Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
In this quarter’s update for FRRR’s partners and supporters, we’re focussing on the big difference that small grants make. Read about:
- A very impactful tractor funded in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges
- How you can support RRR communities now, and for the long-term before EOFY
- Synergies between FRRR and our partner GlobalGiving’s funding philosophy
- Insights from the Bush
- Our Progress – Q3 FY 2022/23
- Partnering opportunities to activate great projects
In this quarter’s update for FRRR’s donor partners, read about:
- Official opening of First Steps Count in Taree, NSW
- A new Giving option
- Bushfire Recovery, three summers on
- Insights from the Bush
- Our Progress – Q2 FY 2022/23
- Partnering opportunities in youth and education
In this quarter’s update for FRRR’s donor partners, read about:
- Connecting with Communities
- Progress Report
- Insights from the bush
- Donor spotlight: Nutrien Ag Solutions
- Community partner spotlight: Housing Matters Action Group Inc (HMAG)
In this quarter’s update for FRRR’s donor partners, read about:
- Tiwi Enterprises: strengthening their community in the Northern Territory
- Progress Report
- Insights from the bush
- Donor spotlight: Raine & Horne Foundation
- Support Victorian communities to be Disaster Resilient: Future Ready
In this quarter’s update for FRRR’s donor partners, read about:
- Ngketya Nwernaka Ilkerta Mparetyeka: an innovative grassroots language revival program in Central Australia
- Progress Report
- Insights from the bush
- Donor spotlight: The Macdoch Foundation
- Community Partner Spotlight: Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE)
- Partnering opportunities: Private Ancillary Funds
Nine projects funded across NSW, QLD and WA
While drought is out of the media spotlight, for many communities it is still a very real and significant issue. FRRR’s Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT) program has just awarded $86,083 to nine community initiatives in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia still dealing with the impacts of drought.
TTTT is a long-running, collaboratively-funded program that helps drought-affected communities to access the funding and resources they need to tackle the long-term impacts of drought. This round of grants will help fund a variety of projects run by local not-for-profit organisations and community groups, including a series of art workshops for both adults and children, a community event featuring Aboriginal artwork, the creation of murals and skills training to support community members experiencing loss and grief.
Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead, said that there are still many regions across Australia being impacted by drought.
“During this round of grants, the number of eligible LGAs dropped from 152 to 47. While we’re delighted to see such a significant drop in the number of communities being impacted by drought, it’s crucial that we continue to provide support. A lot of places, like remote SA, are still tackling extreme periods of dryness while others are very much still in drought recovery mode. Not to mention the fact that communities are dealing with a variety of other factors as they continue to stand strong and keep their community connected and supported.
“In this round of applications, we saw a lot of projects that are aiming to improve volunteer capacity and build a sense of social connectedness. If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that our remote, rural and regional communities need volunteers and a strong sense of community in order to thrive.
“When we carried out our Heartbeat of Rural Australia survey last year, the results showed that the effects of drought, as well as the cumulative effects of multiple other disasters, have left volunteers feeling extremely fatigued, and those living in rural communities feeling isolated. That’s why we’re so pleased to be able to fund these kinds of grassroots initiatives at a time when they’re truly needed,” Ms O’Brien said.
Among the other projects funded this round were:
- Red Ridge Ltd – Longreach, QLD – Outback Fashion Festival – Canvas to Catwalk – Provide opportunities for Aboriginal artists from seven outback Queensland communities to participate in fashion print design workshops which culminate in a catwalk runway community event. $10,000
- Rattler Railway Company Ltd – Gympie, QLD – Fatigue Management Accommodation- Build the capacity, capability, and sustainability of Rattler Railway Company Ltd through infrastructure restoration and renovation to support volunteers. $10,000
- For a Better Chapman Valley (FABCV) Incorporated – Chapman Valley & Nabawa, WA – Winter Art Series in Chapman Valley – Facilitate social connection and enhance opportunities for the Chapman Valley community to participate in creative activities through the delivery of art workshops. $7,900
The full list of grant recipients and their projects is listed on the FRRR website.
The TTTT program supports drought-affected regions of Australia by giving community groups and local not-for-profit organisations access to the resources they need to respond to, and recover from, long-term rainfall deficiencies. This program has granted over $18 million to initiatives that are helping communities to tackle the tough times that come with drought.
