Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
Augusta is a town in south-west WA, 40km from the nearest town of Margaret River, which is a larger service centre. Whilst traditionally a town with a reputation for having a high proportion of retirees, numerous young families have returned to Augusta where they grew up, or have taken a sea-change post-COVID.
When the only childcare centre closed in Augusta, families were faced with lengthy travel times to Margaret River, and this has had a flow-on impact on employment, limiting opportunities to access work, and for employers’ to fill staff vacancies.
A group of committed parents, local business owners and early childhood educators got together to set up an incorporated association to open a community-run, not-for-profit centre with 24 places to meet the urgent need for childcare. They successfully navigated the requirements and approvals of the Education Care Regulatory Unit and the Federal Government Childcare Subsidy program however, increased building costs compounded by development approval delays means the new centre is yet to open.
The best laid plans of mice and men…
Initially the project intended to purchase resources to outfit the new centre. Instead FRRR was able to work with the group to progress a variation to the original project, to help them adapt to their changing circumstances.
The group instead launched a vacation care service for children, kindy to 12-year-olds, filling a gap in the community’s childcare needs. They used a $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities grant, funded by FRRR, to purchase educational resources that are of a higher quality and more durable than the donated and second-hand older toys and cheaper equipment that had previously been used.
These resources will last longer and extend the children’s imagination, and have added real value to the program and been much loved by the children. They will also be able to used by the new childcare centre when it eventually does open.
Kylie Lucas, Treasurer of the Augusta & Districts Childcare Centre, noted in their acquittal: “We are very grateful for the donors and team at FRRR for enabling our project to be delivered with better resources, and it has made a real difference to the kids, working families and community members in our little town. The committee appreciated FRRR’s flexible and supportive approach.”
Contribute to the Change was one of the project ideas developed at the 2021 Heywire Ideas Lab. The group of young people who developed the idea wanted to see mental health support become destigmatised and delivered in ways that were personalised to meet the needs of young people.
Riverland Youth Theatre (RYT), based in Renmark SA, adapted the Contribute to the Change idea to deliver a costume design project for young queer people in the Riverlands. Their project was called There I Am, and encouraged young queer people to image and create the best version of themselves through imaginative and colourful costumes.
RYT identified that within the region there were few safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth to explore their identity, nor groups aimed at supporting them. This resulted in a decline in mental health, and young people leaving the community because they lacked accepting and supportive adults and peers in their community. RYT developed There I Am to address this issue, aiming to create a safe, supportive environment where young struggling LGBTQIA+ youth could come and explore their authentic selves.
Participants spent five days working with a costume designer to create a costume that told their story and helped them imagine the person they wanted to be. The project built on the idea that self-expression through clothing can be an affirming and validating act for queer youth who are exploring their identity.
“I feel like my outfit kind of says ‘hey I’m here, I might not be able to talk, but I am still a person, and I can be present here, even if I don’t feel like it that much.”
Rowan, one of the youth participants, said that their costume helped them feel in control in a world where they have little control. “I kind of based it on a part of myself that I’ve suppressed over the years and bringing that into the light. With my costume it’s about being able to control whatever I want and it can all go perfectly.“
Projects such as There I Am have begun to establish Riverland Youth Theatre as a safe space for queer young people in the Riverlands. Youth have a place where they can seek support and be their authentic selves.
The FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants have continued to support the development of this safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth in Riverlands with another grant in 2022 for The Allies Project, which they once again adapted to their specific local context. Their project, Ally Merit Pins and Awards, empowers teens to decide what an ‘ally’ is and makes allies more visible.
The concept was developed by a young non-binary student who suffered from homophobic bullying and spoke of their exhaustion of not knowing which adults were safe or supportive. They proposed the merit badges as a way to encourage schools to be proactive in creating safe spaces for queer students and empower the queer community within their school. The project was awarded a $10,000 Heywire Grant and will be delivered in 2023, continuing to ensure that there a place within the Riverlands where LGBTQIA+ youth can find their tribe.
