Continued demand for small grants to support local initiatives

More than 150 not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) in rural regions across Australia are sharing $1,579,380 in grants for projects that will strengthen their communities.

Awarded through FRRR’s flagship Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program, the grants will fund projects that address a range of diverse needs, including fostering community connectedness and wellbeing, as well as supporting ongoing COVID and disaster recovery and preparedness.

The 151 grants range from $750 for a lawn mower to help local volunteers prepare the community for future bushfires, to $25,000 for a “Get Started Emergency Preparedness” program to empower people with disabilities through tailored disaster readiness education and planning.

Jill Karena, FRRR’s Place Portfolio Lead, said that the Strengthening Rural Communities program has been a consistent support for local NFPs in rural places, helping to fill funding gaps needed to get projects off the ground or sometimes bring them to conclusion.

“FRRR’s small grants have supported rural Australia for the past 23 years. Within our Strengthening Rural Communities program alone, we have awarded nearly $18 million in small grants since 2019 and the program’s flexibility is one of the key reasons why it continues to be so popular.

“Flexible funding means that we can support projects that meet a wide range of needs, reflecting what the community sees as a priority. For some, this may be a new roof for the town hall, for others it may be an event to bring people together, and for others it could be mental health first aid training.

“Virtually every part of Australia is recovering from one or more disasters, from the pandemic to floods, bushfires or drought – and many have experienced successive or even overlapping events. The cumulative effect means that even within the same region, there are people working to respond and support recovery, while others are putting planning and training in place to build their resilience and prepare for the next, inevitable, event.

For example, in Shepparton, local groups are working to address different community needs and, collectively, help their community to recover, grow and thrive.

“Shepparton Foodshare is one of the NFPs supporting their community’s recovery. The organisation will use a $25,000 grant to purchase a refrigerated delivery truck, which will boost organisational capacity so that they can provide food relief to those impacted by the flooding that the region experienced in September 2022. Meanwhile, the Goulburn Valley Woodworkers will use their $10,000 grant to strengthen social connections that have been challenged by COVID lockdowns. The NFP wants to build the capacity of its volunteers by providing a safe gathering space with concrete flooring that has been sealed and finished. North Shepparton Community & Learning Centre is also helping to strengthen connections for diverse communities by using their $10,000 grant to deliver creative workshops and an exhibition.

“Grassroots organisations, which are often led by volunteers, play an important role in the vitality of rural Australia, because they drive the projects that maintain and sustain their communities. But to do this, they need funds. We’re honoured to play a small part in helping rural Australia thrive and we encourage others to join with us to support local initiatives that really do make a difference,” Ms Karena said.

Some of the projects funded in this round of SRC grants include:

The SRC program is collaboratively supported by donors, ranging from private individuals to larger foundations, who are acknowledged on the SRC webpage. This round there were a further 50 funding-ready projects, requesting more than $610,000, that FRRR could not support. We are urgently seeking new partners, so that we can fund more projects like these in the future.

FRRR always accepts applications to this program, which awards funds four times a year. Local NFPs and community groups are encouraged to review the program guidelines and apply. More information about the SRC program is available at www.frrr.org.au/src.

To support grants like this through FRRR, make a tax-deductible donation at frrr.org.au/giving/.

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

In March 2021, the Hawkesbury-Nepean region on the NSW Central Coast was hit with major flooding, affecting low-lying areas along the river. The flood caused major disruption and many of the lower lying areas were home to some of the most socially vulnerable members of the community. The situation was exacerbated by the fact the floods followed the 2019/20 bushfires, February 2020 flood and COVID. This meant the community had little resilience to respond when the March 21 flood came along.

While there were many issues that emerged, four smaller, more remote communities experienced particular challenges, as they had limited, if any, mobile or internet coverage and are located away from centralised services. This impacted the communities in accessing supports to assist in their recovery journeys, using internet and online platforms.

The Hawkesbury City Council plays a pivotal role in recovery and preparedness in the region and identified this as an issue.

They received a $14,836 grant through FRRR’s Rebuilding Futures program, funded by Suncorp Group, to have accessible technology established in community hubs across these four remote areas – Bilpin, Colo, St Albans and Wilberforce.

The Council used the grant to purchase IT infrastructure such as laptops, tablets, projectors, screens, cameras and associated software. They also improved the internet connection into these four hubs using satellite hardware, installed via co-contributed Council funds. The Council used their existing relationships with community leaders, organisations, citizens groups and emergency services to make sure that the grant resources went to the people who needed them most.