Funding for this program is generously contributed by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, Pratt Foundation, Stockland CARE Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, The Snow 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 at frrr.org.au/giving/.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
Moama and District Pre-School Centre Inc | Moama & District Preschool Brings Sober in the Country to Moama Improve the community’s social and emotional health and encourage local involvement by hosting a community dinner and guest speaker on drinking culture and supporting healthy choices. | Moama | $9,150 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Congregation of Central Western Qld UCA | Edgely Hall Improvements Improve volunteer vitality and support social connection by installing air-conditioning in the multi-purpose room of the Longreach Uniting Church. | Longreach | $10,000 | |||
Red Ridge (Interior Queensland) Limited | Outback Fashion Festival - Canvas to Catwalk Provide opportunities for Aboriginal artists from seven outback Queensland communities to participate in fashion print design workshops which culminate in a catwalk runway community event. | Longreach | $10,000 | |||
Rattler Railway Company Ltd | Fatigue Management Accommodation Build the capacity, capability, and sustainability of Rattler Railway Company Ltd through infrastructure restoration and renovation to support volunteers. | Gympie | $10,000 | |||
Kumbia & District Memorial School of Arts Inc | Kumbia & District School Memorial of Arts Inc Hall Improvements Boost and strengthen the local economy and reduce social isolation with town beautification in Kumbia through mural art. | Kumbia | $10,000 | |||
Connecting Communities Australia Ltd | Let the Show Go On Improve volunteer vitality and support strong social connection by providing a team of volunteers to assist the Longreach Show Committee prepare and coordinate the Longreach Annual Show. | Longreach | $9,933 | |||
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
The Isolated Childrens' Parents Association of (WA) Inc | 2022 ICPA Federal Conference Build communities’ resilience to continue to face the many ongoing issues and uncertainties that are inherent for families living in rural and remote Australia by hosting a conference where participants connect and learn from one another. | Various | $10,000 | |||
Busselton Hospice Care Incorporated | Increasing the Capability to Support Grief and Bereavement in our Compassionate Community Empower a community group by providing skills training and capacity building to further support community members experiencing loss and grief. | Busselton | $9,100 | |||
For a Better Chapman Valley (FABCV) Incorporated | Winter Art Series in Chapman Valley Facilitate social connection and enhance opportunities for the Chapman Valley community to participate in creative activities through the delivery of art workshops. | Nabawa | $7,900 |
In this quarter’s update for FRRR’s donor partners, read about:
- Flood recovery – how you can help
- The long and short of bushfire recovery – FRRR’s approach to recovery following the Black Summer bushfires
- Case study: Recovery in action in mighty Mallacoota
- Insights from the bush
- Donor spotlight: The Bertalli Family Foundation
- Progress Report
- Partnering opportunities: Victorian expansion of disaster resilience
- Community partner spotlight: The Next Economy
FRRR has awarded $3,084,346 to 60 local not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) in remote, rural and regional Australia for grassroots initiatives that will build their community’s resilience to drought.
Funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and a range of other donor partners, the Networks to Build Drought Resilience program focuses on agriculture-dependent communities. It’s designed to give local NFPs access to the funds and resources they need to prepare and strengthen their community’s response to future drought and climate change.
This second round of grants, which range from $10,120 to $150,000, sees several First Nations organisations receiving grants. The successful groups include Outback Academy Australia Ltd, which has received a grant of $146,966 to strengthen drought resilience through collaborative Aboriginal networks across several states.
There is also more funding to help women in rural communities come together, with support for projects like the Rural Women’s Gathering 2022 in South Australia. Their $27,000 grant will help to build drought resilience by facilitating professional, social and community connections among women.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that this diversity in applications is what allows these programs to make a meaningful difference in local communities.
“We’ve seen community-led projects that address the needs of First Nations people, women and young people. It’s this kind of tailored approach, responding to the unique challenges of each place, that will enable these communities to build long-lasting networks to build their enduring ability to manage the future impacts of drought.”
Ms Egleton also said that despite facing many challenges, these local organisations are committed to building a better future for their communities in the long run.
“Local leaders are so impressive. Many groups were still dealing with the impacts of COVID lockdowns and restrictions, not to mention extreme weather events. These circumstances have left volunteers feeling very fatigued (as we confirmed in our Heartbeat of Rural Australia study last year), and yet these rounds saw proposals for great ideas and innovative projects put forward“.
“We’re proud to partner with the Australian Government on this program, and grateful for the additional funding we have received from our many other donors. These partnerships are vital when it comes to equipping grassroots organisations with the resources, they need to ensure their regions can thrive into the future,” said Ms Egleton.
Some more of the 60 initiatives, which are spread across every state and territory, include:
- Tharwa Community Association Inc – Tharwa, ACT – Tharwa Community Hall Critical Repair and Remediation – $20,000 – This project will support crucial repairs for the Tharwa meeting hall. The hall is a central meeting place for local farming families and fosters connectedness and the community’s capacity to respond to future drought events.