The Mooloolah Community Centre is the home and work hub of Mooloolah Valley Community Association Inc, located on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The Centre is run by a Management Committee of 10 volunteers from wide and varied backgrounds including finance, defence, nursing, social work, local government and administration, and there are a team of volunteers who support the Centre by doing tasks from garden maintenance to assisting in the Op Shop. Everyone at the Centre works for the benefit of the Mooloolah community, and the positive flow-on effects are felt throughout the Mooloolah Valley postcode area.
In February 2022, the flooding closed all roads into the town, cutting it off for four days and causing a loss of power across the area. The lack of a reliable power source during this disaster revealed critical vulnerabilities in the community for being able to charge phones and stay in touch with loved ones. Additionally there was no hot water and the Community Centre couldn’t open.
After receiving $25,000 in Round 2 of the Rebuilding Futures program, funded by the Suncorp Group, the Community Centre has now securely installed a solar battery pack ready for any future disasters or power outages. The installation of the solar batteries has completed a significant preparedness project by this group, who over the last year, have added emergency lighting, directional emergency lighting and evacuation alarms so the community can be prepared and therefore more resilient in times of extreme weather events.
The Community Centre says it is ready to support the needs of the community in times of distress, including having the Op Shop open to allow people to obtain emergency clothes if required, and enabling the Welfare Officer to operate and offer vouchers for food and fuel. The website has been updated with a new ‘Community Resilience Service’ that promotes an offering of a place of refuge during disaster, including the basics like a hot drink, charging phones, using the internet and much more.
Mooloolah Valley Community Association Inc’s Events & Grants Officer, Jason Carroll
FRRR and Bega Valley Shire Council recently announced that a new initiative was being rolled out in Bega Valley, thanks to funding from the $1.3 million Australian Government Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Program.
Building on the foundations laid by the Investing in Not-for-Profit Capacity in Regional NSW (INFPC) program that FRRR has run in the region over the last two years, the new program is called Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) Bega Valley – Resilience Connection and Place Project.
Recently, FRRR kicked off the IRCF program in the Bega Valley with a roadmapping workshop, which was attended by 33 local community members and leaders. The purpose of the session was to identify the gaps that exist within the local community, to discuss the needs of locals and to begin building a plan for how local not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) can work together to better fulfill those needs.
Carolyn Ardler, FRRR’s IRCF Program Manager for the South Coast, said the workshop was a great way to bring the community together and identify common areas of need.
“The workshop was really well-attended and everyone who participated had a lot of valuable insights and knowledge to contribute. It was a great opportunity for the community to come together to discuss the needs of the community and identify some tangible projects that can be worked on moving forward.
“We worked on six projects using the Designing For Wiser Action process facilitated by Campfire Coop. These are projects that the community sees as a priority and will support the Council in the implementation of the next steps.
“We also introduced Bree and Leah- the new community facilitators, who are based at the Bega Valley Shire Council – to the group. Representatives from the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation were also there, explaining the Regenerate Leadership Program, which is a key part of the program. It will offer free leadership training to 24 community leaders,” Ms Ardler said.
To find out more about the IRCF program or to get involved, visit ircf.frrr.org.au/bega-valley-community-roadmap/ or contact FRRR Carolyn Ardler, IRCF Program Coordinator – South Coast on 1800 170 020.
Regenerate Bega Valley and Regenerate Shoalhaven – two leadership development programs designed in response to the 2019-20 bushfires – are currently open for applications.
Leaders of local not-for-profit organisations in the Bega Valley and Shoalhaven region are invited to apply for locally-delivered leadership development programs, designed to build their capacity to help with ongoing bushfire recovery and response.
There are 24 scholarships offered in each location for local leaders who’ll get access to some of the best leadership thinking and practice available, plus practical tools and skills via experiential learning.
The Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants program is funding the programs, to be delivered by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR).
