$250,000 donation to fund bushfire recovery initiatives

16 November 2020: The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal’s (FRRR) Black Summer bushfire recovery funding has been bolstered thanks to a $250,000 donation from the Waislitz Foundation, in partnership with Australian Community Media (ACM). These funds will go towards supporting projects that focus on the recovery of the people and places impacted by the 2019/20 summer bushfires.

Distribution of this donation will be via the bushfire recovery stream of FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program. This dedicated stream of funding offers grants of up to $25,000 for a broad range of projects that seek to support the recovery of affected communities. These community-led projects can include the repair and replacement of infrastructure damaged during the fires, support for the mental health and wellbeing of people affected by the bushfires, alleviation of volunteer burnout, initiatives to build economic development, and events that bring affected communities together.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said thanks to generous support of partners, like the Waislitz Foundation and ACM, the Foundation is able to fund a wide range of projects that support the different recovery journey of each fire-affected community.

“Recovery from of the 2019/20 summer bushfires is a process that has no end date and that is different for every affected place and person. We know that local leaders are therefore best placed to understand the priorities and recovery needs of their community.

“Having previously partnered with ACM through their South Coast is Calling Initiative, we are fortunate to be working with them again to support these bushfire-affected communities, as we know ACM shares our passion for supporting locally-led solutions. We are also delighted to have the opportunity to partner with the Waislitz Foundation, who also understands the value of philanthropic partnerships when it comes to helping these communities to renew and rebuild,” Ms Egleton said.

Mr Waislitz said he felt privileged to be able to help people in fire-affected communities rebuild their lives and the local connections that gave them strength.

“Every Australian couldn’t help but be touched and inspired by the stories of loss and courage we saw last summer, and I’m keen to contribute to the healing,” he said.

“Through my involvement as a co-owner of ACM, which serves local audiences and advertisers in many regions affected by the bushfires, I have developed a keen awareness of the challenges those communities face and a deep admiration for their resilience.”

“The foundation’s hope is that by supporting a range of different grassroots, community-led initiatives through the FRRR, we can help these local communities renew and strengthen for the future.”

Read Australian Community Media’s full announcement here.

Each quarter, we ask FRRR’s staff to share some of their observations from speaking with community leaders across the country, and reviewing grant applications. Below are a few comments from looking back on the first quarter of FY21.

It’s a universal truth that communities that have strong local leadership are best placed to thrive. However, offering support for particular elements or activities perceived to be needed can create a deficit inference and shame. A recent comment caused the team to pause and reflect: “Conversations about capacity are complex because people can feel shame about not having capacity.”

It’s a good reminder, as often offering funding for a particular activity can infer a judgement. It can imply that ‘it’ is absent or ‘not up to scratch’ in that community or not-for-profit organisation. At FRRR, we take a strengths based approach to granting. Language and wording matters and we are grateful to have such honest conversations with our community partners.

ANOTHER strong theme that continues to come through is the extent of the impacts of the summer bushfires, and the impact of COVID-19 on recovery. For example, in a recent application one community leader wrote: “The conversations revolved around the effect of running on adrenalin for the months before and after Christmas and the feeling of emptiness that followed. There was no time to come together before the community was once again under threat. The fires had denuded the landscape and when the rains came, many roads and properties were further affected by mudslides. The cleaning up started again. The normal community celebrations were delayed or cancelled as COVID-19 forced individual distancing. Somehow there needs to be a way of marking closure for this community, most of whom were volunteers in one capacity or another.” 

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COVID-19 and the ongoing drought are also affecting community groups’ fundraising capacity. For example, the Texas Kindergarten told us, “Annually we raise approximately $25,000 a year to help keep the Kindergarten open, pay staff, pay day to day expenses and purchase resources. Due to the ongoing effects of the drought individuals and businesses in our region are still really battling. It has become more and more difficult for our strong and resilient little community to help the Kindergarten financially. Now with COVID-19 we are unable to do any fundraising at all which will reduce our income this year dramatically. ” 

Volunteer fatigue and decline is also becoming more apparent in various communities. For example, as Dirranbandi Arts Council, in Queensland’s far south west, explained “Our precinct has three separate buildings, which we wish to have open on a more regular basis for our whole community and travellers to access. But this is impossible as we just do not have the numbers. We have tried in the past to open just one of the buildings with the help of volunteers but this has become increasingly difficult as our volunteer base diminishes and those available age.”  This presents new challenges and communities need to find new ways to engage volunteers, or source funds to pay for this service.