- Tamworth Regional Landcare Association – Wallabadah, NSW – Regenerative Practices on the Liverpool Plains: Learning & Working Together to Build Drought Resilience – $22,600 – This project will build drought resilience through two education events and a farm tour day to build understandings of risks posed by drought and climate change in agriculture-dependent communities of the Tamworth region. The project will encourage participants to shift from ‘season to season’ thinking to developing a long-term vision and plan which considers the impact of climate variability on their farming business.
- Young Livestock Exporters Network – Darwin & Katherine, NT and Townsvillle, Qld – YLEN Leadership Program: Future-Proofing the Livestock Industry – $45,867 – This project will support educational opportunities through two training events, a leadership program and stockperson course, designed to bring rural youth together to discuss the impacts of difficult times, including drought. These events will enable the youth participants to discuss with industry experts, topics to understand the risks posed by drought, how to plan for and manage the risks, and stress, self-care and communication during difficult times, giving the participants tools that they can share with their communities, and draw on during difficult times, including times of drought.
- Burnett Catchment Care Association – Monto, QLD – Connecting Monto producers to build resilience – $19,000 – This project will support hosting of three workshops on strategies to prepare for drought, sustainability practices and soil health during drought. Focussing on discussion about new information presented and sharing of ideas and experiences, the workshops will build locally relevant knowledge required to support the rural community’s response to the impacts of drought.
- Tumby Bay Progress Association – Tumby Bay, SA – Improving Farmer Skills in Effective Communication and Digital Literacy, Lower Eyre Peninsula – $45,000 – This project will build drought resilience through enabling 50 locals to participate in a 16-week communication and literacy training program, focussed at building participants’ capacity to network with their communities, thus building participants’ readiness to face the impacts during times of drought. The project will support ongoing community engagement through an online networking tool for the community to continue sharing ideas and experiences to continue building connectedness and a shared sense of purpose.
- Big Hart – Wynyard, TAS – The Watershed Project – $140,000 – This project will support community engagement events including three community dinners, a networking breakfast, two film screenings and two workshops across the North West coast of Tasmania to discuss topics such as water and eco anxiety, water and well-being, and water and local production. The events will be targeted across the local community to involve producers, local clubs, youth and businesses for the communities will work collaboratively to solve problems on environmental and agribusiness topics that are central to drought resilience at the local level.
- Partners in Ag Incorporated – Rupanyup, VIC – Wimmera Rural Table Gathering – $28,608 – This project will support a full day event to bring rural women together to discuss the impacts of drought and a changing climate for the region. Including a panel discussion of industry experts, participants will be involved in discussions and learnings to understand the challenges faced by communities in times of drought and how community members can develop skills and strategies to deal with difficult times, including during times of drought.
- Lower Blackwood Land Conservation District Committee – Karridale, WA – Lower Blackwood Online Community Forum & Information Hub – $49,850 – This project will build the community’s capacity to understand & implement sustainable agriculture objectives and drought resilience through an online Community Forum & Information Hub, which will provide an interactive platform to access information and resources with locally relevant information.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY | ||||||
Funding Tier 1: $10,000- $20,000 | ||||||
Tharwa Community Association Inc | Tharwa Community Hall Critical Repair and Remediation
This project will support crucial repairs for the Tharwa meeting hall. The hall is a central meeting place for local farming families and fosters connectedness and the community’s capacity to respond to future drought events. | Tharwa | $20,000 | |||
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
Funding Tier 1: $10,000- $20,000 | ||||||
Active Farmers Ltd. | 100 Mental Health Champions
This project will support trainers and community members across 47 rural communities to attend a two-day mental health first aid course. Through the course, participants will share their skills to work with their communities to respond to the challenges that arise in rural communities during times of drought. | Mangoplah | $10,120 | |||
Community College-Northern Inland Incorporated | Namoi Womens Shed
This project will support improvements to increase the Namoi Women’s Shed as a venue for training and collaboration. This will support the community to meet, and develop skills and social connections, that support drought preparedness. | Narrabri | $13,731 | |||
Central West Farming Systems Inc. | CWFS Rural and Regional Women and Youth 'Just Brilliant' Conference 2022
This one-day conference will bring together rural women and young leaders with agricultural leaders to discuss personal, rural and drought resilience. The event will provide opportunity for participants to network across communities and seek guidance and mentorship to deal with the impacts of difficult times, including drought. | Condobolin | $16,210 | |||
Cookamidgera Community Landcare Inc | Saving Cooka Hall
This project will support critical upgrades to the central community hall. This will make the hall accessible for more of the community to gather, strengthening connections and sharing of knowledge to prepare for the impacts of drought. | Cookamidgera | $16,370 | |||
Eurobodalla Shire Council | For the Farmers - Finding connection in the country
This project will support two community networking events and a podcast series. It will strengthen community networks and engagement through regular meetings, and disseminate key drought information for the community. | Moruya | $17,270 | |||