FRRR’s Acting CEO Sarah Matthee explains they’re part of FRRR’s Investing in Rural Community Futures program which aims to build confidence, ability, skills and longer-term sustainability of the region’s NFPs.
“We know local not-for-profits are often leaned on significantly, especially in the event of a natural disaster as was the case with the Black Summer bushfires,” she says.
“Pressure on programs, services and volunteers is leading to fatigue and a depletion of local resources. From our work over the last few years in both these communities, we’ve seen an overwhelming appetite for cross sector collaboration and planning within the community. The ARLF leadership programs will help boost their capacity and impact.”
ARLF Chief Executive Matt Linnegar says the Regenerate Shoalhaven and Bega Valley programs will help local leaders to collaborate, build networks and lead community initiatives.
“When future emergencies, or opportunities occur, this network will be invaluable. They won’t be just names and positions; they’ll know and trust each other and be able to work through the challenges in front of them, to build resilience.
“This leadership network will guide and empower communities to address bushfire recovery priorities aimed at rebuilding and growing their local economy.”
For Carina Severs, manager at Eden Community Access Centre and chair of the Eden Recovery and Resilience Alliance, resilience is about knowledge.
“I’d like people to know what’s available, to know the ‘capability and capacity’ of frontline emergency services, as well as the support services such as Red Cross, CWA have. Resilience is about learning skills and being able to look after yourself as best you can, but it is also about showing care for those around you – your neighbours, friends and others.”
Also welcoming the Regenerate programs, Kangaroo Valley community champion Nat Harker reflects: “No lives were lost, but our community has changed. Some people have since left, most are still carrying trauma but we are working closely together to build resilience for the future – to strive, survive and then thrive.”
Applications for the Regenerate Bega Valley and Regenerate Shoalhaven leadership programs are now open. Each program is open to volunteers or employees in the not-for-profit sector. There will be two four-day residential sessions starting in August. For more details and to apply, visit rural-leaders.org.au (regional programs). Applications close on 18 June.
Grants awarded to 176 community groups for COVID recovery, climate-related impacts and Small & Vital projects
FRRR has awarded $2,309,331 in grants to 176 community projects across remote, rural and regional Australia as part of the Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program.
This is the largest SRC round on record in terms of both funding awarded and the number of projects being funded.
Collaboratively funded by a number of donors, this program gives small communities across rural Australia access to funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit the local area and people. The program is split into three streams: Small & Vital (S&V), Prepare & Recover (P&R) and Rebuilding Regional Communities (RRC), which supports recovery from COVID-19.
Small & Vital stream
In total, $527,636 in grants have been awarded to 61 grassroots organisations and NFPs through the S&V stream. Grants of up to $10,000 will support initiatives that local leaders and community members feel are a priority when it comes to strengthening the community.
An example of an organisation being funded in this stream is the Cervantes Community Men’s Shed in WA. They will use their $10,000 grant to develop the group’s new shed site, which will support and service the community.
Prepare & Recover grants
The SRC program has long supported disaster recovery, most recently through the 2019/2020 Black Summer Bushfire Recovery stream. However, with disasters affecting more of the country, the program has been renamed the Prepare & Recover stream. It offers grants of up to $25,000 to support projects that prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts, or recover from existing disasters in the medium to long-term. In addition to ongoing recovery from Black Summer fires, this round supports recovery from flooding in 2021/22, as well as some other storms and flood events across the country.
A total of $883,940 will be shared among 62 initiatives through this stream. An example is the Victoria based Boort Resource & Information Centre’s initiative to support flood recovery and boost local connections by bringing the people together to share a free community meal.
Rebuilding Regional Communities – supporting COVID-19 recovery
Funded by the Australian Government, the RRC grants are divided into micro grants, which are up to $10,000 and larger grants, which are up to $50,000. In this round, 53 organisations have received $897,755 funding that will help remote, rural and regional communities recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
Among the recipients in this stream is the Regional Food Security Alliance, who will use a grant of $47,050 to develop resources that will support volunteer recruitment and retention at food relief agencies across regional Victoria, after demand for their services has been exacerbated by COVID-19.