In other communities though, young people are stepping up and taking the reins. FRRR recently helped facilitate this blog from young community leader, Sam Kane, in which he tells the story about how he and some colleagues stepped up to get a pool in their community, and what they’ve gone on to do. 

However, in the medium to longer-term, it’s likely that COVID-19 will have benefits for remote, rural and regional Australia. There are strong signs of population movement toward regional centres, as reflected by the Regional Australia Institute’s recent work on regionalisation. International travel restrictions too mean that more Australians will holiday at home. This is good news for regional communities, but it will also be critical for rural areas to be ready to take advantage of both relocation to the regions and tourism. Regional tourist attractions, remote working opportunities, community connectedness, and cultural vibrancy are competitive advantages that smaller rural areas can harness, however, foundational infrastructure and services are needed to retain and build momentum. Unfortunately, there is significant long-term underinvestment in community assets and local services which improve liveability and quality of life, increase attractiveness and competitiveness, and foster innovation and revitalisation. This is why areas such as community halls, childcare services, aged care services and youth engagement activities are just some areas that FRRR seeks to fund across many programs and regions. We need more funds that are broad and will have multiple flow-on effects in communities. 

As the population in regional areas grows, there is more focus on issues relating to public transport. For example, Carroll is a small village within the Upper Namoi Cotton Growers Area. There is no bus service in the area and the residents are 20 km from services in the next town of Gunnedah. A local committee raised money to buy the bus, purely from local community fundraising and very generous support of many local businesses in Gunnedah and Tamworth. However, not all communities are able to do this, and we are seeing more and more requests to support this kind of service. 

If you would like to know more, contact FRRR.

Community Foundations and local organisations encouraged to apply

6 October 2020: The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) is seeking local partners in bushfire-affected communities to assist with the distribution of a special bushfire recovery stream of its long-running Back to School program.

Thanks to generous support from donors, FRRR has more than $767,000 in $50 vouchers to distribute in areas affected by the Black Summer bushfires. These vouchers can be redeemed for school essentials, such as school uniforms, shoes, school bags and stationery, which may have been lost during the bushfires. The aim is to help students start the 2021 school year with the key items they need to be ready to learn.

To ensure support reaches people truly in need, FRRR partners with Community Foundations and locally-based community organisations that can distribute the vouchers discretely, without parents having to apply for them.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that one of the key reasons the program has been a success over the past 15 years has been the involvement of local organisations to help coordinate voucher distribution.

“Having run this program since 2005, we know that it’s critical for us to have local partners, on the ground in communities, who can coordinate the distribution of these vouchers through schools, welfare organisations and community support networks, so the funds really get to those in need,” Ms Egleton said.

“We already have many long-standing partnerships, but we are seeking to expand them so that we have a partner in each of the LGA’s impacted by the Black Summer bushfires to help coordinate voucher distribution on behalf of their Shire. We are encouraging Community Foundations and backbone community organisations in these bushfire-affected communities to apply.

“This year has been full of extreme disruptions for these students and families impacted by last summer’s bushfires. As they slowly go back to face-to-face schooling, these children will not only be re-engaging in their education, but also re-establishing social connections with friends, both of which are very important steps in the recovery process,” Ms Egleton explained.

While $50 dollars may not seem much, in FRRR’s experience, it makes a practical difference. For families in need, it can mean that they can buy the books, shoes, uniform items, and even equipment like steel-capped boots or sleeping bags, so students can participate fully in things like work experience or school camps. For students and families doing it tough, it means they can focus on their recovery, education and on building a strong support network, rather than on the stress of not having basic school items or missing out on extracurricular activities.

FRRR’s Back to School Bushfire Response stream is possible thanks to the support of a number of donors, including News Corp Australia, Australia Post, Fire Fight Australia Fund, Portland House Foundation, UNICEF Australia and Origin Energy Foundation.

Community Foundations and local not-for-profit community organisations can apply for vouchers via the FRRR website. Applications close Friday, 30 October 2020. Grants will be announced at the end of November 2020 and vouchers will be distributed in January 2021, ahead of Term 1. 