Adavale Lane Community Centre Incorporated | Setting Up a Connected Educational Environment to Run a Workshop on How to Prepare for a Drought
This project will support a workshop that will include insights, demonstrations and strategies that can be implemented locally to prepare for future droughts. The project will also include small upgrades to the local meeting place to improve its use for the community to share knowledge and support each other before, during and after times of drought. | Goonumbla | $17,491 | |||
Weemelah Hall | Provide additional outdoor facilities and beautification to the Weemelah Hall Yard
This project will support improvements to indoor and outdoor facilities at the Weemelah Hall. The improvements will enable the facility to continue its vital role as a central meeting place for the community to meet, including preparing for drought. | Weemelah | $18,832 | |||
Gwymac Incorporated | Building Farm Resilience Through More Dynamic Soils and Pastures
This project will host three workshops that will provide information on drought resilience farming and climate change. The workshops will build farmers’ and the communities’ knowledge through sharing of case studies, personal experiences and learnings. | Inverell | $18,950 | |||
Monaro Farming Systems CMC Incorporated | Drought Preparedness on The Monaro – Feed Evaluating & Drought Planning
This project supports a three day drought preparedness workshop that will build local producers’ skills and capacity to evaluate and manage the impacts of drought. It will include sessions on risk management and planning, strategies on drought planning, and pasture management to prepare for, and during times of drought. | Cooma | $19,050 | |||
Funding Tier 2: $20,001- $50,000 | ||||||
Tamworth Regional Landcare Association | Regenerative Practices on the Liverpool Plains: Learning & Working Together to Build Drought Resilience
This project will build drought resilience through two education events and a farm tour day to build understandings of risks posed by drought and climate change in agriculture-dependent communities of the Tamworth region. The project will encourage participants to shift from ‘season to season’ thinking to developing a long-term vision and plan which considers the impact of climate variability on their farming business. | Wallabadah | $22,600 | |||
Destination Tweed Ltd | Cross-Sector Connectivity: Food + Nature + Arts
This project will build drought resilience through four agri-food networking forums to strengthen understanding of risks posed by drought and climate change, and ensure the community is better positioned to adapt to future drought challenges. | Tyalgum | $25,000 | |||
Mid Lachlan Landcare Incorporated | Using the Future to learn from past droughts
This project will support four local field days on drought resilience, on-farm drought preparedness plans and agricultural sustainability practices in the region, to build the skills of local land managers to enable them to make timely on farm decision making when dealing with the warning signs and effects of drought. | Canowindra | $27,560 | |||
Clarence Landcare Incorporated | Clarence Landcare Agriculture Network (CLAN)
This project will support monthly field days and other events, training and meetings to provide training on best practice land and natural resource management skills for communities preparing for and responding to the impacts of drought. | Grafton | $40,520 | |||
Glenrac Incorporated | Cultivating Skills and Community Connections for Glen Innes
This project supports a series of nine training workshops for community members and farming businesses, focussed on drought and risk management planning. The project provides additional benefit in fostering networks for new residents with limited social connections in the community. | Glen Innes | $48,340 | |||
Bermagui Pre School Co-operative Society Limited | The Moodji Futures Project
This project will support local events including a sustainability workshop and Long Table Dinner. The events will focus on drought mitigation practices and support a shared sense of purpose and community belonging. | Bermagui | $49,000 | |||
Caragabal Country Golf Club Ltd | Improve access, safety and efficiency of the Caragabal Country Golf Club as a community meeting place
This project will establish an online forum to increase knowledge sharing and stories across the community, and support small upgrades to the central community meeting place. These activities will improve the community’s ability to share knowledge and improve social connectedness and improved mental health and wellbeing throughout the drought cycle. | Caragabal | $50,000 | |||
Funding Tier 3: $50,001 - $150,000 | ||||||
Kempsey Shire Council | The Macleay Valley River to the Sea Festival
This project will support a community festival, involving a primary producer workshop to build long-term success in a post drought region, as well as mental health and resilience in times of drought. Participants will build local connections and an understanding of risks posted by drought and the changing climate. | Kempsey | $56,960 | |||
NORTHERN TERRITORY | ||||||
Funding Tier 2: $20,001- $50,000 | ||||||
Kulgera Gymkhana Club Incorporated | Kulgera Gymkhana Club - Upgrade Facilities
This project will support connectedness in this very remote region through supporting small scale community infrastructure improvements at a main community facility, thus enabling the community to connect and share experiences and knowledge, and improve the community’s wellbeing during tough times, including during drought. | Kulgera | $29,724 | |||
Young Livestock Exporters Network | YLEN Leadership Program: Future-Proofing the Livestock Industry
This project will support educational opportunities through two training events, a leadership program and stockperson course, designed to bring rural youth together to discuss the impacts of difficult times, including drought. These events will enable the youth participants to discuss with industry experts, topics to understand the risks posed by drought, how to plan for and manage the risks, and stress, self-care and communication during difficult times, giving the participants tools that they can share with their communities, and draw on during difficult times, including times of drought. | Darwin, Katherine & Townsville | $45,867 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Funding Tier 1: $10,000- $20,000 | ||||||