The overall result was improved community access to technology, allowing community members to connect with each other; access online appointments and government portals; and connect with recovery and community support services.

An additional benefit is that users can also access ‘tech-savvy’ Council staff who work in these community hubs four days per week. These staff members share their knowledge and ability with technology through training and support to lesser-abled community members. Further development has seen the evolving partnership with the library team, Department of Primary Industries and the Digital Literacy Foundation providing further training on topics such as online safety, flood recovery agronomy, and digital literacy topics, respectively.

The ’silver lining’ of implementing the project during challenging times, as noted by Council staff member Liz Murphy, is that this grant has enabled them to contribute positively towards ongoing, sustainable change in the community. The effects of this grant will continue to be felt long after this grant has been expended and has attracted additional support for the community.

The Fremantle Foundation was established in 2010, and seeks to create a thriving community through local giving and to address critical community needs by providing inspiring ways for people to give. They partnered with FRRR in 2020 through a Community Foundation Account, allowing them to support a wider range of community organisations conducting charitable activities in rural and regional WA, particularly those without their own DGR status – which is the majority of community organisations in regional and remote areas.

In FY23, for the second year in a row, the Foundation distributed grants exceeding $1 million across 62 grants, creating impact in the local Fremantle community, the broader metropolitan area, regional and remote WA, as well as in other parts of Australia.

While most of their donors focus on metropolitan areas, the FRRR Community Foundation Account specifically allows the Fremantle Foundation to support more projects in regional communities.

For example, the Northhampton community, located around five hours north of Fremantle, was badly affected by Cyclone Seroja in April 2021. A group of ex and current AFL footballers, all from around Northampton, set up a fund with Fremantle Foundation to support rebuilding in the township and the surrounding region.

Two projects that have been completed to date include the refurbishment of the Olgilvie Hall and construction of a remembrance garden at St Mary’s School. The garden includes new paving, bench seating and a selection of plants, including the much-loved rose garden. In addition, signage has been installed for visitors to gather and learn about the parish and impact of Cyclone Seroja.

The Fremantle Foundation is also using their FRRR Community Foundation Account to ensure donated funds support the launch of the Peel Community Fund.The Fund was established in 2019 by members of the Peel community, with the aim of creating their own Community Foundation in the region. Thanks to their FRRR Account, Fremantle Foundation was able to award them a grant to support the development of critical infrastructure, including a website, communication and marketing plan, marketing materials, operational structure, committee governance and membership / giving structures.

In another example of their ability to inspire local giving, The Esperance Ag Fund was established in 2021 by the local agricultural sector in partnership with Fremantle Foundation, with the sole purpose of making a difference within the Esperance community. Collectively, the farming community, which is about 700 km from Fremantle, provides support to the wider Esperance region by funding projects that make a positive impact. They’ve recently awarded a grant to the Recherche Aged Welfare Committee for the installation of a reticulation system at the Alchera Aged Care Housing property.

Pauline Eves from Fremantle Foundation said they are most grateful for the assistance provided by FRRR to enable grants like these to happen.

18 community groups to receive funding

In partnership with Suncorp and AAMI, FRRR has awarded $300,781 to 18 remote, rural and regional not-for-profits (NFPs) in Victorian communities impacted by the flooding events that took place between October 2022 and January 2023.

Suncorp Group pledged $1 million to FRRR in 2021 for a dedicated Rebuilding Futures program – to support Australian communities impacted by significant natural disasters. 

This is the third round of the Program and with these grants will have distributed over $1 million.

The grants awarded range from $4,040 to $20,000 and will be used for a range of projects from building community infrastructure and improving emergency facilities, to youth activity programs and community workshops – all high-priority projects for their local community.

Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston said the grants would help support community-led recovery in the impacted areas.

“Australia is no stranger to natural disasters and unfortunately I’ve seen all too often the devastation and emotional toll they have on our communities,” Mr Johnston said.

“That’s why we are supporting affected Victorian communities through the Rebuilding Futures program – to not just build back but to build back better than before, making them even more resilient,” he said.

“These communities have been through a lot, and we know that recovery from severe weather events can sometimes take years. We also know that each community’s priorities during that recovery is different.

