Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
FRRR has awarded $311,049 in grants to volunteer emergency services organisations impacted by the 2019/20 bushfires for projects that will help them to respond to local disaster recovery needs and address preparedness priorities ahead of the 2021/22 bushfire season.
![Volunteer Emergency Services Fund awards more than $300,000 in grants](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Brogo-Rural-Fire-Service-1-edited.jpg)
Funded through the Volunteer Emergency Services Grant Program, grants range from $4500 for Audio Visual Equipment, to $25,000 for the installation of a solar power battery backup system.
Made possible thanks to a generous private donation, funded initiatives will support fire-affected local volunteer emergency services and first-responder organisations in communities across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that she was pleased to see this targeted funding going to initiatives that will build and strengthen the capacity of these vital members of impacted communities.
“We saw strong demand for equipment and infrastructure improvements through this round of applications. Providing safe and secure facilities and equipment not only allows these services to better support their communities and respond to emergencies and future disasters, but they are also important to the recovery of the volunteers, building their resilience and caring for their mental health and wellbeing.
“The mental health and wellbeing of the volunteers will also be supported through funded training and education projects. These initiatives will increase the capacity of these volunteer-run emergency services, so that they are better equipped to care for their local community as they continue to recover from the bushfires,” Ms Egleton said.
Some of the projects awarded this round include:
- Tinonee Rural Fire Brigade, NSW – Disaster Response Go Bags for Support Vehicles – $6,713 – Improve the capacity and enhance the safety of volunteers through the provision of fire safety equipment for community evacuation notifications and emergencies.
- South Eastern Region QLD Rural Fire Service Division, QLD – Upgrade Emergency Services Response Command Vehicle – $25,000 – Boost operational capacity of the Beaudesert RFB Group through the upgrade of the Group Command vehicle.
- Country Fire Authority – St Arnaud CFA, VIC – Connecting Our Group – $5,000 – Support volunteer capability through the provision of a laptop computer for operations at the St Arnaud CFA.
- Onkaparinga CFS Group, SA – Onkaparinga CFS Group Tablet Grant – $19,628 – Enhance organisational capacity through the provision of information technology equipment at the Onkaparinga CFS.
- Surf Life Saving Lower North Coast Branch Incorporated, NSW– Provision of emergency response equipment for frontline lifesavers during bushfire emergencies – $25,000 – Improving preparedness and capability for Surf Life Saving volunteers in the Lower North Coast.
The next round of the Volunteer Emergency Services Fund Grant program will open 24 September 2021. For more information, visit – https://frrr.org.au/volunteer-emergency-services-fund-grant-program/.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
Emmaville Rural Fire Brigade | Lockers for Firefighters at Emmaville RFS Shed Enhance emergency response times through the provision of volunteer lockers at the Emmaville Rural Fire Brigade. | Emmaville | $6,200 | |||
Far South Coast Branch Surf Life Saving Association of Australia Inc | Disaster Preparedness for Volunteer Lifesavers and the Community Increase organisational capacity through the provision of Bushfire Response Kits for South Coast Surf Life Saving clubs. | Bermagui | $23,411 | |||
Merriwa and District Rescue Squad Inc | It's a Long Way to the Top, if You've Tripped and had a Fall! Increase organisational capacity through the provision of vertical rescue equipment for the Merriwa and Districts Rescue Squad. | Merriwa | $22,000 | |||
Liverpool Ranges RFS NSW Rural Fire Service | Group 1 Liverpool Range Strengthen local volunteer emergency groups and their activities through facility and equipment upgrades for the Cassilis RFS. | Merriwa | $16,587 | |||
Pambula Beach Surf Life Saving Club Inc | Expansion of Pambula Surf Life Saving Club Patrol and Emergency Search and Rescue Capabilities Increase organisation capacity with an additional IRB Zodiac to ensure timely volunteer emergency response. | Pambula | $24,979 | |||
Surf Life Saving Lower North Coast Branch Incorporated | Provision of Emergency Response Equipment for Frontline Lifesavers During Bushfire Emergencies Improve volunteer emergency response capability wiith items including a defibrillator and portable radios. | Forster | $25,000 | |||
Tarana Volunteer Bushfire Brigade | Install Solar Power Battery Backup System Boost organisational capacity through the provision of a solar power system including backup battery. | Tarana | $25,000 | |||
Tinonee Rural Fire Brigade | Disaster Response Go Bags for Support Vehicles Improve the capacity and enhance the safety of volunteers through the provision of fire safety equipment for community evacuation notifications and emergencies. | Tinonee | $6,713 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Beaudesert Rural Fire Brigade Group South Eastern Region QLD Rural Fire Service Division | Upgrade Emergency Services Response Command Vehicle Boost operational capacity of the Beaudesert RFB Group through the upgrade of the Group Command vehicle. | Scenic Rim Regional Council Area | $25,000 | |||
Gatton State Emergency Service Social Club Inc | Capability Enhancement Program Boost organisational capacity through the replacement of electric tool, batteries and radio holsters at the Gatton SES. | Gatton | $10,178 | |||
Maroochydore State Emergency Service Support Association Incorporated | Audio Visual Equipment for Volunteer Training Boost capacity of the Maroochydore SES with the provision of technology equipment to enhance the training of volunteers. | Maroochydore | $4,500 | |||
Woodhill Rural Fire Brigade | Firefighting ATV Increase community safety with the provision of an off road ATV and emergency response trailer for Woodhill Rural Fire Brigade. | Kooralbyn | $25,000 | |||
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Onkaparinga CFS Group | Onkaparinga CFS Group Tablet Grant Enhance organisation capacity through the provision of information technology equipment at the Onkaparinga CFS. | Lobethal | $19,628 | |||
VICTORIA | ||||||
Buffalo River CFA Country Fire Authority - Headoffice | Buffalo River Scrolling Electronic LED Notice Board Increase community awareness by installing a scrolling notice board for public safety announcements and information sharing at the Buffalo River CFA shed. | Myrtleford | $12,400 | |||
Porepunkah CFA Country Fire Authority - Headoffice | IT Training Equipment and Kitchen Appliances Support volunteer training and wellbeing with technology and appliance upgrades at the Porepunkah CFA Shed. | Porepunkah | $10,875 | |||
St Arnaud CFA Country Fire Authority - Headoffice | Connecting Our Group Support volunteer vitality through the provision of upgraded information technology equipment at the St Arnaud CFA. | St Arnaud | $5,000 | |||
Corryong Ambulance and Walma Ambulance Ambulance Victoria | Corryong Ambulance Community Officer and Walwa Community Emergency Response Team Uplift Support organisational capacity of the organisation through the provision of training and operation equipment. | Corryong | $17,928 | |||
Mallacoota SES Victoria State Emergency Service Authority | Mallacoota-Genoa Community Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Project Enhance community safety through the provision of portable fire fighting equipment and PPE for emergency volunteers in the Genoa community. | Genoa | $12,650 | |||
Tallangatta SES Victoria State Emergency Service Authority | Turn Out Bay Upgrade Boost community safety through turn out bay upgrades at the Tallangatta SES. | Tallangatta | $18,000 |
35 projects funded in drought-affected communities
FRRR’s long-running Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT) program, has awarded grants totalling $1,086,794 to 35 not-for-profit organisations to support drought recovery projects in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia.