Jill Karena, Place Portfolio Lead at FRRR, said that this record-breaking SRC round is a clear indication of the level of support that remote, rural and regional Australia needs.
“In the history of the SRC program and its predecessors dating back to 2000, we’ve never awarded this amount of money or this many small grants. That in itself speaks volumes about the need for resources and support in rural communities around the country.
“What we saw in the applications in this round, across each of the streams, was a strong emphasis on individual and community health and social wellbeing. This is a reflection of how the last few years have impacted remote, rural and regional areas. Back-to-back natural disasters, the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis have left people with limited resources when it comes to prioritising their wellbeing.
“We also saw a high number of applications for creative and wellbeing activities, like festivals and community events. These initiatives are wonderful to see because not only are they helping to bring people together and giving them a creative outlet, but they also often provide a boost to the local economy.
“Similarly, we continue to see a demand for support in maintaining or upgrading community spaces, halls and hubs. This kind of infrastructure is so important when it comes to keeping small communities connected, particularly during the ongoing recovery and resilience-building process that rural Australia is currently facing,” Ms Karena said.
Some more of the 176 projects funded include:
- Gainmara Birrilee Preschool Association Inc – NSW – Enhance the COVID-19 recovery of 117 Brewarrina Aboriginal families by providing practical assistance, building social connections and cultural identity, wellness activities and a community garden. $46,092 (Rebuilding Regional Communities stream)
- MacDonnell Regional Council – NT – Prepare youth for leadership roles through the expansion of the council’s youth app to include governance and project management information and functions. $9,702 (Small & Vital stream)
- FNQ Aviation Museum Ltd – QLD – Build young people’s job readiness for careers in engineering industries by constructing a new hanger at the aeronautical museum to run a program with students restoring vintage airplanes. $10,000 (Small & Vital stream)
- Bridge to Nowhere Arts Association Incorporated – SA – Enhance the process of recovery from the pandemic and encourage greater participation of seniors in activities by providing a comfortable environment at a local community arts facility through heating and cooling upgrades. $7,405 (Rebuilding Regional Communities stream)
- Surf Life Saving Tasmania – Central Coast Marine Rescue – TAS – Enhance community safety and boost volunteer capacity through expansion of training and lifesaving equipment. $9,383 (Small & Vital stream)
- Upper Murray Performing Arts Inc – VIC – Encourage community connection and generate economic growth by delivering a creative dance festival that will increase tourism in a township recovering from bushfires. $10,000 (Prepare & Recover stream)
- Shire of Carnamah – WA – Improve the community’s resilience for future emergency responses during cyclones by upgrading the medical centre’s electrical switchboard, enabling connection to back up generators during power outages. $10,000 (Prepare & Recover stream)
The SRC program is collaboratively supported by many generous donors, who are acknowledged on the FRRR website under each of the SRC grant streams:
- Small & Vital donors
- Prepare & Recover donors
- Rebuilding Regional Communities is supported by the Australian Government
This program always accepts applications. 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.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
Small & Vital | ||||||
Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society - Narrabri North West District Inc | Lecturer Fee Contributions Sustain the capacity of the organisation to deliver accessible arts activities for the whole community by contributing to lecturer fees. | Narrabri | $5,000 | |||
Carcoar Community Association | River Yarn Fibre Festival Provide opportunities for social connection and cultural enrichment by supporting the inaugural River Yarn Fibre Festival. | Carcoar | $3,466 | |||
GRASP - Goulburn Regional Association of Sustainable Producers | Growing the GRASP Hub on the Open Food Network Support a community-owned online produce shop to provide access to healthy local produce and promote sustainable agricultural practices through purchasing equipment, recruiting / training volunteers and holding events. | Goulburn | $9,919 | |||