“We’re pleased to provide support to a range of different community groups and local not-for-profits that are run by people who know and understand what it is their community needs in order to rebuild.”

Nina O’Brien, Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead at FRRR, said this round of grants is further confirmation of the long-term impacts of natural disasters.

“In this round of grants, we’re seeing projects that are about building community amenities and improving infrastructure but there’s also an emphasis on initiatives that are about building community resilience and promoting social wellbeing. It’s nearly a year since the floods first started and so this just goes to show that the impacts of floods are long-lasting and go far beyond the physical damage that’s caused.

“The floods have had a huge emotional toll on the people in these communities, yet they’re still determined to build back and become even more resilient than before, which really is inspiring to see. Thanks to the generous support of Suncorp and AAMI, we can help them to do just that,” said Ms O’Brien.

Among the 18 projects funded this round are:

• Alpine Multi Skill Group in Bright – Construction of a dedicated cabin workspace for volunteers, members, and the local community, which will support Alpine Multi Skill’s community development work and collaboration with the Men’s Shed – $19,750

• Echuca Moama Broadcast Service Inc in Echuca – Upskill the community radio volunteers, enhancing their ability to broadcast during and outside times of emergency disasters to support community safety and wellbeing – $4,040
  
• Kerang and District Community Centre Inc in Kerang – Build resilience in Kerang through an inclusive arts program aimed at connecting people through positive creative activities – $10,000

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

Funds support communities to prepare, recover, rebuild and thrive

FRRR has awarded a record $2,728,993 in grants to support and strengthen more than 200 remote, rural and regional communities across Australia through this quarter round of its flagship Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program. This is the most funding awarded in any one round in the 25 years of FRRR’s small grants programs, and demand for support continues to rise.

Thanks to donations from many generous supporters, 213 grassroots not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) across rural Australia will receive grants ranging from $465 to $50,000.

The projects will address diverse needs, including ongoing COVID and disaster recovery, strengthening community resilience and preparedness, and address small, yet vital, needs of remote, rural and regional communities.

Jill Karena, FRRR’s Place Portfolio Lead, said that wonderful volunteers in local groups continue to find meaningful ways to support their communities.

“One of the best parts of my job is seeing the way people in remote, rural and regional areas come together to support one another. We see it time and again in the projects that are put forward, usually led by volunteers, all of whom want to make things better for their community. So I want to acknowledge all those people and thank them for all they do.

“I know it’s tough, as the diverse impacts of successive shocks – COVID and various disaster events – continue to ripple through remote, rural and regional communities. The mental health implications of this sustained stress are clear but so too is the commitment to improving things, especially by combatting social isolation.

“Finding ways to connect with others and with their community is an important part of the healing and growing process and there are some creative solutions. In the southern Arnhem Land community of Ngukurr, in the Northern Territory, Wanta Aboriginal Corporation’s Ngukurr Bagai Barista Social Enterprise Cafe project is an inspiring example of the community working to reduce social isolation and foster resilience. The Corporation will use a $47,075 grant to create a community gathering space by fitting-out a café to be used as a vocational teaching site.

“We are also noticing an increase in creative recovery projects, as communities shift from responding to the immediate impacts of the pandemic or other disasters and begin to look at the longer-term recovery and resilience needs of their region.

“Mapleton State School in Queensland will use a $6,588 grant will support a therapeutic drumming program. The program is a creative way for the learning community to improve social connectedness, reduce levels of anxiety and enhance the process of recovery for young people from the pandemic. Similarly, the people of Gingin, Western Australia, will use their $10,000 grant to include wellbeing activities in the Flavours of Gingin Festival to help the community connect and build resilience.

“Our research has confirmed these kinds of arts projects have a unique ability to build long-lasting community resilience and wellbeing, and local capacity for disaster preparedness, response and recovery.^[1]

“Not all the projects we’re supporting relate to disasters. There are also a range of initiatives that capitalise on opportunities or help to bridge service gaps, while other projects like a mural in Smithton will honour local Aboriginal heritage, culture and identity and help attract more visitors to the town.

“Since 2000, FRRR has delivered more than $155 million to nearly 13,000 projects, most of which are funded by small grants through programs like Strengthening Rural Communities. And we see the amazing impact that these small grants can have on a rural community.

“So it’s great to be awarding record funding this round and we look forward to seeing the difference it will make in the future,” Ms Karena said.