![Communities tackling drought to share in more than $1 million in grants](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/drought-1024x747.jpg)
Now in its eighth year, the award-winning[1] and collaboratively-funded TTTT program supports drought-affected communities to undertake a broad range of grassroots initiatives that help locals access the resources needed to support one another through the ongoing effects of the drought. To date, thanks to the support of FRRR’s donor partners, the program has granted out more than $17.3 million.
Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead, said that for many communities, drought is still a very real and significant issue, and communities are dealing with a variety of factors as they continue to stand strong and keep their community connected and supported.
“Capacity within rural communities has been significantly hampered by both the long-running drought, and more recently, the uncertainty of COVID-19. Fundraising is a real challenge, and volunteers are really fatigued. However, they remain committed to bringing people together to support one another at a time when doing so is perhaps more important than ever.
“So, programs like Tackling Tough Times Together are an important source of funding, as it means community groups can continue to run programs and events that help to reduce feelings of social isolation. The grants also help alleviate volunteer fatigue, as community-minded people are so often very stretched and stressed by not being able to offer the services they know are so valuable to their community,” Ms O’Brien said.
Successful projects include the Warramboo Community Club’s playground replacement on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. Like many remote areas, the Community Club is a focal point of the district for events, sports, celebrations, training and information days. They are receiving a $25,000 grant to encourage children’s learning and development by replacing the deteriorated playground on the grounds. This creates a key meeting point for the important social contact that binds isolated farming families together.
On the other side of the country, in the Central region of Queensland, the Flinders Shire Council has devised a plan to boost local tourism and support the economy by fitting out the Agricultural Zone at the Flinders Discovery Centre redevelopment in Hughenden. With their $150,000 grant, they aim to increase tourist activity and enhance economic recovery and renewal by completing the revitalised regional Centre’s new agricultural zone with fit out displays including an interactive sheep shearing display, touchscreens showing agriculture practices and paddock to plate processes.
Some of the other projects awarded this round include:
- Wandoan Community Commerce and Industry Group, QLD – Illuminating Wandoan – $46,073 – Boost local tourism and support the local economy through establishing an outdoor illuminated mural on silos in Wandoan.
- Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway Incorporated, VIC – Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway Infrastructure Strategy project, Stage One – $18,000 – Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity, capability, and sustainability of an important historical asset through the development of Infrastructure Strategy – Stage One for future usage planning and facility enhancements.
- Karridale Primary School, WA – Growing our Sense of Place – $6,000 – Support opportunities for connection through a bushland art project.
- Shire of Mingenew, WA – Town Beautification with Children’s Art Workshop – $5,240 –Encourage children’s learning and development with art workshops and mural paintings for town beautification.
The Tackling Tough Times Together program is possible thanks to the collaborative support of several donors, including the Australian Government which committed $15M to be distributed from 2019-2021. Generous contributions have also been made by The Pratt Foundation, Stockland CARE Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, The Snow Foundation, Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, Henroth Group and private donors from across the nation. To join these donors, and support grants like this through FRRR, you can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Applications are currently open for Round 22 of TTTT and groups in areas experiencing prolonged dry conditions are encouraged to apply for funding to help their community support one another. Applications close 5pm AEST, 24 August 2021.
More information on the Tackling Tough Times Together grant program is available here.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
Jump to: NSW | QLD | SA | VIC | WA
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
Up to $20,000 | ||||||
Northern Slopes Landcare Association Incorporated | Rural Women's Catch-up Encourage more local involvement in the community by delivering a series of workshops in Gwydir and Moree Plains area. | Upper Horton | $16,975 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Up to $150,000 | ||||||
Flinders Shire Council | Flinders Discovery Centre Agricultural Zone Enhance economic recovery and renewal through the interior fit out of the Agricultural Zone at the Flinders Discovery Centre redevelopment in Hughenden, QLD. | Hughenden | $150,000 | |||
Up to $60,000 | ||||||
St. Patrick's School Parents & Friends Association | St Patrick's Primary School Playground Upgrade Reduce social isolation by facilitating social connection through the installation of a playground at St Patrick’s school. | Mitchell | $50,000 | |||
Wandoan Community Commerce and Industry Inc | Illuminating Wandoan Boost local tourism and support the local economy through establishing an outdoor illuminated mural on silos in Wandoan. | Wandoan | $46,073 | |||
Emerald & District Historical Association. Capella Pioneer Village Inc | Our Collections Matter Support opportunities for volunteer learning and capacity building with site-based museum training. | Emerald | $42,303 | |||
Charleville & District Community Support Association Incorporated | Three Communities - Three Christmas Trees Boost and strengthen the local economy and reduce social isolation with town beautification in Charleville, Augathella and Morven each Christmas. | Charleville | $36,685 | |||
Maryvale Community Hall Incorporated | Freshening Up our Community Hub Rejuvenate a meeting space that supports community connectedness for drought affected residents. | Maryvale | $29,580 | |||
Begonia Golf & Sports Club Inc | Community Hall Air Conditioner Supply and Installation Reduce volunteer fatigue and increase the capacity of the organisation through the replacement of air conditioning at the Begonia Hall. | Begonia | $25,960 | |||
Up to $20,000 | ||||||
The Creche and Kindergarten Association Limited | C&K Millmerran’s Dry Creek Bed Encourage opportunities for quality outdoor learning with the installation of a Dry Creek Bed at the Creche and Kindergarten Association, Millmerran branch. | Millmerran | $20,000 | |||
North Burnett Community Service Inc | Connecting Community Improve the North Burnett Community Service ability to support and service the community through purchase of IT equipment. | Mundubbera | $20,000 | |||
Topology Inc | Bigger than Texas - Growing Creative Communities of Texas, Inglewood, Yelarbon, Kindon Support opportunities to grow creative communities in Texas, Inglewood, Yelarbon and Kindon. | Texas | $20,000 | |||
South Downs Steam Railway Assoc Inc | Rain water storage within the SDSR precinct Support volunteers and organisational capacity at the South Downs Steam Railway by installing rainwater storage within the precinct. | Warwick | $18,658 | |||
