10,000 | |||
| RDA Seymour Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria Inc | Feed the RDA Horses Boost the capacity of a disability organisation impacted by severe flooding by subsidising operational costs for the upkeep of horses for a riding for the disabled program. | Seymour | $10,000 | |||
| Rochester Agricultural and Pastoral Association Inc | 2023 Rochester Show Enhance regional recovery and promote community resilience by providing entertainment at the annual agricultural show to bring people together post-disaster. | Rochester | $10,000 | |||
| Rochester Community House Inc | Rochester Community Flood Recovery Boost ability of a community house to provide emergency assistance through additional staffing hours to support flood recovery. | Rochester | $10,000 | |||
| Rochester Secondary College | Anglesea or Bust! Foster social connection and enhance young people's recovery from flooding events by subsidising a school camp. | Rochester | $10,000 | |||
| Seymour Agricultural and Pastoral Society Incorporated | Flood Recovery Strengthen volunteer capacity to run upcoming annual events and support community recovery from a natural disaster by purchasing furniture and equipment. | Seymour | $9,584 | |||
| Seymour Performers' Workshop Inc | Seymour Performers Workshop Flood Recovery Supporting local arts events and community recovery through repairing and replacing flood-damaged sets and equipment at a local performance group. | Seymour | $10,000 | |||
| Seymour Puckapunyal Community Radio Incorporated | Flood Rebuild Strengthening volunteer capacity and community connection and information sharing through replacing flood-damaged community radio broadcasting equipment. | Seymour | $10,000 | |||