Record demand for grants

The reality is, FRRR would have liked to support far more projects, as there were many great initiatives seeking funding, with the impacts of inflation adding pressure to already small budgets and the capacity of locals to contribute to projects. However, FRRR simply didn’t have the funds to do so.

Ms Karena explains that projects like those that this program supports are often catalytic, so FRRR is actively seeking additional partnerships to enable more of these initiatives to get the support they need.

“Remote, rural and regional areas make up nearly a third of Australia’s population and generate approximately two-thirds of its net exports,^[2][3][4] so ensuring the vitality of these communities is not only critical to the wellbeing of those who live in these places, but it’s also vital for a sustainable Australian economy.

“Grant programs, like SRC, are one way that we can work with government, business and philanthropy to ensure those communities remain attractive places to live and work. Flexible programs like SRC mean that communities can access funding to develop and lead projects that meet locally identified needs and priorities – which are often about bridging gaps in services that many in the cities take for granted, like public transport or being able to access health services, without travelling hundreds of kilometres. So we’d love to hear from anyone who might like to join with us to fund more of these initiatives.”

The SRC program is collaboratively supported by donors, ranging from private individuals to larger foundations, who are acknowledged on the FRRR website.

FRRR always accepts applications to this program, which awards funds roughly four times a year. Local NFPs and community groups are encouraged to review the program guidelines and apply. More information about the SRC program is available at www.frrr.org.au/src.

To support grants like this through FRRR, make a tax-deductible donation at frrr.org.au/giving/.

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_{[1] https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Impact-of-Creative-Recovery-Research-compressed-2.pdf}

_{[2] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/rural-remote-australians/rural-and-remote-health}

_{[3] https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/regional-australia}

_{[4] https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Former_Committees/Regional_Development_and_Decentralisation/RDD/Final_Report/section?id=committees%2Freportrep%2F024136%2F25543}

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

Yarning and other culturally-informed models of health can support people in the community to explore factors that impinge on social-emotional wellbeing (SEWB) and co-create solutions for individual and family wellbeing, including young people.
(Murrup-Stewart et al, 2021)

The Northern River Community Healing Hub is a network of local Indigenous and non-Indigenous volunteers who practice a range of culturally informed trauma-integrated healing modalities including weaving circles, art therapy and bodywork (massage). The hub was established following the  catastrophic 2022 flood event in the Northern Rivers.  

They received a grant for $24,570 through the Rebuilding Futures program, funded by the Suncorp Group to support the hub practitioners to grow and develop their work through increased service delivery moving from an entirely volunteer model to a hybrid paid / volunteer operation. NRCHH is available to all people, regardless of cultural background with a focus on their target population: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children and young people, families, including older people. The project also included Mobile Hub operations to enable better access to the service within communities themselves – where they need them most, and in consultation with community.

The healing practice activity funded by the project has directly benefitted 639 people across the community at outreach to the pod villages of Coraki and Lismore, and tents at the Nimbin Aquarius Festival and Murwillumbah Kinship Festival, and workshops for a Queer Flood Recovery Event and an event for school children. In addition there have been weekly sessions at the Healing Hub including: 15 bodywork sessions per week free to the community; free flowing drop in weaving / yarning circle on Wednesdays; and clay art therapy once a week.

The NRCHH has evolved through the project. The paid / volunteer mixed model has been successful and they are now seeking input and collaboration that will deepen partnerships and relationships with the organisations that they currently work with to continue.

Project Manager Ruth Rosenhek said, “At the Healing Hub, we provide a de-clinicalised, informal soft-texture gentle space to support healing for our community that focuses on the whole person including a phenomenally successful bodywork program that runs alongside cultural activities such as weaving and yarning circles, creative arts and community connection. We have found that 18 months past the 2022 flood events, people continue to be managing high levels of stress and trauma. These cultural activities that involve sitting on country, slowing down the pace, connection and belonging are all powerful healing agents.”

By Nina O’Brien, Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead

The call to action at this year’s Australian Disaster Resilience Conference is deeply apparent and has been reflected in most of the presentations, including my own – we must expand our understanding, balance investment, and elevate the voice of community, particularly First Nations people, to reduce the risks and impacts of a changing climate, and build collective resilience towards the increasing severity and frequency of disasters.