FRRR’s focus is on medium to long-term recovery of disaster-affected communities. FRRR has already awarded more than $2 million in support for Black Summer bushfire recovery, with further grants to be announced in early 2021.

Since 2005, FRRR’s Back to School program has helped nearly 170,000 disadvantaged students by giving them a $50 gift voucher that can be redeemed for school necessities, such as uniforms, shoes, school bags and stationery. FRRR waives its administration fee on the Back to School program, so that every dollar donated to the program goes directly to the vouchers. The Back to School Bushfire Response stream ran earlier this year, providing nearly 4,000 students impacted by the Black Summer bushfires with a $50 voucher to help with replacing school necessities

20 community-led projects support Black Summer recovery efforts

The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), in partnership with News Corp, has awarded a further $410,159 in grants to 20 community-led projects that will support the recovery of rural communities impacted by the Black Summer bushfires.

With the incredible impact the News Corp Bushfire Fund is making on local recovery, News Corp will be adding a further donation of $500,000 to top up the Fund to $1.5 million. There have been over $750,000 in grants awarded to date.

The News Corp Bushfire Fund grants, of up to $25,000, help bring to life a range of recovery-focused initiatives that are designed to encourage people to connect, improve community spirit and increase community preparedness in the event of future bushfires.

In Round 2 of this program, grants have been awarded to local organisations in bushfire-affected communities from across Australia, including Glenreagh and Bermagui in New South Wales, Gipsy Point and Biggara in Victoria, Kingscote and Mount Torrens in South Australia and Beechmont in Queensland.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that the resilience and determination of these communities to recover from the Black Summer bushfires, and thrive, is evident by the number of inspiring project ideas and applications that the Foundation has so far received.

“Recovery happens at different rates and there are different needs in each impacted community. So, it’s great to see communities like Onkaparinga, Cudlee Creek and Parndana, in South Australia, seeking out support as they move into their next phase of recovery.

“For some places, recovery means building community resilience with projects that will strengthen local identity and create tourist attractions for economic recovery. While another local collaboration will activate an environmental sustainability project and bring many people together, with a particular focus on supporting vulnerable members of the community, by offering support from mental health professionals.

“For the Biggara community in Victoria, upgrading their community hall was a recovery priority. The facility is central to the lives of residents and the upgrade includes expanding it to accommodate everyone in the community in one sitting. This will ensure that there is capacity for the community to come together and connect in times of celebration and in times of crisis.

“Getting funds out to all these bushfire-affected communities is crucial, especially now with the added challenges that COVID-19 has presented in small local economies,” Ms Egleton explained.

News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador Penny Fowler said seeing the impact that this funding has on these communities makes partnerships like the one with FRRR so rewarding.

“Through the News Corp Bushfire Recovery program we get the opportunity to see the wonderful difference that funding local groups to champion the recovery of their own community has on these towns.

“We continue to be inspired by their passion and their determination to not let the recovery process, which has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, get the better of their community,” Ms Fowler said.

Some of the 20 projects awarded include:

• Merrimans Local Aboriginal Lands Council – Bermagui, NSW – The ‘Moodji’ Regional Drought, Bushfire & Mental Health Recovery Project – $25,000 – Improve community wellbeing by enabling Grub Club and various gardening activities and events for a wide local audience to participate in and be supported by mental health professionals.    
• Buxton Volunteer Fire Brigade – Buxton, VIC – RFS Memorial – Telopea Park – Buxton – $16,600 – Support community resilience with a memorial playground that will honour the brave lives lost in the fires.
• The Little Pocket Association – Beechmont, QLD – Scenic Rim – Memorial and Mural Project – $25,000 – Build community resilience with a Mural project that will engage visitors and locals in the town’s story of the bushfire.  
• Royal South Australian Deaf Society – State-wide – Talking Hands for Frontline Responders – $25,000 – Build organisational capacity and deaf community resilience with skill development of frontline responders in basic Auslan.

The News Corp Bushfire Recovery Program will provide further funds to Round 2 applicants before the end of the year. FRRR encourages all grant seekers to subscribe to our eNews and social media channels to be alerted when other funding opportunities are announced, and to be inspired to develop their own community-led projects.