Henty Public School Parents and Citizens Association | Bush Tucker Precinct Enhance the thriving community garden by linking it to the Wiradjuri Bush Tucker and Yarning Circle cultural area to increase community knowledge of local Aboriginal traditions. | Henty | $10,000 | |||
Inverell Art Society Incorporated | Inverell Art Gallery - Supporting, Engaging and Developing Local Ceramic Artists Foster skill development for local and emerging ceramic artists in Inverell by purchasing a new kiln and reference books. | Inverell | $10,000 | |||
Lansdowne Public Hall Reserve Land Manager | Installation of Security Cameras and Solar Security Lights to the Outside of the Lansdowne Community Hall Enhance security for valuable historical works and items displayed at the Lansdowne Community Hall by installing solar powered external lighting and cameras. | Lansdowne | $8,950 | |||
Parkes Bowling and Sports Club Limited | Parkes Bowling and Sports Club Kitchen Oven Upgrade Enhance the Parkes Bowling and Sports Club kitchen by removing the current industrial gas oven and installing a new one to increase the safety and capacity for use by the many non-sporting community groups that use the facilities. | Parkes | $7,346 | |||
Peak Hill Preschool Kindergarten Inc | Peak Hill Preschool Expansion Improve day care access for disadvantaged families by contributing to the development of a community-run long day care facility and community room in Peak Hill. | Peak Hill | $10,000 | |||
Riding for the Disabled Assoc (NSW) - The Coonabarabran Centre | Facilities Maintenance Program - Stage One Enable programs to continue running by addressing safety issues at riding centre through repairs to the training hall. | Coonabarabran | $10,000 | |||
Warren Chamber Music Festival Incorporated | Better with Age! Provide opportunities for social connection and cultural enrichment by holding a "Better with Age" event for the elderly, featuring a shared meal, live musical performances and poetry readings. | Gilgandra | $8,079 | |||
Prepare & Recover | ||||||
Adavale Lane Community Centre Incorporated | Build Up the Grounds Around our Community Hall to Stop Flooding Contribute to recovery and disaster preparedness by raising the ground level around Adavale Lane Community Centre to stop the hall flooding, ensuring community events can continue and enhancing community connectedness. | Goonumbla | $24,250 | |||
Arts North West Inc | New England North West Creative Flood Response Project - 'A Letter to My Returning...' Engage artists from flood-affected communities to create artwork that responds to their flood experiences and interpretations for a public exhibition that will support community recovery. | Wee Waa | $24,752 | |||
Bay FM Community Radio Inc | Broadcast Equipment Replacement to Build Organisational and Community Resilience Build organisational capacity and bushfire resilience by upgrading the ageing broadcasting equipment, ensuring a reliable broadcast transmission service, particularly in the event of an emergency. | Byron Shire | $24,920 | |||
Bombala Preschool Inc | Bombala's Ngulla Garden Project Support recovery from the impacts of the Black Summer bushfires and unprecedented rain by establishing a food forest garden, restoring the community and Indigenous gardens, and engaging experts to educate preschool families and community about food sustainability. | Bombala | $25,000 | |||
Bowraville Arts Council Inc | Bowraville Theatre Equipment and Technology Upgrade Enhance Bowraville Theatre and contribute to bushfire recovery by investing in up-to-date equipment and technology, allowing a broader scope of events for the community, and encouraging new arts, performances and productions. | Bowraville | $10,000 | |||
Broke Residents Community Association Incorporated | Broke Wellbeing Program 2023 Support the recovery of Broke residents after flooding through an ongoing well-being program to improve the mental health and resilience of community members. | Broke | $24,800 | |||
Burringbar School of Arts | Replacement Roof for Burringbar Hall Disaster Distribution Centre Enhance the Burringbar School of Arts Heritage Hall by replacing the rusted roof, ensuring the hall can continue to be used by the community for events and as a distribution centre for those in need during natural disasters such as bushfires. | Burringbar | $25,000 | |||