At FRRR, we are addressing this call to action by working deeply with local groups that are on the ground, working to enhance the preparedness and resilience of their remote, rural and regional communities. Programs like Disaster Resilient: Future Ready, as well as the thousands of grassroots, community-based projects we support through small grants like SRC Prepare and Recover , and others such as Rebuilding Futures, allow us to learn from local leaders about the needs and priorities of their communities, and how we can best support them to build local resilience and disaster recovery.

My presentation spoke of the importance of balanced investment in people and processes, not just products and ‘things’ across the entire disaster cycle, with a specific focus on preparedness. Social, cultural, political, and human capital are equally as vital as built, financial and natural capital in bolstering resilience. This approach takes a holistic view that acknowledges the interconnectedness of all these facets of community life.

This is why I advocate that we must shift our focus from (often) the disproportionate investing in products and things (hard infrastructure, as we often refer to it) to prioritising people and processes (or the soft infrastructure).

Ultimately, it is the people and processes that really make communities tick and make a difference in effective disaster response, recovery, and preparedness.

This is reinforced by the findings of ongoing research that FRRR has commissioned alongside our learning partner, University of Sydney.

“Working in a community led way to build local resilience means that local community members act as equal decision makers with a range of other stakeholders (local government, emergency services, service providers, business) to address issues which are priorities for that community. Rather than a top-down approach, where decisions are made outside a community or are made by government or other formal authorities, community led resilience building starts and continues with listening and collaborating on the priorities of community members. Genuine ownership by the local community requires their active involvement in all aspects of resilience building, not merely consultation.”

_{Howard, A., Rawsthorne, M. and Joseph, P. (2022) Critical Dimensions in Community Disaster Resilience [FactSheet], University of Sydney for the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal}

The formal study has reinforced our anecdotal observations that when communities take the lead in driving resilience-building efforts, remarkable things happen. Whether tackling natural disasters like cyclones, bushfires, floods, or adapting to community shocks such as the loss of major services or industries, community-led initiatives tend to persist longer and have ongoing positive impacts. They foster local strengths that can adapt to a wide range of challenges over time.

This work provides an important formal evidence base for supporting grassroots not-for-profit organisations that are critical to nurturing the vitality of regional communities.

It also validates FRRR’s preferred approach of working alongside communities, mapping their assets and systems of interconnectivity, understanding their particular strengths and nuances, and viewing community life through resilience dimensions that help to identify and craft locally driven resilience initiatives.

Through diverse funding mechanisms that prioritise people and processes, we’ve seen tangible dividends in increased resilience. These include support for locally conceived projects and initiatives; building volunteer capacity and strengthening networks; resilience coaching, mentoring and support; strengthening internal organisational capacity; and fostering long-term project delivery capability through sustainable local partnerships.

And as a side note from ADRC23; the feedback from communities is clear. They want flexible funding criteria, longer timelines, negotiated measures of success, simpler forms and reporting – and patience from funders. As a mechanism to deliver support to approximately 1000 small projects per year; with around half of those related to disaster impacts; FRRR is working hard to meet these requests with flexible guidelines, negotiated timelines where possible, agile timing, and a streamlined approach to applying and reporting.

Without deliberate, balanced investment in social, cultural, political and human capital, alongside traditional capital, the impacts and harm from disasters will continue to escalate in our communities. We need a systems-based lens that prioritises people and processes to meet future community needs and challenges effectively.

The long-term benefits of this shift are significant; capable local individuals, agile community-based networks, strong not-for-profit organisations and ultimately resilient remote, rural and regional communities become the norm. This paves the way for a future where communities can thrive, adapt and face the uncertainties of a changing climate, with resilience and hope.

“The NRCF Board and staff certainly value the long-term relationship with FRRR, which is so important to us as a rural and regional Foundation. The support for NRCF’s community impact and grants team has been essential to achieve impact in the community.” Sam Henderson, CEO, NRCF

Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) was established in 2004 to connect people who care with local causes that matter, to improve community wellbeing for the Northern Rivers region of NSW. They have one of the largest footprints of any community foundation in Australia, covering from Tweed to Grafton, from the ocean all the way up past Kyogle, Woodenbong and Casino. NRCF is dedicated to improving the lives of those less fortunate in their community, either from economic circumstances, mental illness, disability, learning difficulties or drug / alcohol addiction. More recently their focus has been to support their community to navigate their disaster recovery journey following bushfires and then widespread flooding events across the region in early 2022.