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

Jump to : NSW | VIC | QLD | SA

Organisation	Project & Summary	Location	Grant
NEW SOUTH WALES
Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council	Essential Fire Equipment and Safety Gear for Bega’s Local Aboriginal Cultural Burning Team Building organisational capacity with equipment for the Cultural Burning Team will increase individual safety and local preparedness.	Merimbula	$20,683
Connecting Communities Australia Ltd	Bega Valley Bushfire Recovery Program – Restore Jewfish Beach Walkway Building community resilience, the restoration of the walkway will improve local infrastructure and enable community connection.	Wonboyn	$23,680
Country Women’s Association of NSW	A Mobile Big Screen Theatre for Community, Cultural and Educational Events Building community connectivity and capacity the mobile big screen will enable community social activity and cultural vibrancy.	Kandos	$14,145
Four Wheel Drive NSW & ACT Incorporated	Recreational Road to Recovery Improving community infrastructure and nature areas with trailers & chainsaws for dedicated working bees to clear and repair fire damage sites.	Batemans Bay	$25,000
Glenreagh HeartStart Inc	Emergency Management and Training Room Equipment Building organisational capacity to deliver enhanced community volunteer training with new equipment to enable effective facilitation and presentation.	Glenreagh	$3,390
Merrimans Local Aboriginal Lands Council	The ‘Moodji’ Regional Drought, Bushfire & Mental Health Recovery Project Improve community wellbeing by enabling Grub Club and various gardening activities and events for a wide local audience to participate in and be supported by mental health professionals.	Bermagui	$25,000
Tomerong School of Arts	Making the Tomerong School of Arts Accessible to all in our Community Building resilience by upgrading infrastructure for improved community with accessible toilets to support all community members use of the facilities.	Tomerong	$25,000
VICTORIA
Albury Wodonga Regional Foodshare	2nd Freezer for FoodShare Building organisational capacity the purchase of a second freezer will improve operations for meeting the increased demand for FoodShare’ services.	Wodonga	$17,148
Buxton Volunteer Fire Brigade	RFS Memorial – Telopea Park – Buxton Supporting community resilience, the memorial playground will honour the brave lives lost in the fires.	Buxton	$16,600
Biggara Recreation Reserve Committee of Management	Biggara Valley Community Recovery Project Building community capacity with an upgrade of Biggara Hall to increase the space twofold for community use.	Biggara	$24,240
Corryong Historic Machinery Club	Development of the Corryong Historic Machinery Club Museum Strengthening economic recovery by developing local heritage infrastructure will support tourism and build local pride.	Corryong	$25,000
Gippsland Disability Advocacy Inc	East Gippsland Bushfire Recovery for Persons with Disabilities Building organisational capacity to facilitate volunteering, mental health and well-being supports for people with a disability in fire affected communities.	Bairnsdale	$22,000
Gipsy Point Cemetery Trust Inc	Replacing Burnt and Damaged Boundary Fences and Upgrading Entrance Points at Gipsy Point Cemetery Trust Building community resilience, the upgrade of Gipsy Point Cemetery will ensure the space is maintained for the local community.	Gipsy Point	$22,004
QUEENSLAND
The Little Pocket Association	Scenic Rim – Memorial and Mural Project Building community resilience, the Mural project will engage visitors and locals in the town’s story of the bushfire.	Beechmont	$25,000
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Advance Kingscote Progress Association	Kangaroo Island Silo Art Project Driving tourism and fostering a sense of community pride the silo art project will welcome locals and visitors.	Kingscote	$25,000
Disaster Relief Australia	Resilience and Capacity Building for South Australian Communities Building organisational capacity the new equipment will expand the numbers of volunteers able to be deployed during emergencies.	Cudlee Creek	$25,000
Parndana Agricultural Horticultural and Floricultural Society Inc	Parndana Show 2020 Enabling community social connection and access by making the Parndana Show a free event for the community.	Parndana	$15,000
Royal South Australian Deaf Society Inc	Talking Hands for Frontline Responders Building organisational capacity and deaf community resilience with skill development of frontline responders in basic Auslan.	South Australia (statewide)	$25,000
SAVEM Inc	SAVEM Field Hospital Essential Equipment Project Building organisational capacity by preparing the mobile Field Hospital with equipment to treat animals of all species affected during bushfires.	Onkaparinga	$21,050
Spring Head Trinity Lutheran Church Inc	Spring Head Fire Prevention Improving community preparedness by removing debris and building fences for stock that will reduce the fuel load and protect this emergency shelter site.	Mount Torrens	$10,219

28 August 2020: The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) has received support from the US-based Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) to assist in addressing the medium to long-term recovery needs of bushfire affected communities across rural, regional and remote Australia.