Burnett Catchment Care Association | Connecting Monto producers to build resilience
This project will support hosting of three workshops on strategies to prepare for drought, sustainability practices and soil health during drought. Focussing on discussion about new information presented and sharing of ideas and experiences, the workshops will build locally relevant knowledge required to support the rural community’s response to the impacts of drought. | Monto | $19,000 | |||
Funding Tier 2: $20,001- $50,000 | ||||||
Connecting Communities Australia Ltd | Bright Spaces, Bright Faces: Renovation of the Isisford District Hospital Museum and Multi-Purpose Centre
This project will support small upgrades at a community centre to enable this formal and informal community meeting space to be used year-round and host a community event on drought preparedness for the region. | Isisford | $28,508 | |||
Queensland Families and Communities Association Inc. | Neighbourhood Centres Engaging to Strengthen Community Connections and Wellbeing
This project will support capacity building events including information evenings and drought preparedness packs, to share information to prepare for the impacts of drought. Community events through the project will share information for communities to adapt to future drought challenges. | Diamond Valley | $46,740 | |||
Society of Precision Agriculture Australia (SPAA) Incorporated | SPAA Community Field Days - Supporting Drought Resilience
This project will support five community field days that will build knowledge about agricultural practices relevant to the regions, assisting these farming communities to understand and discuss the risks posed by drought and climate change. | Goondiwindi (Qld), Dalwallinu (WA), Kyalite (NSW); Underbool (Vic); Waikerie (SA) | $48,658 | |||
Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd | Drought Resilience Awareness and Networking Forums for the Northern Gulf region of Queensland
This project will fund a series of three drought and farming forum events across regional Queensland about the risks posed by drought in the Northern Gulf region. Farmer focused forums will include guest speakers and interactive discussions and planning sessions, to build participants’ knowledge and networks to build the rural communities’ capacity to better respond to the impacts of drought. | Dimbulah, Chillagoe & Croydon | $49,700 | |||
Stanthorpe Agricultural Society | "Connect with the world!" LED sign installation project
This project will support community infrastructure improvements to the Stanthorpe Agriculture Showgrounds that will increase community usage of the venue to foster connectedness, improve wellbeing and increase knowledge sharing, by engaging sections of the population that are not able to access key community information in other means. | Stanthorpe | $50,000 | |||
Momentum Mental Health Limited | Wellbeing and Drought Resilience training for Darling Downs QLD small business teams
This project will support wellbeing and mental health workshops to rural businesses to provide training, skills and strategies to support the community prepare for and during times of drought. The workshops will build the confidence of participants to check in across the communities, identify signs of mental distress during times of drought and take action during hard times. | Toowoomba | $50,000 | |||
Funding Tier 3: $50,001 - $150,000 | ||||||
Warra Public Memorial Hall Inc | Re-roofing and installation of insulation of the Warra Memorial Hall
This project will support small upgrades to a central community centre used by farming groups and the community to share ideas, network and hold community information sessions. This local meeting place will provide the community to support each other and share ideas to prepare for the impacts of drought. | Warra | $115,500 | |||
Flinders Shire Council | The Hub: Creating connection, strengthening resilience, and activating opportunity
This community project will build drought resilience through small scale community infrastructure improvements to a main local meeting place, and through this, foster connectedness, improve wellbeing and share knowledge during hard times, including drought. | Hughenden | $150,000 | |||
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Funding Tier 2: $20,001- $50,000 | ||||||
Limestone Coast Food & Agribusiness Cluster Ltd | Improving regional branding and recognition of local agri-food systems on SA’s Limestone Coast through the delivery of regional networking and capacity building events.
This project will build the region’s preparedness to the impacts of drought through connecting through six networking events and six webinars for local producers to discuss the impacts of drought locally and develop the necessary skills and knowledge for the region to respond to hard times, including times of drought. The project will facilitate professional, social and community connection to better understand the risks posed by drought and climate change, as well as fostering higher rates of innovation in the local area. | Penola | $24,450 | |||
District Council of Streaky Bay | Rural Women's Gathering 2022
This project will develop the community’s preparedness to the impacts of drought through a full-day networking event about understanding the risks posed by drought and climate change. The event will encourage both regional and local women across South Australia to share experiences and skills whilst also providing these women with tools and training, so they are better prepared to respond to hard times, including during times of drought. | Streaky Bay | $27,000 | |||
Tumby Bay Progress Association Incorporated | Improving Farmer Skills in Effective Communication and Digital Literacy, Lower Eyre Peninsula
This project will build drought resilience through enabling 50 locals to participate in a 16-week communication and literacy training program, focussed at building participants’ capacity to network with their communities, thus building participants’ readiness to face the impacts during times of drought. The project will support ongoing community engagement through an online networking tool for the community to continue sharing ideas and experiences to continue building connectedness and a shared sense of purpose. | Tumby Bay | $45,000 | |||
WoTL Ltd | “100 billion reasons” – a program to upskill rural businesses in modern human resource leadership to prepare SA agricultural industries and rural communities for 2030.