Dirranbandi Arts Council Inc | Creative Art Workshops for the Community Enhance opportunities to participate in creative activities for the Dirranbandi community through the delivery of art workshops. | Dirranbandi | $11,316 | |||
QCWA Branch Dirranbandi | Facilities Upgrade Grow climate resilience and secure the future of the Dirranbandi QCWA rooms for future generations with infrastructure works. | Dirranbandi | $8,580 | |||
Wandoan and District Kindergartenassoc Inc | Wandoan Camel Races - Children's Entertainment Reduce social isolation and boost community spirit through the provision of children’s entertainment at the Wandoan Camel Races. | Wandoan | $7,500 | |||
The Cecil Plains Crier Association Incorporated | Purchase a New Printer Help locals stay informed and connected by purchasing a printer to continue to produce a community newsletter. | Cecil Plains | $5,800 | |||
Richmond Primary P and C Association | Slime Spectacular Fun Run Encourage more local involvement in the community by hosting a Slime Spectacular Fun Run. | Richmond | $4,565 | |||
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Up to $150,000 | ||||||
Brinkworth Management Committee Incorporated | Brinkworth Community Bus Reduce social isolation by purchasing a community bus to facilitate strong social cohesion and connection. | Brinkworth | $87,600 | |||
Up to $60,000 | ||||||
Pinnaroo Community Incorporated | The Pinnaroo Project Boost and strengthen health and wellbeing with an arts initiative in the Pinnaroo community. | Pinnaroo | $59,880 | |||
The Flinders Ranges Council | Fringe in the Flinders Support economic growth and community connection through the Fringe in the Flinders event in Quorn, SA. | Quorn | $42,000 | |||
Peterborough Art Prize Committee Incorporated | Peterborough Art Centre - Garden Redevelopment Strengthen economic recovery and renewal through improvements to the Peterborough Art Centre - Garden Redevelopment. | Peterborough | $33,336 | |||
Warramboo Community Club Incorporated | Playground Replacement Encourage children’s learning and development though play by installing playground equipment at the Warramboo Community Club. | Warramboo | $25,000 | |||
Up to $20,000 | ||||||
Minnipa and Districts Swimming Pool Incorporated | Community Pool Concourse Replacement Support the longevity of the Minnipa community pool with infrastructure works. | Minnipa | $10,000 | |||
Wudinna Play Gym | Equipment and Family Day Support opportunities for development and learning with a play gym in Wudinna. | Wudinna | $5,500 | |||
VICTORIA | ||||||
Up to $60,000 | ||||||
SEED Lakeside Community Garden Incorporated | Activation and Pathways Improve social and emotional health and build resilience in the Sale community with an Activation and Pathways project. | Sale | $59,500 | |||
Up to $20,000 | ||||||
Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway Incorporated | Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway Infrastructure Strategy - Stage One Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity, capability, and sustainability of the Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway Inc through the development of Infrastructure Strategy - Stage One for future usage planning and facility enhancements. | Red Cliffs | $18,000 | |||
Red Cliffs Centenary Committee Inc | Red Cliffs Centenary Celebrations 2021 Encourage people to come together and celebrate at a Red Cliffs Centenary Celebrations 2021 community event. | Red Cliffs | $10,000 | |||
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Up to $60,000 | ||||||
The Ravensthorpe Community Centre Incorporated | Opening Spaces Stage 1 - Restoring the Ravensthorpe Community Centre Veranda and Blue Room Improve volunteer vitality and support strong social connection by restoring the Ravensthorpe Community Centre’s veranda and adjoining Blue Room. | Ravensthorpe | $60,000 | |||
Noongar Land Enterprise Group Incorporated | Wattle Seed Harvesting Training for Drought Resilience on Noongar Country (SW WA) Support and engage the community in leadership development and skills training in harvesting wattle seed from a land rehabilitation project. | Beverley | $59,723 | |||
Country Music Club of Boyup Brook WA Inc | Boyup Brook Country Music Festival - Engaging Regional Business Strengthen economic diversity and support cultural engagement by hiring equipment to support the 2022 Boyup Brook Country Music Festival. | Boyup Brook | $56,020 | |||
Up to $20,000 | ||||||
Brookton Old Time Motor Show | Brookton Old Time Motor Show 2022 Boost the local economy by providing support for the Brookton Old Time Motor Show 2022. | Brookton | $15,000 | |||
Leeman Green Head Community Resource Centre Incorporated | Increasing the Capacity of the Leeman Green Head Community Resource Centre Build the capacity, capability, and sustainability of Leeman Green Head Community Resource Centre through building upgrades | Leeman | $10,000 | |||
Pemberton Mill Hall Restoration Committee | Kitchen For Catering Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity of the Pemberton Mill Hall through kitchen upgrades. | Pemberton | $10,000 | |||
Karridale Primary School | Growing Our Sense of Place Support opportunities for connection through a bushland art project; Growing Our Sense of Place. | Karridale | $6,000 | |||
Shire of Mingenew | Town Beautification with Children's Art Workshop Encourage children’s learning and development with art workshops and mural paintings for town beautification. | Mingenew | $5,240 |
[1] 2020 Australian Philanthropy Awards – Best Grant Program
Funding awarded for 33 recovery-focused projects
Through its Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program, FRRR has awarded $637,908 in grants for 33 initiatives prioritised by local communities to support their recovery from the 2019/2020 summer bushfires.
![Rural communities recovering from bushfires](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/NSW-SRC-Rd6-BR-Eden-Tourism-Inc-Information-Centre-1024x683.jpg)
The SRC program’s Bushfire Recovery stream is collaboratively funded and supports projects that are led by local people and address local recovery needs. The grants awarded will help promote the healing and renewal of these impacted places.
In this round of Bushfire Recovery funding, grants range from $2,500 to encourage locals to participate in recovery activities at the Maclean Spring Festival in NSW, through to $25,000 for the installation of local fauna sculptures that will increase connection to place and enhance public spaces in Marlow, Victoria.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that the Foundation continues to support communities recovering from disaster, because it knows recovery is a long-term process that is unique for each affected place.
“Many impacted communities have faced multiple disasters beyond the bushfires, including COVID-19 and floods. The pandemic has made recovery all the more challenging for these regions. For community organisations, it’s hampered their capacity to deliver services that they would otherwise be providing to help their communities heal.
“Many groups have worked hard to support locals in safe and responsive ways but understandably, local volunteers are pretty worn out. In response, we have awarded a number of grants for projects that will relieve volunteer-fatigue and alleviate the pressures that many volunteer-led groups are dealing with.
“Recovery is a complex process that really hinges on local people coming together to support one another, to share and heal. We continue to see strong demand for projects that provide a safe space for communities to gather and connect by investing in local community assets and infrastructure.
“We are also seeing attention focused on more vulnerable members of the community, with local organisations using grants for projects that address the recovery needs of age-based groups, gendered groups and Indigenous groups,” Ms Egleton said.