CDP’s mission is to leverage the power of philanthropy to mobilize a full range of resources that strengthen the ability of communities to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur.

The US$500,000 grant will be distributed over the next three years through a stream of FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program dedicated to bushfire recovery.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that like FRRR, CDP knows just how important it is for funding and support to be available in the years following a disaster, not just in the immediate aftermath.

“CDP is a thought-leader when it comes to the role that philanthropy can play in disaster preparedness and recovery. Their experiences and insights following catastrophic events in the US, including Cyclone Katrina, have helped inform and validate FRRR’s approach to disaster recovery.

“Their experience confirms that every place’s needs are different, communities recover at different speeds and recovery needs evolve over time. We know this too from our experience in supporting the Victorian communities affected by the 2009 bushfires. Given the extent of the impacts of last summer’s bushfires, recovery will take a decade, if not more.

“This generous donation from CDP will ensure that we can provide the critical support needed, when it’s needed in the years to come to ensure these communities have what they need for their recovery,” said Ms Egleton.

Brennan Banks, director of Disaster Recovery Funds at the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, says that typically almost two-thirds of philanthropic disaster donations are directed towards the immediate disaster response and relief.

“From our extensive experience over the last 10 years, we know that funding for long-term recovery and disaster preparedness is frequently scarce.

“We are therefore pleased to provide FRRR with flexible support to serve affected communities over the medium to long term. It is important for these communities to have resources to rebuild and recover from bushfires,” said Banks. “The funding can also be used to enhance preparedness efforts, which are just as important.”

$970,136 in grants awarded

12 August 2020: The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), in partnership with the Pratt Foundation, has granted a further $241,386 to support 13 community-led projects in the Snowy Valleys region.

The Visy Tumut Region Recovery Fund was established in February 2020 to support community-led projects designed to address a diverse range of bushfire recovery needs and community priorities in the Snowy Valleys. A total of $970,136 in funding has been granted to 36 projects over the last seven months, and the program is now closed.

Anthony Pratt, Executive Chairman of Visy, said the organisation has been so pleased to have been able to support the Snowy Valleys region.

“It is wonderful to have seen how these grants have been put into action by community groups to make a real difference to the region’s recovery,” said Mr Pratt.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that there have been many great projects funded through the Visy Tumut Region Recovery Fund.

“Thanks to the early response and support of the Pratt Foundation, many recovery projects in the Snowy Valleys region have already been able to get underway, such as the RegenerART project. With funds received in a previous grant round, the Tumut Art Society is running workshops in Talbingo, Adelong, Batlow and Tumbarumba to ensure that there are local opportunities to come together and enjoy learning diverse art practices.

“I’m just as confident that the local organisations that have been awarded grants for projects this final round will play a critical role in the ongoing recovery of these communities. Projects like Eastern Riverina Arts’ Woodlands Film Festival and the Sounds of Summer Camerata String Orchestra Snowy Valleys Council Tour will help to build community spirit and strengthen social connections.

“Other local organisations have been awarded grants for projects that support the recovery of their community by updating, rebuilding or developing community infrastructure, including the Ournie Fire Brigade’s shed, the Adelong Men’s Shed entrance and the Batlow Sound Shell, memorialising the Batlow Cannery lost in the Dunn’s Rd Fire. These are all great examples of local community groups playing a vital role in disaster recovery because they are on the ground and best placed to know what is needed,” said Ms Egleton.