This project will support two training workshops and an online forum for rural groups across four regions in rural South Australia. Learnings will include community risk management, planning and issues relating to specific communities, to build a collective knowledge to support these communities deal with the impacts of hard times, including drought. | Lameroo, Cleve, Keith & Minlaton | $49,891 | |||
Funding Tier 3: $50,001 - $150,000 | ||||||
Wudinna and Le Hunte District Agricultural Horticultural & Floricultural Society Incorporated | Wudinna Showgrounds Water Harvest
This project will support the local community build preparedness to the impacts of drought by developing strategies to enable the community to have a social meeting place to connect and support each other during difficult times, including times of drought. | Wudinna | $109,417 | |||
University of South Australia | Strengthening wellbeing and deepening social support in a drought-affected, agricultural-dependent community with the help of ‘Wellbeing Warriors’ to promote mental health and wellbeing within their networks
This project will strengthen the capacity of community networks in the regional town of Loxton, through three tailored workshops, involving industry experts to discuss ideas and experiences for the community to develop strategies to deal with the impacts of tough times. Training of wellbeing champions in the rural communities will assist the communities prepare for, and respond to the impacts of drought. | Loxton | $148,458 | |||
Marama Community Incorporated | Marama Community Hall Revival
This project will support small improvements for this regional South Australian town’s central meeting place to increase its use year-round, fostering community connectedness and communal space for community support during difficult times, including times of drought. | Marama | $150,000 | |||
TASMANIA | ||||||
Funding Tier 3: $50,001 - $150,000 | ||||||
Big Hart Inc | The Watershed Project
This project will support community engagement events including three community dinners, a networking breakfast, two film screenings and two workshops across the North West coast of Tasmania to discuss topics such as water and eco anxiety, water and well-being, and water and local production. The events will be targeted across the local community to involve producers, local clubs, youth and businesses for the communities will work collaboratively to solve problems on environmental and agribusiness topics that are central to drought resilience at the local level. | Wynyard | $140,000 | |||
VICTORIA | ||||||
Funding Tier 2: $20,001- $50,000 | ||||||
Trust for Nature (Victoria) | Native grassland management on farms in south-west Victoria
This project will support a forum that will connect farmers, rural landholders and experts to discuss local issues faced in preparing for drought. The forum will build drought resilience knowledge and improve local collaboration and knowledge of the skills and strategies required to prepare for droughts. | Shelford | $21,900 | |||
Paynesville Neighbourhood Centre Inc | Supporting a resilient community - mental health first aid training
This project will build the skills and understanding of the risks posed by difficult times, including during times of drought, through a series of eight mental health first aid courses to local community leaders. The participants will develop the knowledge and skills to engage with their communities and understand the risks posed by drought and the strategies needed to deal with the impacts of drought. Through the courses, a network of community leaders will support their communities prepare for the impacts of tough times, including during drought. | Paynesville | $26,772 | |||
Partners In Ag Incorporated | Wimmera Rural Table Gathering
This project will support a full day event to bring rural women together to discuss the impacts of drought and a changing climate for the region. Including a panel discussion of industry experts, participants will be involved in discussions and learnings to understand the challenges faced by communities in times of drought and how community members can develop skills and strategies to deal with difficult times, including during times of drought. | Rupanyup | $28,608 | |||
Food Next Door Co-op Ltd | Strengthening connections between farming and young people at the Community Demonstration Farm
Through a short training course and discussion forums with Young Farmer groups and local hobby farmers, this project will support building drought resilience through increasing knowledge and understanding of the risks posed by drought and climate change at a local level. The training course and forums will support information sharing about climate change impacts on food production and strengthening resilience for local farms, increasing the region’s capacity to prepare for the impacts of drought. | Nichols Point | $35,826 | |||
Murrabit Advancement Association Inc | Connecting Spaces and Places - Murrabit
This project will support improvements for a local community meeting place, to make the location more accessible to the community on a year round basis to meet in larger groups to share insights and learnings to prepare for drought. | Murrabit | $37,318 | |||
Binginwarri Recreation Reserve | Upgrade of Binginwarri Recreation Reserve's existing toilet block.