Circartus Incorporated | Reaching for Solid Ground Increase organisational capacity by establishing a new position to support organisation sustainability and provide inclusive, healing, creative and fun circus skills opportunities for young people in the Manning Valley who are recovering from the impact of bushfires. | Wingham | $24,050 | |||
Connecting Communities Australia Ltd | Mogo - Aboriginal Lands Council Storage Shed Contribute to the recovery of Mogo after losing several buildings in the devastating Black Summer bushfires by constructing a storage shed for the Aboriginal Lands Council to store essential documents. | Mogo | $24,895 | |||
Deniliquin Business Chamber Incorporated | Do it in Deni Street Bazaar Strengthen community connections and boost tourism after the flood with 'The Deni Street Bazaar' a family-friendly event, celebrating the rural culture and lifestyle. | Deniliquin | $10,000 | |||
Drake Village Women's Shed Incorporated | Trailer Increase disaster resilience in the Drake community that was impacted and often isolated after the 2019/20 bushfires through purchasing and fitting out a trailer to provide residents and their livestock access to food and water in emergencies. | Drake | $15,825 | |||
Early Links Inclusion Support Service Incorporated | Physiotherapy Equipment Address increased demand for therapeutic support since the 2019/20 bushfires and increase social inclusion and support for people with disabilities and developmental delays through additional physiotherapy treatment and equipment. | Kurri Kurri | $10,000 | |||
Eden Community Access Centre Inc | Enabling Conversations That Matter: A Prepared Community Provide an online resource to enable ongoing community conversations that support disaster resilience in Eden and surrounding villages after the 2020 bushfires. | Eden | $5,400 | |||
Emerald Beach Fair Inc | Emerald Beach Fair Strengthen community connectedness and recovery from the bushfires, floods and COVID through restarting the Emerald Beach Fair. | Emerald Beach | $10,000 | |||
Granite Borders Landcare Committee Incorporated | Strengthening Rural Communities - Diverse Workshops that Educate, Engage and Improve Social Connectedness Build community resilience, social connectivity, and environmental improvements through a series of free, landscape regenerative workshops for bushfire-affected residents in remote communities around Tenterfield. | Tenterfield | $24,000 | |||
Kangaroo Valley Historical Society Incorporated | Preservation of Kangaroo Valley's History and Heritage through Quality Photographs Support community resilience by purchasing a camera and macro lens used to capture Kangaroo Valley's bushfire recovery for local historical records. | Kangaroo Valley | $1,650 | |||
Kempsey Showground Association Incorporated | Lighting Upgrade Upgrade to LED lighting in the hall to reduce operating costs and foster opportunities for people in West Kempsey to come together and support their bushfire recovery. | West Kempsey | $6,836 | |||
Marine Rescue NSW - Kioloa Unit Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW | Air Conditioner for Kioloa Unit Support bushfire recovery and build organisational capacity by replacing or adding air conditioners to ensure the comfort of volunteers all year round. | Kioloa | $6,150 | |||
Narooma Men's Shed | Metalworking Safety Initiative and Activity Enhancement Purchase appropriate lifting equipment and tools for the Narooma Men's Shed to reduce the risk of injury for members and enhance organisational capacity to support bushfire recovery projects for the community. | Narooma | $7,137 | |||
Narooma Surf Life Saving Club Inc | Provision of Storage for Emergency Search, Rescue and Disaster Response Equipment at Narooma Surf Life Saving Club Building preparedness in the event of a bushfire through the installation of mobile, modular storage cabinets enabling safe and organised storage of the club's 24/7 emergency response equipment, ensuring the club is rescue ready. | Narooma | $1,799 | |||
Northern Rivers Food Incorporated | 2023 Harvest Food Trail Enhance recovery of the flood-impacted Northern Rivers by supporting the Harvest Food Trail event, which brings the community together to socialise and enjoy local produce whilst supporting local businesses. | Tweed Heads | $10,000 | |||
Resilient Lismore Incorporated | Resilient Lismore Impact Measurement and Organisational Sustainability Enhance the recovery process in flood-impacted Lismore by periodically collecting community recovery data through surveys to measure the impact of Resilient Lismore's work and inform new projects and sustainability planning. | Lismore | $25,000 | |||