The grant recipients are below:

Organisation	Project Summary	Grant	Location
Adelong Men’s Shed Inc	Concrete Driveway Build organisational capacity of Adelong Men’s Shed with the construction of a concrete driveway to improve member access.	Adelong	$19,223
Adelong Swimming Club Inc	Adelong Community Aquatic Centre Shade and Solar Improve community infrastructure and capacity, upgrading the Adelong Community Pool with adequate shading and a structure to support solar heating for increased winter patronage.	Adelong	$35,000
Adelong Tennis Club Inc	Adelong Tennis Clubhouse Roof Replacement Improving community infrastructure by replacing the Adelong Tennis Clubhouse roof to support community group meetings.	Adelong	$10,000
Batlow Apple Tree Learning Centre Co-operative Ltd	Outdoor Play Space Upgrade Build community capacity and resilience, upgrading the outdoor play space at Batlow Apple Tree Learning Centre to support early years learning.	Batlow	$15,000
Batlow Development League	Sounds and History of Batlow Increase community capacity and support economic recovery in Batlow by constructing a sound shell to memorialise the Batlow Cannery and support local events.	Batlow	$30,000
Cycle Tumbarumba Inc	Link to Mason’s Hill Trails Improving community infrastructure for local and tourist use through extending the trail bike link with a safe off-road bike path for children and adults.	Tumbarumba	$10,000
Eastern Riverina Arts	The Woodlands Film Festival Build community spirit through reviving the Woodland Film Festival and presenting local stories at a landmark site for all the community to enjoy.	Pilot Hill Arboretum	$19,390
Montreal Community Theatre Inc	Montreal Community Theatre Shop (Cafe/Bar) Build organisational capacity developing a café shop front at the Montreal Theatre Space to provide a retail and cultural hub for community development.	Tumut	$30,000
Ournie Rural Fire Brigade	Ournie Community Recovery Project Build community resilience and connectedness by improving the Ournie Fire Brigade shed facilities to create a community meeting space and better local RFS facility.	Ournie	$10,000
Snowy Valleys Council	Tooma Hall Transfer Pump and Water Storage Build community resilience by upgrading community infrastructure at the Tooma Hall with water storage for evacuation and everyday community use.	Tooma	$32,000
Talbingo MTB Club Inc	Talbingo Mountain Bike Park Shelters Enhance community facilities through the installation of bike shelters to support local and tourist patronage.	Talbingo	$11,373
Tumbarumba Artists on Parade Co-Operative Limited	Sounds of Summer Camerata String Orchestra Tour Enhance the cultural vibrancy of the Snowy Valleys with performances by classical musicians at local venues in Tumut, Tumbarumba and Khancoban.	Khancoban	$13,400
Upper Murray Community Radio Inc.	Training of Additional Volunteers for Operation of Community Radio -3 RUM (Tumbarumba site) Build community capacity training volunteers as operators at Tumbarumba Community Radio and increasing skills for local content broadcasting.	Tumbarumba	$6,000

Includes bushfire recovery funding

15 July 2020: The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal’s (FRRR) flagship grants program, Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC), is now inviting applications for grants of up to $10,000 through the Small & Vital stream, and up to $25,000 through the program’s new Bushfire Recovery stream.

Thanks to the generous support of FRRR’s donor partners, the Small & Vital stream has $615,000 available this round to fund projects that support a broad range of initiatives that directly benefit rural, regional and remote communities across Australia.

A further $650,000 is available this round through the Bushfire Recovery stream to support the recovery of communities affected by last summer’s bushfires.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that rural, regional and remote communities play a vital role in Australia’s prosperity, and with the impacts and ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to keep funds flowing into regional areas.

“Strengthening Rural Communities Small & Vital grants offer flexible funding to any rural, regional or remote community across Australia to help them address local priorities. With COVID-19 affecting local businesses and local community fundraising, these grants are more important than ever to help communities seed and strengthen, adapt and evolve or innovate and renew.

“Having places and events where people can come together to improve community health and social wellbeing, or undertake activities that build community resilience and enhance the skills and capacity of the community, all helps to strengthen these communities – socially, mentally and economically,” Ms Egleton explained.

Funding to support medium to long-term bushfire recovery

The SRC program has been expanded to include a dedicated stream of funding to support medium to long-term recovery of bushfire-affected communities.

“We know from our experience supporting communities over the last 20 years that those affected by the bushfires have a long road ahead of them, and what is needed for their recovery will be different in every place. That’s why we have created the Bushfire Recovery stream within the SRC program,” said Ms Egleton.