NRCF has held a Fundraising Account partnership with FRRR since 2017 to attract tax-deductible donations, enabling them to help community organisations meet increasing demands on their services and work together to build resilience across the community.

Initially they raised funds through a general Community Fund, and in 2020 established the Resilience & Regeneration Fund to raise funds specifically to support disaster recovery and preparedness in their region. The Fund responds to the increasingly frequent natural disasters affecting the region and the global pandemic. Recognising that these are not isolated events, and that resilience and regeneration are integral to a sustainable and prosperous region, they wanted to attract as much money as possible.

As at 30 June 2023, NRCF has raised $1,171,600  via these two Funds. In 2022, they announced a record distribution of $327,177 to 49 recipients across the seven LGA’s of the Northern Rivers. This was supported by distributions totalling more than $162,000 from their FRRR Fundraising Account in FY22. Projects span across disadvantage, housing and homelessness, recovery and resilience, and the environment.

NRCF will also be looking to use the funds raised through the Resilience & Regeneration Fund to respond in a meaningful and impactful way to the devastation brought about by the two 2022 flooding events that occurred in quick succession through their Annual Community Grants program. Informing their response is their ongoing research project to understand the issues and conditions impacting community recovery with a view to better support local not-for-profits and their activities into the future. In May 2023 they released their second flood impact report ‘Research, Respond, Recover: A year on from disaster’ which offers valuable insights across a range of indicators about how the community is recovering. It highlights gaps in funding for medium to longer term recovery, and ongoing key issues of concern around health and wellbeing, housing and homelessness. 

With this increase in support comes a need for increased resourcing. Fortunately, NRCF has also received donations via their Fundraising Account specifically to support their operational and staffing costs through their General Fund. As a result, the role of Grants and Community Impact Manager has been introduced, which will boost their capacity, enabling them to expand their community grant programs and supporting them to broaden their reach.

Sam Henderson, NRCF’s CEO, said ‘The NRCF Board and staff certainly value the long-term relationship with FRRR, which is so important to them as a rural and regional Foundation. The support for NRCF’s community impact and grants team has been essential to achieve impact in the community.’ The need to respond to disasters has now increased so much that they’ve also recruited a part-time Grants Administration Officer to support the Community Impact Manager.

Grants round out 14 years of dedicated bushfire recovery funding 

FRRR has awarded $207,812 in grants to community groups across the Kinglake Ranges region, for 13 projects that will strengthen the social connectedness and continued recovery of Victorian communities impacted by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. 

These grants mark the final round of FRRR’s Grants for Resilience & Wellness (GR&W) Kinglake Ranges program and closes out the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF). In total, VBAF has funded 492 community-led projects, with an investment of $7,436,642, thanks to funds raised by the general public following the bushfires. 

In this final round of GR&W Kinglake Ranges grants, locals continue to seek to strengthen community identity and a shared sense of place. Funded projects will create opportunities for people to come together and connect, such as The Foggy Mountain Music and Arts Festival 2023 bush dance, or through improvements made to the accessibility and function of shared spaces like Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House’s Community Garden or the Toolangi District Community House’s C J Dennis Hall. Other places, like Flowerdale Community House, are preparing for future disasters by building community capacity through planning and education. 

Nina O’Brien, Disaster Resilience & Recovery Lead at FRRR, said the Foundation is humbled to play a small, yet consistent, role in the Kinglake Ranges’ recovery journey. 

“For the past 14 years, FRRR’s Grants for Resilience & Wellness program has been dedicated to supporting the recovery of Victorian communities impacted by the historic bushfires. And it’s thanks to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund, and the generosity of everyday people, that we have been able to fund local recovery initiatives, for the long-term. 

“Grant programs, like GR&W Kinglake Ranges, demonstrate the complexity of disaster recovery and the need for long-term funding to support affected communities, especially those in remote, rural and regional areas. 

“In Kinglake Central, Kinglake West, Pheasant Creek, Toolangi and Flowerdale, we have seen how priorities and needs have shifted and evolved throughout the recovery process. From the initial planning of pathways to further local investment, to training and education to build resilience and foster wellbeing, to small infrastructure projects that provide a safe space for locals to connect and prepare for future disasters. 

“We know that the Kinglake Ranges region will continue the process of recovery, and for each community, that will look different. While this is the final round of GR&W, FRRR will continue to support the communities of Kinglake Ranges through our Strengthening Rural Communities grant program. 