Resilient Murwillumbah | Murwillumbah Get Ready Support the flood-impacted Murwillumbah community to be more disaster ready by establishing a tools and equipment library for community-led disaster clean up and recovery. | Murwillumbah | $25,000 | |||
River of Art Incorporated | Munggara-dha / My Home Support community recovery and foster leadership and social connection after the devastating Black Summer bushfires by combining Aboriginal dance storytelling with contemporary art forms in a community driven process that will culminate in a live performance. | Mogo Village | $23,100 | |||
Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance | Brightening Batemans Bay Heritage Museum's Future Stage One Support bushfire preparedness and enhance the viability of the Heritage Museum by installing solar panels that will provide energy to stabilise environmental conditions for the preservation of museum collections, reduce operating costs and enable the museum's continued operation in a power outage. | Batemans Bay | $22,578 | |||
Twofold Aboriginal Corp | The Twofold / Jigamy Cultural Gardens & Syntropic Food Forestry Project (Stage Two & Three) Develop a series of intergenerational and cross-cultural initiatives through creation of climate-resilient cultural food gardens to foster collaboration in mitigating the impacts of the Black Summer bushfires and future climate changes. | Eden | $25,000 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Large | ||||||
Contact Inc Gainmara Birrilee Preschool Association Inc | Murra in Murra (Hand in Hand) Brewarrina - Planning for a Stronger Future Enhance the COVID-19 recovery of 117 Brewarrina Aboriginal families by providing practical assistance, building social connections and cultural identity, wellness activities and a community garden. | Brewarrina | $46,092 | |||
Contact Incorporated | Building Foundations for a Stronger Future Build organisational sustainability through a series of professional development workshops facilitated by a skilled expert to support Contact's work to reduce negative impacts of isolation during COVID-19 for children and families. | Cootamundra | $35,871 | |||
Gilgandra Community Garden Network Gilgandra Council | Gilgandra Cultural Precinct > Community Garden Support COVID-19 recovery by establishing a community garden to reduce social isolation, providing an inclusive, tranquil setting that supports active and passive recreation for local children, youth, seniors, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people culturally and linguistically diverse, those living with disability, and LGBTQIA+ community members. | Gilgandra | $33,684 | |||
Turbans 4 Australia | Lismore Resilience Project Enhance the process of COVID-19 recovery of disadvantaged members of the Lismore regional community through delivering food and personal care hampers with a new mobile food trailer and pantry, which will support and expand the organisation's outreach services. | Lismore | $27,000 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Micro | ||||||
Blue Mountains Artists Company | Lithgow Lowdown - Reimagining and Reinvigorating Community Reduce social isolation and foster a stronger, more resilient community after COVID-19 by staging a live music and poetry slam / dance competition to bring together and reinvigorate youth and families through the arts. | Lithgow | $10,000 | |||
Carries Place Domestic Violence and Homelessness Services Incorporated | Strengthening Service Delivery through Secure and Innovative IT Solutions Sustain and enhance Carries Place's work with increased IT support over six months to improve internal capability and enable provision of reliable and secure remote services to vulnerable clients hesitant to engage face-to-face due to COVID-19 impacts. | Dungog | $4,620 | |||
Creative Gunning Inc | Crafting Connections Support Gunning's community and economic recovery from COVID-19 by delivering a series of art workshops and exhibitions to increase community connections, build volunteer skills, and increase visitation. | Gunning | $9,901 | |||
Kempsey Flying Club Ltd | Rural Community's Amenities Upgrade Support COVID-19 recovery and sustain the activities of a range of community groups that use the Kempsey Flying Club facility by upgrading the space and purchasing a fridge, commercial vacuum, BBQ and projector equipment. | Kempsey | $9,750 | |||
Manning & Great Lakes Early Intervention Inc | Early Connections Playgroup Re-establish a playgroup closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic to enhance the process of recovery for young children. | Taree | $9,087 | |||