“Local community groups in bushfire-affected areas can apply for the funding they need, whatever their priorities. It could be to help bring people together, even if that’s virtually in some cases, to share their experiences, reduce social isolation and increase community connectedness. Or the priority might be to boost the local economy through activities that increase cashflow in affected towns. In other places, the focus might be on repairing community infrastructure or ensuring communications equipment can cope if there’s a similar event in the future, so people feel safe and connected.”

Community not-for-profit groups and organisations that do not have deductible gift recipient (DGR) status are encouraged to apply for funding to help secure the future success of their community.

FRRR accepts SRC applications year-round, which are then reviewed at least three times per year. The next cut-off date for applications to be considered is 25 August 2020. Outcomes will be announced by late December 2020. Projects funded in this round must be undertaken between January 2021 and January 2022.

The SRC program and its Bushfire Recovery stream is collaboratively supported by a number of generous donors. Please visit the SRC webpage to see the full list of donors.

9 July 2020: Sony Foundation Australia, together with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), have today announced two grants that will help young people affected by last summer’s bushfires.

The funding comes from the $200,000 donation that Sony Foundation Australia made to FRRR during the landmark Fire Fight Australia concert, held in Sydney in February.

The grants will support youth in Mallacoota, in Victoria’s Gippsland, and in Ulladulla, on the NSW South Coast, by helping them to establish a safe space where they can come together to share their experiences, support one another, and generally enhance their wellbeing and recovery from the bushfires.

Mallacoota Youth Group will use their $100,000 grant to fund the activities and operations of an emerging youth centre called The Sanctuary. This project will contribute to building the capacity, resilience, and wellbeing of the young people in Mallacoota. Led by the young people themselves, The Sanctuary will provide pathways for young people to access mentoring, social networks and resources in the community. The youth-led organisation has strong community support. It’s expected Mallacoota’s youth will use the space to study, play music, make art, play games, organise programs and events and run workshops.

The second project, which is led by the Ulladulla High School, will use a $80,000 grant to establish a Sanctuary of Wellbeing and Renewal, which will benefit the 1,200-strong student population, and their families. Sanctuary of Wellbeing and Renewal will provide a safe environment for positive initiatives that enhance student wellbeing to enable positive recovery and resilience.

Sophie Ryan, CEO of Sony Foundation Australia, said there are going to be many long-term effects caused by the bushfires that young Australians will be coping with for some time to come.

“About 1 in 4 young people can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder following a major crisis like the recent bushfires and sadly, in the midst of recovery, the specific needs of young people can be overlooked. At Sony Foundation, we are helping to fill this gap by funding programs which will improve the wellbeing of young people, helping them recover and heal.

“We are honoured to be able to partner with FRRR to support these two projects, both of which will create safe places where young people can engage in activities and encourage social networks to help heal and forge a positive path forward,” Ms Ryan said.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that there were many fabulous project ideas put forward, and reflects the devastating impact of the recent bushfires on young people, which has been exacerbated by the onset of COVID-19.

“It’s clear that young people are feeling the cumulative effects of disasters particularly deeply, as we had many really strong proposals to consider. These two grants will help put local youth in Mallacoota and Ulladulla more in control of their recovery and have access to the additional services they need. We are pleased to have been able to help Sony Foundation Australia get this funding to two communities where it will make a real difference,” Ms Egleton said.

Both FRRR and Sony Foundation Australia will continue to invest in the ongoing recovery of communities. To date, FRRR has distributed more than $1.5M in bushfire recovery, with applications currently open for further bushfire recovery grants.

News Corp Bushfire Fund offers grants up to $25,000

With COVID-19 restrictions beginning to lift across the country, hundreds of communities impacted by last summer’s bushfires are finally able to refocus on their recovery. Thanks to generous support from News Corp, FRRR is offering more community recovery grants across the local government areas (LGAs) declared as fire-affected.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that there is nearly $630,000 available through the News Corp Bushfire Fund program to support the myriad of community-led recovery initiatives that have largely been on hold since early March.

“Through our work over the last 20 years, including supporting those impacted by the 2009 Victorian bushfires, we know that every community is different. This is particularly true when it comes to bushfire recovery, as the needs of each place are different depending on the priorities of the community.