Some of the 33 Bushfire Recovery projects awarded include:
- Australian Outward Bound Development Fund Pty Limited, Tharwa ACT – Rebuilding from the Heat – $22,367 – Improve preparedness for future disasters at Australian Outward Bound’s Tharwa site through the renewal of aged firefighting and maintenance equipment.
- Lansdowne Hall Reserve Trust, Lansdowne NSW – Ride on Mower for Lansdowne Community Hall – $5,107 – Reduce volunteer fatigue and increase preparedness for future fires through the purchase of a ride on mower for the Lansdowne Hall.
- Rathdowney and District Memorial Grounds Association Incorporated, QLD – Natural Disaster Preparedness – Electrical masterplan for emergency response facilities – $13,420 – Enhance community activities and support community preparedness for future emergency evacuations by developing an electricity supply masterplan for the Memorial Grounds.
- Kingscote Mens Shed Inc, Kingscote SA – Connection Through Activity for Men Living on Kangaroo Island – $3,683 – Increase opportunities to support local connectedness and social recovery, through restoration of a local historic Wharf Trolley.
- Bemm River Progress and Improvement Association Inc, VIC – Bemm River Men’s Shed Upgrade – Toilet and Kitchen – $16,422 – Boost community recovery and connection through upgrades to the Men’s Shed toilet and kitchen facilities.
In total, this round of SRC awarded $1,589,612 in grants across three streams – Small & Vital, Larger Leverage and Bushfire Recovery. The 112 projects funded will help build the resilience and long-term vitality of smaller remote, rural and regional communities across Australia.
A full list of SRC grant recipients across all three streams of funding is available here.
The SRC program is collaboratively supported by a number of generous donors, which are also listed here.
The current round is accepting applications until 24 August 2021, with funds to be awarded in December 2021.
Grants available for services supporting communities impacted by Black Summer bushfires
A generous private donation of $1 million will fund FRRR‘s new Volunteer Emergency Services Fund Grant Program. The Program will fund volunteer emergency services to support their recovery needs from the 2019/20 bushfires and help them prepare for future challenges.
![Volunteer Emergency Services Fund Grant Program](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Murgon_20thAnn1-1024x768.jpg)
The Volunteer Emergency Services Fund will offer grants to local volunteer emergency services and first responder organisations in 2019/20 fire-affected regions across rural, regional, and remote Australia. Funds will help them to respond to local disaster recovery needs and address preparedness priorities ahead of the 2021/22 bushfire season.
Grants of up to $25,000 are available for projects including practical improvements and upgrades to facilities and equipment so that these services are better able to respond to future disasters. Initiatives that support the mental health and wellbeing of first responder volunteers, as well as projects that provide training and build the capacity of these services can also be funded.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that an integral part of the recovery process is preparing for future disasters and adapting to changing conditions after a disaster.
“We know that disasters, like bushfires, are not isolated events. They are increasing in frequency and severity; and it is vital for our volunteer-led emergency services groups to be equipped,” Ms Egleton said.
“Throughout the 2019/20 summer bushfires, volunteer emergency and first responder services worked tirelessly to protect and save their communities. They literally saved lives.
“These grants will support those who support the community by funding projects that will help these volunteers process and heal from the trauma of the bushfires, as well as build resilience and preparedness for future disasters.
“We look forward to assisting these vital members of impacted communities and helping to build and strengthen the emergency services they so generously give their time to be a part of,” Ms Egleton said.
The Volunteer Emergency Services Fund Grant Program is now open. Applications close 5pm AEST 7 July 2021 with grants to be announced August 2021. For more information, visit FRRR’s website – https://frrr.org.au/funding/disaster-resilience-and-climate-solutions/volunteer-emergency-services-fund-grant-program/
27 locally-led projects funded
Rural communities across Australia are sharing in $1,060,404 in grants for 27 projects that will help them access the resources they need to tackle the ongoing effects of the Big Dry thanks to FRRR’s award-winning grants program[1], Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT).
![Rural communities still tackling drought](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/William-Creek_TTTT-Rd-17-1-1024x563.jpg)
While water storage levels in the northern Murray-Darling Basin and northern Australia have improved, parts of south east Queensland and southern Western Australia still face serious or severe rainfall deficiencies[2]. Although other areas and states have had some rain, recovery from drought requires at least 18 months of average to above average rainfall. So much of the country continues to need support to tackle the impacts of the prolonged dry.
The 27 funded projects will help rural communities across Australia, from Charleville in Queensland, Moulamein in New South Wales, Keith in South Australia, to Manjimup in Western Australia, strengthen social connections, boost economic recovery, and build community and organisational capacity and disaster resilience.
Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead, said that on top of the effects of the drought, the ongoing impacts of the pandemic has seen volunteer fatigue emerge as a key priority in many places.
“For those areas still in drought, volunteers and local groups have had to find ways to sustain and engage the community,” Ms O’Brien explained.
“Maintaining this optimism and drive is no small feat, and we are pleased to be able to support the places and the people that are working to make their community thrive amidst the complexities of drought and the pandemic.
This includes groups like the Bundaleer Forest Community Areas Association in Jamestown, South Australia, who will be able to support their volunteers and boost economic sustainability by upgrading infrastructure and purchasing new equipment. The funding will provide equipment and storage areas needed to maintain the Maple and Pine event centre. The Bundaleer Forest project will provide strong, genuine and ongoing economic benefit, regardless of seasonal conditions, making Jamestown a more attractive place to live, work and play.
In New South Wales, Moulamein Community Development Incorporated has developed an inspiring project that will encourage tourism activity to the area through the restoration of the Werai Horse Stables and Moolpa Blacksmith shop in the Moulamein Heritage Village. The primarily volunteer-run organisation has been awarded a $149,930 grant for their initiative, which will boost the region’s economic recovery and build community wellbeing.
Some of the 27 projects awarded this round include:
- Monaro Farming Systems CMC Incorporated, NSW – Building Resilient Relationships for Farmers – $29,610 – Help locals stay informed and connected through the delivery of workshops in the Monaro region.
- Charleville & District Cultural Association Inc, QLD – Charleville Creative Lane 2021 – $20,000 – Encourage more local involvement in the community by delivering up to 30 creative arts workshops in Charleville.
- Back to the Bush Festival Incorporated, QLD – Miles Back to the Bush Festival – It is the people that make it – $23,452 – Support opportunities for social and educational participation and address disadvantage caused by the drought, for children and young people of Miles, QLD through the delivery of the Back to the Bush Festival in September 2021.
- Cadell Community and Tourist Association, SA – Cadell Op-Shop Amenities Block – $11,000 – Support volunteers at the community owned and operated Cadell Op-Shop by installing running water and an onsite toilet.
