Media releases: 22 March 2024
First round of Small Network Grants benefit 29 NFPs
FRRR has awarded $737,774 in Small Network Grants to 29 not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) working in remote, rural and regional Australia for projects that will strengthen the capacity and capability of their communities to prepare for, and be resilient to, the impacts of future droughts.
The Small Network Grants program is supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund through the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.
Funded projects are diverse, including a Mental Health forum in Junee, NSW; a series of community connection and education events in Alice Springs, NT; a portable toilet to support small-scale community infrastructure projects in Boonah, QLD; a demonstration day for the new digital weather station and soil probe network in Kingscote, SA; Accidental Counsellor training for the Tasmanian community of Triabunna; a Field Day for local secondary students in Birchip, VIC; and a series of natural resources management and drought education sessions in the Great Southern WA region of Kendenup.
Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead, said strong interest in the program indicates that organisations and local leaders are actively seeking ways to inspire their communities to connect, communicate and strengthen social capital, so they can better withstand the impacts of future drought.
“Most of the applications we saw in this round of the Small Network Grants program were for projects designed to improve communication, social connection and collaboration within and between communities, as a way of strengthening and preparing for drought.
“Far North West Joint Organisation’s Drought Resilience Community Action Group is a great example of this type of initiative. With a $50,000 grant, the Action Group will help the communities of Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Cobar to increase knowledge and resource sharing and promote collaboration, so that the NSW Far West region can be better prepared.
“More than half of the applications we received have never been funded by FRRR. This means we are reaching grassroots organisations and responding to the increased priority around drought preparedness in many remote, rural and regional communities, many of which are still recovering from other climate-related disasters like cyclone and flooding.
“We look forward to seeing how these projects help community groups be better connected, informed and resourced in the next drought,” Ms O’Brien said.
Applications for Round 2 of Small Network Grants are open now and close 26 March 2024, with recipients announced in June 2024.
Potential applicants are encouraged to watch this recorded webinar to learn more about the program and the eligibility requirements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DHpeNQqPeI.
For more information, including the list of eligible LGAs, and to apply, visit: https://frrr.org.au/small-networks-grants.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Networks Grants Round 1 - March 2024 | ||||||
| Stream 1 | ||||||
| NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
| Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Fund Ltd | Community Capacity Building Drought-Ready Workshop Support the Batlow community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of a two-day workshop focused on skills development and increasing awareness of drought and drought preparedness activities for up to 20 emerging leaders across the community. This will enable the development and learning initiatives to facilitate professional, personal and leadership-related development and learning to support drought preparation. | Batlow | $16,169 | |||
| Far South Coast Dairy Development Group Inc | Autumn Break: Supporting Community in Tough Times Improved communication, social connection, and collaboration within and between communities to support drought preparedness and improved implementation of place-based practices by communities to build and enhance resilience to drought. | Bega | $20,000 | |||
| Junee Community Centre Inc | Drought Resilience - Junee Mental Health Forum Support the Junee community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of a Mental Health forum, that will facilitate professional, social and community connection to build an understanding of drought and climate change associated risks. | Junee | $15,600 | |||
| Karuah & Great Lakes Landcare Inc | Preparing for Drought Support the Stroud community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of two one-day workshops providing education and demonstration in drought preparation for mitigating the impacts of dry spells, facilitating professional, social and community connection to build an understanding of drought and climate change associated risks. | Stoud | $20,000 | |||
| Murdi Paaki Regional Rugby League Council Inc | CCC Community Wellbeing Project Condobolin Support the Condobolin community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of a Mentally Fit Classroom Initiative and community engagement dinner, enabling the facilitation of professional, social and community connection to build understanding of drought and climate change associated risks. | Condobolin | $15,695 | |||
| Southern New England Landcare Ltd | Community Connection for Outlying Areas Support the Walcha and Billy Creek / Hernani communities to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of six community events to bring people together, meet neighbours, strengthen networks and increase knowledge and capacity around drought preparedness. | Walcha and Billy Creek | $19,984 | |||
| Western Rural Connect Inc on behalf of Narromine Small Business Network | Rural Women in Business Luncheon Support the Narromine community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of a luncheon for local women with an interest in business that will facilitate professional, social and community connection to build understanding of drought and climate change associated risks. | Narromine | $20,000 | |||
| QUEENSLAND | ||||||
| Boonah & District Landcare Association Inc | Portable Toilet Project Support the Boonah community to be more prepared for and resilient to the impacts of drought through the purchase of a portable toilet to use at events enabling small-scale community infrastructure projects to improve connectedness, wellbeing and facilities. | Boonah | $6,008 | |||
| Mitchell & District Landcare Assoc Inc | An Honest Look at Drought - A Hard Day's Work Support the Tooloombilla, Mitchell and Dunkeld communities to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of three, guided workshops in three communities which will include wellbeing and support professionals and government agencies to strengthen the capacity, capability and coordination of professional, social, or community networks. | Tooloombilla, Mitchell and Dunkeld | $6,285 | |||
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| 54 31 Collective Inc | The 5431 Connect, Create, Celebrate Project Support the Orroroo community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of a series of resilience-building workshops and a Rural Women’s celebration event to strengthen the capacity, capability and coordination of professional, social or community networks. | Orroroo | $17,630 | |||
| Agriculture Kangaroo Island Inc | On Farm Decision Making Resources & Demonstration Day Support the Kangaroo Island community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the development of training resources and the delivery of a demonstration day for a new digital weather station and soil probe network, to improve skills and capacity in community risk management, planning and project delivery. | Kingscote | $13,830 | |||