“For some communities, this support could include purchasing equipment like two-way radios, upgrading emergency evacuation centres or developing a community emergency response plan. For others it could be improving social connectedness and enhancing community spirit through arts programs, mental health workshops or initiatives that will bring visitors back to the community. In short, we support whatever is most important to the community to help them begin to build back better.

“That’s why, in partnership with News Corp, we are offering grants of up to $25,000 that can be put toward any charitable project that local not-for-profit groups identify as helpful to recovery efforts,” Ms Egleton explained.

This will be the second round of funding from the News Corp Bushfire Fund, which awarded nearly $370,000 in grants last month.

Penny Fowler, Chairman of the Herald & Weekly Times and News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador said that the Fund is keen to ensure that there are applications from all of the fire-affected regions.

“Over the summer, there were fires across the country – from Queensland right down the eastern seaboard, as well as in South Australia and Tasmania – and we want to ensure that funds are shared in all the locations where support is needed. So, if you were in a fire-affected area, we encourage you to apply for a grant,” Ms Fowler said.

Applications for the next round of News Corp Bushfire Fund grants close 5 August, with funds expected to be awarded in October.

30 June 2020: Nearly 4,000 students impacted by the 2019/20 bushfires have been given a helping hand with replacements for the essential school items they lost during summer’s bushfires. The support has come from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and its donor partners, which include News Corp, Australia Post, Fire Fight Australia concert, Portland House Foundation, UNICEF Australia and Origin Energy Foundation.

FRRR ran a special round of its Back to School program, which provides $50 gift vouchers to students in rural communities and is normally run annually to support the start of the school year. To ensure support discretely reaches people truly in need, FRRR partners with community groups and Community Foundations who distribute vouchers, without parents having to apply for them.

Back to School vouchers can be redeemed for necessities, such as school uniforms, shoes, school bags and stationery, ensuring students have what they need to continue to engage with their education.

Through this special round of Back to School, FRRR awarded 3,956 vouchers totalling $197,800 to nine community groups in bushfire affected regions of Victoria and NSW. There was $965,000 available to communities through this program, but it appears COVID-19 affected demand for the vouchers, perhaps because schools weren’t operating normally.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, says for these students and their families, getting back to school is an important part of the recovery journey.

“For students in bushfire affected areas, it’s been a very disrupted start to the 2020 school year, with COVID-19 meaning many have been learning from home since early March. It’s only now, as they are heading back to face-to-face schooling, that many are realising just what items they are missing and need to replace so that they are ready to learn and fully engage in their education.

“Fifty dollars may not seem much, but for these families it can mean that they can buy the books, shoes, uniform items, even equipment that will allow them to participate fully in extracurricular activities, such as steel-capped boots for work experience or sleeping bags, so they can join in school camps. It’s just one small way FRRR can help to alleviate the pressure still faced by these students and their families,” said Ms Egleton.

Vouchers were awarded to support the following Local Government Areas:

• Bega Valley , NSW
• Clarence Valley, NSW
• Eurobodalla, NSW
• Greater Hume Shire, NSW
• Kyogle, NSW
• Lithgow, NSW
• Mid-Coast, NSW
• Richmond Valley, NSW
• Snowy Valleys, NSW
• Tenterfield, NSW
• Towong, NSW and VIC
• Alpine, VIC
• East Gippsland, VIC
• Wellington, VIC

Kate Weiss, Fundraising and Marketing Support Officer from the Community Foundation for Albury Wodonga says their organisation is working directly with school principals and welfare officers in their region devastated by the 2019/2020 bushfires, including schools in the Greater Hume Shire, Towong Shire and parts of the Snowy Valleys Council.

“These vouchers will have an enormous impact on the students in the bushfire affected communities. Some families lost homes and everything in them. Receiving a voucher will mean they can purchase the clothing and equipment they really need.”

FRRR will make another distribution of Back to School vouchers for bushfire-affected students to support them at the start of the 2021 school year, recognising needs will continue to evolve over the course of the year.

FRRR’s focus is on medium to long-term recovery of disaster-affected communities. These grants mean that to date, FRRR has awarded nearly $1M in bushfire recovery support, with further grants to be announced in the next couple of weeks.