- Shire of Manjimup, WA – Youth Engage and Empower Project – $60,000 – Support opportunities for social and educational participation through employment of a Project Facilitator to build local youth resilience and establish a youth council for the Shire of Manjimup.
Applications for the TTTT program are always open and groups in drought-affected areas are encouraged to apply for funding to help their community come together to tackle the drought. Grants are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities.
The cut-off dates for the next round of TTTT are:
- 24 August 2021. (Note: Stage One for the $150,000 grant tier must be received by 12 August). Outcomes will be advised late November 2021.
Tackling Tough Times Together is possible thanks to the collaborative support of several donors, including the Australian Government which committed $15M to be distributed over three years. Generous contributions have also been made by Pratt Foundation, Stockland CARE Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, The Snow Foundation, Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, Henroth Group and private donors from across the nation. To join these donors, and support grants like this through FRRR, you can make a tax-deductible donation here.
More information on the Tackling Tough Times Together grant program is available here.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
Up to $150,000 | ||||||
Moulamein Community Development Incorporated | Moulamein Heritage Village Stage Two Enhance economic recovery and renewal through the restoration of the Werai Horse Stables and Moolpa Blacksmith shop in the Moulamein Heritage Village. | Moulamein | $149,930 | |||
Up to $60,000 | ||||||
Monaro Farming Systems CMC Incorporated | Building Resilient Relationships for Farmers Help locals stay informed and connected through the delivery of Building Resilient Relationships for Farmers workshops in the Monaro region. | Cooma | $29,610 | |||
Up to $20,000 | ||||||
Dunoon Men's Shed Incorporated | Modelling the Renewable Energy Lifestyle Support climate resilience and sustainability of the Dunoon Men’s Shed by installing solar power with a battery back-up system. | Dunoon | $20,000 | |||
Crescent Head Community Hall Committee | Interior Refurbishment of Crescent Head Community Hall Encourage better use of the community hall by repairing and restoring the interior to make the community space more comfortable and welcoming. | Crescent Head | $14,133 | |||
Macleay Choristers Incorporated | Macleay Choristers Piano Grant Enhance cultural activities that increase local connectedness, through purchase of a piano for local choir and wider community. | Kempsey | $10,790 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Up to $60,000 | ||||||
Texas P-10 State School Parents and Citizens Association | Texas State School Middle School Playground Facility Encourage children’s learning and development through play by installing play equipment for grades 3-6. | Texas | $60,000 | |||
South Burnett Mountain Bike Club Incorporated | Gordonbrook Dam Mountain Bike Park Support eco-tourism opportunities to strengthen the local economy through construction of a mountain bike track at Kingaroy. | Kingaroy | $49,654 | |||
Friends of the GalleryBooringa Action Group Incorporated | Booringa Fire and Water Festival Boost and strengthen the local economy with the Fire and Water Festival. | Mitchell | $41,653 | |||
Swan Creek School of Arts Committee Incorporation | Swan Creek Hall Floor Replacement Increase safety and amenity at local meeting space, through upgrading the flooring at Swan Creek Hall. | Swan Creek | $41,501 | |||
Thallon Progress Association Incorporated | Sculptures in the Scrub - Thallon Art History Trail Boost and strengthen the local economy and increase connection to place through development of a sculpture trail in Thallon. | Thallon | $35,876 | |||
Roughlie Community Centre Incorporated | Shaded Outdoor Area Increase local capacity to support community activities and connectedness, through construction of an outdoor meeting area at Roughlie Community Centre. | Roma | $34,000 | |||
Amiens History Association Incorporated | Multi-function solar shed and access pathways Boost and strengthen the organisation’s capacity and sustainability by constructing a multi-purpose shed with solar panels at the Aththe Amiens Legacy Centre. | Amiens | $32,659 | |||
Back to the Bush Festival Incorporated | Miles Back to the Bush Festival – It’s the people that make it Support opportunities for social and educational participation and address disadvantage caused by the drought, for children and young people of Miles, QLD through the delivery of the Back to the Bush Festival in September 2021. | Miles | $23,452 | |||
Up to $20,000 | ||||||
Charleville & District Cultural Association Incorporated | Charleville Creative Lane 2021 Encourage more local involvement in the community by delivering up to 30 creative arts workshops in Charleville. | Charleville | $20,000 | |||
Farm 2 Fork Collective Incorporated | Future Proofing the Farm 2 Fork Collective Boost and strengthen organisation and volunteer capacity with professional development to ensure growth and sustainability. | Kingaroy | $19,475 | |||
Killarney Bowls Club Incorporated | Purchase New Kitchen Appliances Improve volunteer vitality and organisational resilience by replacing appliances at the Killarney Bowls Club. | Killarney | $16,100 | |||
C&K Middlemount Community Childcare Centre The Creche and Kindergarten Association Limited | C&K Middlemount’s Solar-wise Childcare Project Support climate resilience and the sustainability of the community childcare centre through the installation of solar panels. | Middlemount | $9,626 | |||
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Up to $60,000 | ||||||
Milang & District Historical Society Incorporated | The Port Milang Museum Upgrade Increase volunteer safety and comfort at Milang Museum and Men's Shed, through building repairs. | Milang | $57,090 | |||
Bundaleer Forest Community Areas Association Incorporated | Storage and Equipment for Efficient and Sustainable Volunteer Management of Newly Opened Event Centre Maple & Pine, Bundaleer, SA Reduce volunteer fatigue and boost the sustainability of the Maple and Pine community centre through purchase of equipment. | Jamestown | $56,210 | |||
Keith Golf Club Incorporated | Keith Golf Club Renovations - Stage 2 Improve the comfort, amenity and function of the local community meeting area, through upgrade to Keith Golf Club building. | Keith | $52,883 | |||
Bute 2000 Onwards Committee Barunga West Council | Bute's "Beaut" Silo Art Project Boost and strengthen the local economy through silo art at Bute. | Bute | $49,915 | |||
Riverland Connect Association | Enhancement of Paringa Silo Art Enhance the silo art attraction at Paringa, through installation of lighting and sheds for shelter. | Paringa | $36,645 | |||
Up to $20,000 | ||||||
Purnong District Hall Incorporated | Underpinning Grow community resilience and secure the future of the Purnong District Hall for generations with infrastructure works. | Purnong | $18,200 | |||
Guyra Garden Club | Guyra Spring Flower Festival 2021 - Memorial Avenue & Mandala GardenBoost and strengthen the local economy with the Guyra Spring Flower Festival 2021 including a Memorial Avenue and Mandala Garden to honour service people. | Guyra | $50,000 | |||
Cadell Community and Tourist Association | Cadell Op-Shop Amenities Block Support volunteers at the community owned and operated Cadell Op-Shop by installing running water and an onsite toilet. | Cadell | $11,000 | |||
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Up to $60,000 | ||||||
Shire of Manjimup | Youth Engage and Empower Project Support opportunities for social and educational participation through employment of a Project Facilitator to build local youth resilience and establish a youth council for the Shire of Manjimup. | Manjimup | $60,000 | |||
The Moore Catchment Council (Inc) | Building a BIG Carnaby's Black Cockatoo Sculpture in Moora Enhance local tourism and diversify economic opportunities at Moora, through construction of large sculpture featuring the Carnaby Black Cockatoo. | Moora | $60,000 |
[1] 2020 Australian Philanthropy Awards – Best Grant Program
[2] Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. Drought Rainfall deficiencies and water availability. 10 May 2020. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2I1PSqA.