This project will build drought resilience through small scale community infrastructure improvements at this central meeting place for the community to support each other during hard times, and enhance the venue’s use to enable the community to share knowledge and support during disaster times, including times of drought. | Binginwarri | $40,000 | |||
Gippsland Agricultural Group | Gippsland Future Fodder - Connect and Prepare Initiatives
This project will support this local community group to engage with local farmers to assist farmers develop action plans to prepare for the impacts of drought. The project will also support a field day to bring together farmers to discuss key regional risk management issues and develop solutions to improve the community’s drought preparedness. | Omeo | $42,920 | |||
Southern Farming Systems Ltd | Soil moisture and informed decisions.
This project will support training sessions across five locations in Victoria and Tasmania and online webinars to share information and resources to build local knowledge about the risks posed by drought at the local level and strategies to manage during drought times. The workshops will enable knowledge sharing, including with professionals, to expand participants’ knowledge and ability to prepare for the impacts of drought and climate change. | Inverleigh, Streatham & Bairnsdale (Vic) and Longford (Tas) | $45,810 | |||
Funding Tier 3: $50,001 - $150,000 | ||||||
Indigo Shire Council | Country halls connected for farming community resilience
This project will support a Drought and Farm Resilience workshop for communities in the Indigo Shire, a collaborative Capacity Building and Drought Resilience hall committee workshop, bringing hall committees together across three communities, and small upgrades to community facilities to hold these workshops. The workshops will focus on developing the skills required to build farm resilience to the impacts of drought and will enable the agriculture dependent community to share ideas to strengthen their knowledge and build a social wellbeing that is required during tough times. | Cornishtown | $98,843 | |||
Mallee District Aboriginal Services Limited | Shed refurbishment to create a gathering space for Kerang Aboriginal Elders and Leaders and community.
This project will support small upgrades to community infrastructure critical for a year-round meeting place for the community to build connections and resilience. The meeting shed is a central meeting place used to share knowledge across a broad rural area in the preparation to the impacts of drought. | Kerang | $136,420 | |||
Twin Rivers Men's Shed Association Inc. | Twin Rivers Community Hub and Men's Shed Project
This project will support small upgrades to a central meeting space for the community to socially connect and share knowledge to prepare for the impacts of drought. The improved community facilities will build a community connectedness and support the community to bring experts to discuss strategies and skills required during tough times, including during drought. | Johnsonville | $150,000 | |||
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Funding Tier 1: $10,000- $20,000 | ||||||
Nyabing Progress Association Inc | Nyabing Community Hub Accessibility and Functionality Project
This project will support small upgrades to this central community meeting place to share knowledge and information to assist the community to network and support each other in times of drought. | Nyabing | $10,701 | |||
Shire of Coorow | Leeman Community Networking Beach Shelter Project
The project will support improved social connection and community wellbeing, providing new infrastructure that will assist the community to prepare for and adapt to future drought events, improve wellbeing and increase knowledge sharing, enhancing an informal community meeting space. | Leeman | $10,938 | |||
Facey Group Inc | Farm business forum for new and early career Farmers in the Facey Group catchment and surrounds
This project will support a full day community forum to build the community’s understanding of local risks posed by drought and climate change, and how to respond to these risks in the agriculture-dependent communities of the Avon and Black River Catchments. | Wickepin | $20,000 | |||
Funding Tier 2: $20,001- $50,000 | ||||||
Balingup Progress Association Inc | Balingup – A Call to Action
This project will support a local event to improve the community’s understanding of risks posed by drought and climate change through group discussions and demonstrations across a range of risk management practices, developing sustainability and community resilience. The field day will develop a local understanding of drought mitigation practices to support rural community’s response to the impacts of drought. | Balingup | $24,359 | |||
Blackwood Basin Group (BBG) Incorporated | Strengthening Community Capabilities and Networks for Future Drought Resilience
This project will support the grantee to provide essential training to local landholders to improve their drought preparedness through an intensive field day with leading agricultural professionals with locally specific knowledge for building drought resilience. | Boyup Brook | $31,592 | |||
Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance Inc. | Showcasing Our Resilience - Sharing Our Stories Across The Southern Rangelands
This project will produce videos and podcasts to share approaches and ideas for mitigating the effects of drought and improving rangelands condition to improve drought resilience across the district. The project will foster connectedness and build drought resilience through sharing ideas that have been tested and working collaboratively with professionals and groups within the Southern Rangelands district to share learned experiences of risks and effective changes in response to drought and climate change. | Carnarvon | $34,425 | |||
The Agricultural Collective Ltd | Livestock Leaders Drought Resilience Workshop