| Coonalpyn Golf Club Inc | The Club in the Scrub Support the Coorong community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the installation of a new roof on the Coonalpyn Golf Clubhouse, a small-scale community infrastructure project to improve connectedness and wellbeing. | Coonalpyn | $9,800 | |||
| District Council of Orroroo Carrieton | Orroroo Community Church Hall Upgrades for Family Day Care Support the Orroroo community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through minor infrastructure works to the Community Church Hall so that it can be used as a family daycare and family-friendly community venue enabling small-scale community infrastructure projects to improve connectedness, wellbeing and facilities. | Orroroo | $20,000 | |||
| TASMANIA | ||||||
| Rural Alive & Well Inc | Drought Resilience and Suicide Prevention for Rural Communities Support the communities of Smithton and Wynyard in the North / Northwest Tasmania region to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of early intervention mental health training enabling initiatives to strengthen the capacity, capability and coordination of professional, social or community networks. | Smithton and Wynyard | $18,000 | |||
| Spring Bay Suicide Prevention Network | ACT - Accidental Counsellors Together Support the Triabunna community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through Accidental Counsellor training and other activities that improve skills and capacity in risk management and overall community wellbeing. | Triabunna | $7,425 | |||
| VICTORIA | ||||||
| Birchip Cropping Group Inc | BCG Main Field Day Secondary Student Stream Support the Birchip community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the participation of secondary students from the North Central Local Learning and Employment Network (NCLLEN) cluster along with farmers, agronomists, and industry representatives at the Main Field Day in Birchip to help strengthen the capacity, capability and coordination of professional, social or community networks. | Birchip | $19,130 | |||
| Common Ground Project | Community Drought Preparedness Network Support the Freshwater Creek community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the development of a local Community Drought Preparedness Network, expanding into outer regional communities across the farming district to strengthen the capacity, capability and coordination of professional, social or community networks. | Freshwater Creek | $20,000 | |||
| Rural Business and Community Ltd | Shared Shops Trail Support the Donald, Hopetoun, Boort and Quambatook communities to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the establishment of a Shared Shops Trail for up to six Shared Shops to strengthen the coordination of professional, social or community networks. | Donald, Hopetoun, Boort and Quambatook | $20,000 | |||
| WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Facey Group | Regional Resilience Support communities of the Wheatbelt South region to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of a community event that facilitates professional, social and community connection to build an understanding of drought and climate change-associated risks. | Wickepin | $20,000 | |||
| Stream 2 | ||||||
| NSW Far West | ||||||
| Far North West Joint Organisation | Drought Resilience Community Action Group Support the Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Cobar communities to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the creation of a Drought Resilience Community Action Group subcommittee that aims to strengthen coordination of local organisations and services, increase knowledge and resource sharing and promote collaboration to be better prepared for future drought in Far West NSW. | Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Cobar | $50,000 | |||
| Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc | Crossroads: Developing Leadership Skills for Rural Women in Isolated Areas of Far-Western NSW Support the Wentworth and Pooncarie communities to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of a tailored leadership initiative for women strengthening the capacity, capability and coordination of community networks. | Wentworth and Pooncarie | $50,000 | |||
| NT Arid Lands | ||||||
| Kulgera Gymkhana Club Inc | Custom Made Cool Room Support the Kulgera community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the purchase of a portable cool room with trailer to improve connectedness, wellbeing and usage of local facilities. | Kulgera | $27,159 | |||
| Landcare NT Inc | The Arid Lands Agricultural Community Connections Project Support the community of the Arid Lands region to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of a series of four, day-long community events that facilitate professional, social and community connection to build understanding of drought and climate change associated risks. | Alice Springs | $50,000 | |||
| The Arid Lands Environment Centre | Project Manager for the Arid Lands Environment Centre and Alice Spring Community Gardens Network Support the Alice Springs community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the engagement of a Project Manager, enabling initiatives to strengthen the capacity, capability and coordination of two community gardens. | Alice Springs | $50,000 | |||
| NT Tablelands | ||||||
| Charles Darwin University | Building Social Drought Resilience Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Groups in Katherine Support communities of the Katherine region to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of three drought resilience focussed workshops and support resources that facilitate professional, social and community connection to build an understanding of drought and climate change associated risks. | Katherine | $44,300 | |||
| Northern Territory Farmers Association Inc | Northern Australia Food Futures Regional Roadshow - Preparing For The Future Support the Mataranka community to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of a two-day roadshow with approximately 60 attendees that promotes drought preparedness using targeted engagement with agricultural stakeholders and the broader community to facilitate professional, social and community connection to build an understanding of drought and climate change associated risks. | Mataranka | $47,232 | |||
| WA Great Southern | ||||||
| Oyster Harbour Catchment Group Inc | Mega Community Toolbox: Improving the Community's Capacity to Connect Support the communities of the Great Southern region to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of natural resource management and drought-themed learning sessions enabling initiatives that strengthen the capacity, capability and coordination of professional, social and community networks. | Kendenup | $48,620 | |||
| Stirlings to Coast Farmers Inc | Fit for Farming - Building Social, Mental, Physical and Financial Fitness Support the Great Southern region to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through participation in physical health and wellbeing activities / events to strengthen the capacity, capability and coordination of professional, social and community networks. | Mt Barker | $31,525 | |||
| Wellstead Community Resource Centre | Choosing Wellness in Wellstead Support the Great Southern region to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought through the delivery of a range of learning and wellbeing focussed community activities to strengthen the capacity, capability and coordination of professional, social or community networks. | Wellstead | $33,382 | |||