“It’s important that the people in these communities know that they are supported now, and into the future,” Ms O’Brien explained.  

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

By Nina O’Brien, Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead

In 2022, as multiple disaster events were occurring nationally, there was a collective focus on recovery and preparedness practices.

Curious to better understand how to strengthen support for communities, particularly at a local level, the Creative Recovery Network (CRN) and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) partnered to investigate the valuable role that creative projects, initiatives, collaborations and processes play when communities are recovering from disaster or other significant climate impacts. This had led to the Impacts of Creative Recovery report.

With a shared focus on strengthening social capital, both CRN and FRRR have long understood the importance of creative-led recovery practices. The Creative Recovery Network is the lead agency building recovery capability by linking the creative sector with communities and disaster management to grow and connect through the disaster experience. FRRR is the only national foundation specifically focused on ensuring the social and economic strength of remote, rural and regional communities.

While recovery practices are typically varied and nuanced, creative recovery is a particular approach to supporting both individuals and communities after a disaster event. It involves using creative activities as tools for communities to reduce emotional impacts, build resilience, foster connection, and support wellbeing.

Purpose and approach to the study

The research commissioned by FRRR and CRN was designed to document the broader benefits of creative-led recovery and explore whether creative recovery provides valuable, cost-effective and approaches to support individual and community wellbeing within a disaster response. We also wanted to understand if, and how, it contributes to enhanced recovery outcomes and community resilience over the longer-term. A further aim, assuming the research did indeed confirm other anecdotal and lived experience, was to strengthen support for appropriate resourcing, activation and embedding of these practices in processes and planning.

The study reviewed and analysed five community recovery projects that were funded by FRRR. These projects involved diverse creative recovery approaches and were undertaken in very different locations and disaster environments across Australia between 2015 and 2020. Looking back at these historic projects allowed analysis of the long-term outcomes and impacts of this range of work.

There were four broad themes through which the impact of creative recovery was explored:

1. Social Capital and Connection;
2. Revitalisation and Placemaking;
3. Acceptance and Growth; and
4. Identity and Belonging.

Findings confirm lasting impacts of creative recovery projects

Collaborative and community led creative recovery activities and projects build on existing local strengths, networks and resources, and can help to lessen impacts and the sense of isolation and disempowerment resulting from disaster events. Significantly, where creative recovery projects are inclusive and participatory by design they leave a lasting legacy, which has far reaching benefits for communities.

Additionally, the retrospective review showed creative recovery projects also built knowledge and understanding of mental health, wellbeing practices and resources. By collaborating and contributing to these creative recovery projects at a local level, community members built positive experiences and perspectives. Projects studied had a significant impact on individuals’ sense of self-worth and confidence, while also enhancing the sense of place and establishing lasting connections to place, culture and traditions.

So, the study has done what we hoped it would: highlight that creative recovery has the unique ability to build long-lasting community resilience, wellbeing and enhanced local capacity for disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

Key ingredients for leaving a lasting legacy

The study identified a number of common factors in projects that had a lasting impact and legacy in their communities. This included:

• Program design being based on community-led processes
• Building upon local strengths, networks and resources
• Planning and delivery are expertly coordinated
• The project was inclusive, participatory and collaborative
• Ensuring the initiative provides mentorship and education opportunities;
• Leaving a lasting, tangible cultural output;
• Having ongoing funding support; and, critically
• Being led by passionate, dedicated and well-connected local leaders.

Similarly it identified some common challenges, including funding and the retention of either paid staff, expert facilitators and volunteers, especially for large-scale projects.

New approaches recommended

This report adds weight to the growing evidence of the value of embedding creative recovery approaches in future disaster management planning and processes.

Drawing on clear evidence in each project across each of the evaluation dimensions, the report recommends:

1. Funding bodies provide ongoing financial support for creative recovery programs;
2. Government and disaster management agencies embed Creative Recovery processes in to policy that is integrated into wider disaster management arrangements; and
3. Local communities value and invest in their creative economy to provide ongoing participation and employment in the arts.

As we turn our attention to improving disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts, this report illuminates ways that creative recovery approaches to disaster management can provide opportunities to foster community collaboration and more specifically enhance individual and community resilience and wellbeing.

We encourage all those working in this space to explore the report.