This project will support a Livestock Leaders Drought Resilience event to bring together 20 young people to learn about leadership, communication and information sharing through a variety of mediums. The project will support the development of local leaders who will connect with their communities to prepare for, and during times of drought. The workshop will build participants’ confidence and skills to network and share their experiences and knowledge across their regions and more broadly. | Broome | $35,000 | |||
Shire of Pingelly | People of Pingelly - Past & Present
This project supports the compilation of video stories and forums to collate community members’ experiences of droughts and the coping and support mechanisms they used to deal with the impacts of drought. The project will build the community’s knowledge and understanding of the risks posed by drought and climate change through local knowledge and local approaches to mitigate the impacts of drought. | Pingelly | $44,895 | |||
Lower Blackwood Land Conservation District Committee | Lower Blackwood Online Community Forum & Information Hub
This project will build the community’s capacity to understand & implement sustainable agriculture objectives and drought resilience through an online Community Forum & Information Hub, which will provide an interactive platform to access information and resources with locally relevant information. | Karridale | $49,850 | |||
South Coast Alliance Inc | Climate Conversations Conference
This project will support a conference about drought and changing climate issues and region appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies. The conference will provide an opportunity for professional, social and community networking whilst also building knowledge on strategies to adapt to and prepare for future drought. | Denmark | $49,970 | |||
Funding Tier 3: $50,001 - $150,000 | ||||||
Saltwater Country Ltd. | Saltwater Country-ACV Collaboration for Kimberley Indigenous Drought Resilience
This project will help build drought resilience by providing access to animal and land management information crucial during times of drought for the region, improving the skills, capacity, and networks of First Nations station workers. This project’s activities will facilitate professional, social and community connection whilst providing training opportunities around regional specific information required to prepare for future droughts in the north of Western Australia. | Gibb | $145,316 | |||
Outback Academy Australia Limited | Strengthening drought resilience through collaborative Aboriginal networks and connected regenerative farming hubs
This project will support building drought resilience in Indigenous networks by supporting four regional events and a national online event to connect Indigenous farming communities to share methods and techniques best used to work in a changing climate. Co-ordinators will link information from professional sectors and government to the local regions and work with local communities to support learning from each other to develop locally relevant techniques. | Roelands (WA), Loxton (SA), Shepparton (Vic) & Deniliquin (NSW) | $146,966 |
The town of Dirranbandi, in southwest QLD, was suffering from a lack of Christmas cheer and the general community spirit was a bit flat, following relentless drought over many years. This was also having significant impacts on mental health.
In a bid to tackle these issues, while also putting Dirranbandi on the map for both tourists and locals, the Dirranbandi Progress Association used a $60,000 Tackling Tough Times Together grant, funded by the Australian Government to spark some joy in the township with a stunning lights installation.
With the support of Balonne Shire Council, the Dirranbandi Progress Association brought local tradespeople on board, as well as their local Arts Council, the business community and a work camp, which consisted of skilled prisoners who were being reintegrated back into society. Together, this dedicated team of people designed and fabricated a beautiful display of fairy lights that were installed and displayed throughout the main streets of their town all year round.
Alongside the permanent display, the grant funded Christmas lights, which is the main feature of an annual event attended by around 300 people. Locals from the around the community gather for a BBQ and watch the Christmas lights being turned on, while school children sing carols and everyone embraces the magic of Christmas.
Since having the lights installed and hosting these events, the local community, which was crippled by drought, has been able to congregate, reconnect and have its vibrant spirit reignited. As an added benefit, the local council committed to providing extra support and resources, not only for Dirranbandi, but for surrounding towns as a result of the project.
Residents of the severely drought-hit Marra Creek community, in NSW, have traditionally had to travel up to 250km to see a movie or drive 80km to the nearest hotel for social get-togethers.
The Marra Creek Public School Parents and Citizens Association decided things needed to change and set about creating an option for locals to enjoy pizza and a movie closer to home.
The school, located on the North West Plains, is one of the smallest in NSW, with a current enrolment of seven students, making it very isolated. Thanks to the ongoing and severe drought conditions in the area, the Marra Creek community has struggled with fundraising for workshops and events for local people.
P&C President Will Woolcock said the project aimed to combat isolation and bring the widespread district – which spans Bogan, Brewarrina and Warren – closer together to reconnect, strengthen community spirit, relax and enjoy a break.
“Between the lack of water and rain for crops, constantly feeding animals and financial difficulties, our community has had very little chance to get together,” he said.
With the help of a $5,000 Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities Grant, their wish for a pizza oven and movie equipment for the school was been granted. The grant covered a media projector, outdoor screen, sound system, set top box and satellite dish as well as a pizza oven at the school.
This means the community is now able to gather locally for social activities including film nights and watching major sporting events, although COVID-19 brought additional issues and delayed the launch event and initial planned activities.