Applications now open for Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program
Community organisations and networks can access a share of $4.5 million under the Networks to Build Drought Resilience program, with grants on offer to drive action on drought resilience. The program will be delivered by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR).
![Networks to Build Drought Resilience](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Landscan-5-1.jpg)
Through the Networks to Build Resilience program, the Australian Government’s investment of $3.375m, together with a $1.125m contribution from FRRR, will enable $4.5 million to be available for on-ground community capacity building projects, across two funding rounds.
The Networks to Build Drought Resilience program will support the community organisations, networks and infrastructure that help people and communities prepare for, and live through, times of drought. The program will fund events, activities, training and small-scale infrastructure that assist communities to build their capacity.
FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said local community networks are the foundation of resilient communities.
“Through this program we’re helping to invest in the future of agriculture-dependent regions by enabling them to prepare now for periods of ongoing dryness,” Ms Egleton said.
“A key element of this program will be to build stronger networks, and to encourage greater sharing of learnings and more collaboration within and across networks.”
Applications are now open and close at 5pm AEST, 5 July 2021. Grant recipients will be announced October 2021. For more information or to apply visit FRRR’s website – www.frrr.org.au/networks.
Read the full announcement from The Hon David Littleproud, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management here – https://minister.awe.gov.au/littleproud/media-releases/fdf-networks-build-drought-resilience.
For more information on the Future Drought Fund, visit agriculture.gov.au/fdf.
FRRR acknowledges the devastating effects that Cyclone Seroja has had on a number of remote communities across Western Australia.
![Cyclone Seroja](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Cyclone_Seroja-edited.jpg)
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that the Foundation knows recovery for these impacted communities has only just begun, with reconnection of power an immediate priority, and the rebuilding damaged houses, farms and public assets to occur in the months and years ahead.
“We also anticipate that the activities of local community groups, which are so vital to the ongoing fabric of Western Australia’s remote, rural and regional communities, will be significantly impacted. But we also know these groups will play a vital role in supporting their community through the recovery journey.
“FRRR encourages any donors interested in assisting these affected communities to donate to charities registered with the ACNC, and to consider supporting the needs of communities through the medium-long term recovery journey, in addition to their more immediate needs,” Ms Egleton said.
FRRR has a long history of assisting communities to recover from disasters. We have facilitated support to communities recovering from the recent NSW floods; the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires; 2019 North Queensland floods; Cyclones Debbie (2017), Oswald (2013), Yasi (2011) and Larry (2006); the 2013 Blue Mountains bushfires; the Victorian Black Saturday bushfires of 2009; and ongoing droughts; and to those places preparing for future disaster events.
“More frequent and intense climate disasters means that Australia needs to be proactive in how we fund communities to assist with their preparedness activities, and to have funds available to support them through the medium to long term aftermath of a disaster.” Ms Egleton explained.
Any funds donated to FRRR to support WA communities affected by Cyclone Seroja will be allocated through the following two key mechanisms:
- FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities program, which is open all year round, and assessed quarterly. Grants of up to $10,000 will be distributed; OR
- FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund (DRRF). The DRRF was initiated in August 2019, in response to an increasing frequency of disasters. FRRR wanted to ensure it had a corpus of funds invested, so that it can provide some support to disaster impacted communities whether they’re large or small, in the public eye for a long time or swallowed by other events, or are well-supported philanthropically, or not. Donations made to FRRR’s DRRF are pooled and invested, making it a gift that keeps giving, with earnings drawn off every year to be distributed to communities impacted by disaster through grants in programs such as Strengthening Rural Communities. The DRRF currently holds over $4M, which is invested. FRRR will provide support to community groups recovering from the impacts of the cyclone over the coming years, by applying a portion of the earnings from this fund.
FRRR welcomes donations to either of these mechanisms. All donations over $2 are tax deductible in Australia.
Beyond FRRR, the Foundation encourages everyone to consider the impact that this cyclone has had on many individuals and communities across WA, and consider giving to a DGR-1 endorsed ACNC registered charity, which can support individuals and their communities through the recovery journey.
For more information, contact Sarah Matthee, FRRR’s General Manager, Partnerships and Services.
By Natalie Egleton, CEO
Over the past month, I’ve had dozens of conversations with community leaders, local, state and commonwealth governments, philanthropic foundations, and corporate partners, that have all circled around the question of disaster resilience and best practice giving. I’m encouraged by the growing sentiment that recognises the increasing frequency and severity of disasters, yet also see a pressing need to shift our approaches to funding disasters as one-off events.
![Time to evolve disaster philanthropy in Australia](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/049_Natalie-Egleton_20201217.jpg)
The floods that have devastated so many areas across NSW and parts of Queensland this month are yet another in a series of disasters that rural communities have had to face in the past year. Many of those communities have experienced prolonged drought, bushfires, minor flooding, and now catastrophic flooding. For these communities, the rebuild, recovery, and long-term renewal will call on yet more reserves of social capital. Support will be needed that doesn’t compartmentalise their various disaster impacts and which acknowledges the deeply fatiguing and depleting effects of successive disasters on people, communities, and local service systems.
At FRRR, we view disasters as environmental shocks that remote, rural, regional communities regularly experience. We know they are inevitable and increasing in frequency and severity; what makes them complex is not knowing when they will occur, where, or the severity and nature of their impact.
Recovery and preparedness are only as strong as the social ties, quality of community infrastructure, depth and breadth of skills and networks, cultural knowledge, and the health of local service systems, non-profits, and community groups.
That’s why investing in social capital – preparing for future disasters and adapting to changing conditions after a disaster – underpin our ongoing work outside of disasters. Mitigation and making advances through technology is vital, but only effective when people within communities – those who will act first and drive recovery and preparedness – are invested in.
Our approach is to provide support where there are gaps or quick responses are needed in the short term, however we focus the majority of funds on the medium-to-long term recovery and future preparedness efforts of rural communities. Funding medium to long-term recovery ensures that resources are available to help communities when they are ready, beyond their immediate needs that arise during the emergency.
Adapting and evolving
In operational terms, FRRR has a standing disaster philanthropy model that we scale when a major disaster occurs. Each year, with support from hundreds of donor partners, we provide grants and capacity support to around 500 hundred remote, rural and regional communities across the country via almost 800 grants. This reach gives us a good footprint and connection points that we can naturally tap into when disasters occur.
Right now, we have almost 1,500 active grants in place for diverse projects in remote, rural, regional communities nationally; around 40% of these are supporting community-led recovery and resilience initiatives.
When the 2019-20 bushfires hit FRRR had to scale our processes very quickly. We expanded existing grants programs that have a national footprint, as well as brokered funds management for corporate partners to support short-term recovery.
In the space of a month, FRRR went from having about 700 donors to 30,000 donors. We had to ensure our systems could cope and we needed to scale up our communications and finance management resourcing. At the same time, we were engaging in working groups and forums with Governments, philanthropy, and connecting with fire-affected communities where we had active grants and relationships.
When COVID-19 hit, our biggest challenge, aside from looking after our people, was adjusting our community engagement approaches.
While regional Australia is great at working remotely, working on recovery, trying to engage with largely volunteer-led community groups and not-for-profits is really done best in person.
Understanding the local context can be done remotely but it’s not ideal. We also found that as restrictions came into place, a lot of community groups went to ground.
We knew there would be significant impacts from COVID-19 on recovery from the 2019-20 bushfires because the lockdowns would essentially stall social recovery processes, which are most effective when people come together physically, to process and heal.
One of our big, but unsurprising observations during COVID was the gaping hole in digital inclusion – equitable access to stable telecommunications, low levels of digital connectivity in households, and low digital literacy in what are largely ageing populations. In the Snowy Valleys for example, we learnt that 24% of people didn’t have an internet connection at home. In Tasmania, connectivity is inconsistent and communities very isolated.
At the same time, we were seeing independent news publications falling over and rural communities were becoming even more isolated.
The shocks and disruptions just kept coming and the readiness wasn’t there. And then, large parts of NSW were impacted by once-in-a-century floods.
We hear a lot about needing to increase resilience and I am of the firm view that that is coming from the wrong angle. There is an abundance of resilience, but only so much that any strong community can absorb and bounce forward from.
Embedding disasters in regional development practice
The past year has proven the repeated warnings of many. The frequency and severity of natural disasters will cost society, economies, biodiversity, and liveability. We need to do things differently.
In our work partnering with a community in NSW focussing on their non-profit sector capacity building before the 2019/20 bushfires, it was clear that those organisations and community leaders were more ready to respond to the recovery process and opportunities it presented. These same communities are now facing an unimaginable clean up and recovery from flooding. Our role is to be there, offer patience, continuity, flexibility, and agility to move how and when the community is ready with fit-for-purpose funding and resourcing support. The critical piece here is that when we do this work between disasters, reserves of social capital can be replenished and expanded. Communities are more able to engage with mitigation and do essential future-focussed work to strengthen their response to risk and climate change.
Innovation and renewal – applying learnings to support flood-impacted communities
Since the bushfires, we have reviewed and adjusted our approach to funding the core operating costs of the community groups that are so essential to the fabric and vitality of remote, rural and regional communities.
With the funding model of our national small grants programs being relatively unpredictable and dependent on donations from our partners, it is difficult for FRRR to commit to resourcing beyond one-off grants that seed and strengthen locally led projects.
However, throughout the pandemic, the FRRR Board recognised that the depletion of fundraising revenue, volunteer capacity, and local sponsorships, coupled with increased vulnerability and successive disasters, presents a serious threat to the survival of community groups and local not-for-profits. We recognise this as being critical at this point in time, so we will support core overhead costs until the picture changes. It will still be one-off funding but will help to keep the lights on and people working on key issues, while communities and organisations adapt and evolve through the recovery.
This approach translates to better practice for disaster philanthropy overall.
Given what is unfolding in NSW and Queensland at the moment, it is time that we stop looking at disasters as one-off events and view disasters as a constant. This means that we need to invest in underlying capacity and capability at the community level.
The new National Resilience, Relief & Recovery Agency, along with several State Agencies, are now modelled through an all-hazards lens and hopefully the policy and funding settings will follow. Philanthropy can then play a meaningful role beyond responding to successive crises.
It’s certainly where we are focussing more and more of our efforts, and we welcome more conversation on this.
More than $250,000 distributed to impacted regions
FRRR, in partnership with News Corp Australia, has awarded $279,940 in grants to support 12 projects in communities impacted by the Black Summer bushfires, some of whom are now facing the complexity of recovery from multiple disasters.
![News Corp Bushfire Fund grants](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/News-Corp_SAVEM_20210110Training1a-1024x768.jpg)
Funded through the News Corp Bushfire Fund, grants ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 have been awarded to community groups in fire-affected regions across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.
The funding will go toward community initiatives that support infrastructure rebuilding and social recovery, such as helping people connect; alleviating pressure on volunteers; or critical upgrades to communities’ facilities, activity that will build community capacity and preparedness for future disasters.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, explained that several of the recipient communities are now dealing with floods, which makes it all the more important to support them and get this funding on the ground.
“Local not-for-profit organisations and community groups are responding to complex and intersecting challenges. The recovery of many bushfire-affected communities was significantly hampered by COVID-19 restrictions and many are only now starting to make inroads,” Ms Egleton said.
“Some communities are also navigating the ongoing impact of drought while in other areas, the recent flooding will add further to the complexity. However, the underlying issues that these projects were seeking to address will still be there, so these grants are critical to continuing recovery.
“Where project challenges arise due to the flooding, we will work closely with these communities to ensure they are supported to adapt their plans and deliver on the goals they have for local recovery.
“It’s wonderful to partner with an organisation like News Corp Australia, who have committed support to these fire affected communities over the last year that has allowed us to be flexible and respond as different needs emerge and the recovery journey evolves,” Ms Egleton explained.
News Corp Australia’s community ambassador, Penny Fowler, said the strength of these fire-affected communities is truly inspiring.
“Many of the communities supported with this funding have felt the effect of multiple natural disasters over the last few years – whether drought, flood or fires – yet they continue to move forward. The importance of having well-equipped community facilities that enable people to come together to support one another, or to get back to some semblance of ‘normal’ came through really strongly this round,” Ms Fowler said.
“We are very pleased to be able to work with FRRR to ensure that those community groups on the ground, doing the heavy lifting and supporting their people, have what they need to continue to do so.”
Some of the projects funded include:
- Container of Dreams Limited – Drake, NSW – Covered Work Area for Tiny House Building – $25,000 – Build an undercover work area, so that no matter the weather conditions, volunteers can safely build tiny houses for those still homeless following the fires.
- Upper Murray Innovation Foundation / Thowgla Community Recovery Committee – Thowgla Valley, VIC – Thowgla Valley Fire Preparedness – $23,095 – Improve the community’s preparedness to respond to future fire events, and other disasters, by purchasing portable fire-fighting equipment and UHF radios, strengthening community resilience.
- Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail Incorporated – Stanthorpe, QLD – Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail – $25,000 – Employ a coordinator to address volunteer fatigue and enable the ongoing delivery of a largely volunteer-run art events program to help drive local engagement and attract tourists.
- Mount Torrens and Districts Community Association Incorporated – Mount Torrens, SA – Dunnfield Community Space – $25,000 – Increase community connections by creating a playground, reflection and meeting spaces, and a community garden in the Dunnfield Community Space using timber from the fire ground.
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.
Visit here for more information on FRRR’s grant programs to support communities before, during, and after a natural disaster or drought, and build communities’ climate resilience. Anyone wanting to directly support medium to long-term flood recovery can do so at https://frrr.org.au/giving/flood-recovery-appeal/.
A full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
Blicks Community Incorporated | Community Action Plan: Rebuilding Together - Our Sustainable Environment Enable the community to recover from bushfires and better prepare for future emergencies by developing an Environmental Sustainability plan. | Dundurrabin | $25,000 | |||
Broulee Surfers Surf Life Saving Club Incorporated | Kitchen Renovation Improve the club's ability to support and service the community during times of emergency through kitchen renovations at the club house. | Broulee | $25,000 | |||
Container of Dreams Limited | Covered Work Area for Tiny House Building Improve the capability of Container of Dreams by building an undercover work area allowing volunteers to build tiny houses in all weather conditions for displaced community members. | Drake | $25,000 | |||
Eden Community Access Centre Incorporated | Power for the People Enhance the efficiency of the Eden Community Access Centre by installing solar electricity to support the reduction of running costs and provide a more reliable power source during times of emergency. | Eden | $22,500 | |||
Melanoma and Skin Cancer Advocacy Network Limited (BlazeAid) | Bushfire Recovery: Keeping Volunteers Sun Safe and Skin Serious! Improve BlazeAid's capability to protect volunteer health by providing broad brimmed sun hats to be worn when they are supporting the rebuild of community infrastructure. | Cobargo | $15,000 | |||
Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance | Making the Moruya Pre-School Kindergarten a Heatwave and Bushfire Haven for Young Children and Their Parents Improve the Moruya Pre-School's ability to prepare their facility to protect young families of the community by upgrading fire defence systems and installing solar electricity at the centre. | Moruya | $25,000 | |||
The Big Scrub Orchestra | Rebuilding Lives of Children Experiencing Trauma from the 2019/20 Bushfires with Music Encourage children's recovery and learning through music by providing access to big band music experience in the Richmond Valley region. | Rappville | $25,000 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail Incorporated | Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail Boost the capability of Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail Incorporated to deliver art events across the Granite Belt region by employing an event coordinator locally. | Stanthorpe | $25,000 | |||
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Kingston Brigade Lecepede CFS Group | Lacepede CFS Wellbeing Retreat and Learning Zone Development Strengthen and support the volunteer fire brigade crew to reduce stress and increase community safety during emergencies by providing a breakout space including learning area for volunteers. | Kingston | $25,000 | |||
Mount Torrens and Districts Community Association Incorporated | Dunnfield Community Space Help locals recover and reflect by providing a community space including playground and community garden constructed with trees recycled from local fire grounds of the 2019/20 bushfires. | Mount Torrens | $25,000 | |||
VICTORIA | ||||||
Tambo Upper Primary School | Historical Hall Kitchen Rebuild Expand the use of the community hall by upgrading the kitchen to provide a well-appointed facility for the community to use, particularly during times of emergency. | Tambo Upper | $19,345 | |||
Upper Murray Innovation Foundation - Thowgla Community Recovery Committee (CRC) | Thowgla Valley Fire Preparedness Improve the community's ability to respond to future fire events by providing portable firefighting equipment and radios for the Thowgla Valley. | Thowgla Valley | $23,095 |
Focus on medium to long-term recovery in flood-affected rural communities in NSW & QLD
FRRR has launched a Flood Recovery Appeal to support remote, rural and regional communities in New South Wales and Queensland devastated by this month’s floods. Donations can be made to the Appeal in general, enabling FRRR to distribute the funds where needed, or allocated to specific regions or communities.
![FRRR Flood Recovery Appeal](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Flood-1200x800-1-edited.png)
FRRR has supported remote, rural and regional communities across the country prepare for and recover from natural disasters since 2006. To date, FRRR has distributed more than $26 million for community-led disaster recovery and resilience initiatives, including more than $4 million for projects supporting recovery from the 2019-20 bushfires.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said the Foundation stands ready to support the recovery of flood-affected rural regions of NSW and Queensland.
“It’s hard to fathom that rural communities could face any more challenges than they have in the past year, but sadly they are. Many places devasted by the floods have also been dealing with the impacts of drought, the bushfires, and COVID-19 restrictions,” Ms Egleton said.
“In terms of disaster recovery, FRRR’s approach is to provide support to local community groups and non-profits where there are gaps or quick responses needed in the short term, however we focus the majority of funds on the medium-to-long term recovery and future preparedness efforts of rural communities. Funding medium to long-term recovery ensures that resources are available to help communities beyond the immediate needs that arise during the emergency.
“From our experience, we know disasters have a long-lasting impact – it could take a decade or longer. As recovery gets underway, communities will have different concerns and needs, meaning that recovery will happen at different rates, depending on the community and local priorities.
“Donations to our Flood Recovery Appeal will help to fund a diverse range of initiatives that reflect the needs the community identifies, but it could include rebuilding infrastructure, supporting vulnerable community members and the overall mental health of locals, providing opportunities for locals to reconnect and share their experiences, as well as looking at ways of improving resilience and how the community can prepare for future disasters,” Ms Egleton explained.
FRRR’s programs and partnerships in flood-affected communities are already in place or ready to scale up, including:
- Strengthening Rural Communities: a flexible national grant program with a targeted bushfire recovery stream, now to be expanded with a flood recovery stream to support short, medium and long-term recovery.
- Back to School: a partnership program with place-based organisations such as Community Foundations that provides K-mart, Target, and local business vouchers for school supplies that directly helps children and families.
- Disaster Resilience & Recovery Fund: an invested fund enabling support to be provided for many years to come. Fund earnings are distributed via FRRR’s grant programs for medium-to-long term recovery.
“In the face of these successive disasters, the last year has also shone a light on the generosity of Australians. Australians want to lend a hand, even though it’s been tougher than usual for many, given COVID-19.
“We hope that this same desire to give will continue in the face of this latest disaster as these communities will need support long after the waters have receded,” Ms Egleton said.
Donate to FRRR’s Flood Recovery Appeal here.