Nimmitabel Show Society Inc | Urgently Needed Equipment Support community connection after COVID-19 by replacing damaged and ageing seating and purchase new equipment to sustain the work of the Show Society and enable the smooth running of the Nimmitabel Show and other community events into the future. | Nimmitabel | $9,929 | |||
Sanctuary Point Public School | Sing and Grow Singing Therapy Group Enhance social and developmental recovery from COVID-19 for Sanctuary Point children and their families through establishing a singing therapy group. | Sanctuary Point | $9,020 | |||
The Showground Workshop Incorporated | Taree Showground Mens' Shed COVID-19 Recovery Boost the Men's Shed membership after COVID-19 by developing a new website. | Taree | $2,000 | |||
Wentworth Area Landcare Incorporated | Trees for Pomona Enhance COVID-19 recovery of the Pomona community by bringing residents together for a native tree-planting event to increase their feeling of belonging and community pride. | Pomona | $10,000 | |||
NORTHERN TERRITORY | ||||||
Small & Vital | ||||||
MacDonnell Regional Council | Empowering Indigenous Youth Leaders to be Tomorrow's Community Leaders Prepare youth for leadership roles through the expansion of the council's youth App to include governance and project management information and functions. | MacDonnell Regional Council's 12 communities | $9,702 | |||
NT Writers' Centre Inc | Remote Writers' Development Workshops Support new and established writers living in remote parts of the state by running satellite events and online workshops as part of the 2023 Northern Territory Writers' Festival. | Katherine | $9,456 | |||
Victoria Daly Regional Council | Noise Reduction at the Pine Creek Multi Resource Community Centre Enhance public participation at meetings in a remote and under-resourced community by improving the acoustics at the community centre with the installation of heavy echo-reducing curtains. | Pine Creek | $9,973 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Large | ||||||
Brown's Mart Arts Limited | Connecting Communities at Brown's Mart Sustain Brown's Mart and their work through improved connections with the COVID-19 impacted community by upgrading communication technologies and increasing First Nation peoples' engagement and participation in the performing arts. | Darwin | $38,652 | |||
The YMCA of the Northern Territory Youth & Community Services Ltd | Community Hub Project Create a safe, welcoming community space at the Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) swimming pool for children, young people and families to re-connect after social isolation experienced during COVID-19, improving the community's physical and social health and fostering a stronger and more resilient community. | Santa Teresa | $20,000 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Micro | ||||||
Gupulul Marayuwu Aboriginal Corporation | Gupulul Community Homeland - Food Storage, Access and Security Project Address food security challenges exacerbated by COVID-19 and sustain the work of the corporation through the installation of a commercial cool room storage unit on the community homeland. | Gupulul Homeland | $10,000 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Small & Vital | ||||||
Blackall Cultural Association Incorporated | Bushman's Gallery Electrical Upgrade Boost and strengthen the local economy by upgrading electrical wiring for better lighting at the Bushman's Art Gallery to increase engagement with, and acquisition of, local art. | Blackall | $10,000 | |||
Border District Eisteddfod | Border District Eisteddfod 2023 Cultivate young people's confidence, artistic endeavours and public performing capabilities by providing a local Eisteddfod. | Stanthorpe | $9,605 | |||
FNQ Aviation Museum Ltd | Multipurpose Aviation Museum Hangar - Celebrating 80 Years of Mareeba Airport Build young people's job readiness for careers in engineering industries by constructing a new hangar at the aeronautical museum to run a program with students restoring vintage airplanes. | Mareeba | $10,000 | |||
Gold City Country Music Club Inc | Bose Amplifier Tower Improve the club's ability to provide free community entertainment by upgrading sound equipment. | Charters Towers | $4,160 | |||
Gordonbrook Rural Fire Brigade | Gordonbrook Rural Fire Brigade Station (Stage Two) Improve comfort and amenity of the facility for emergency volunteers and community gatherings by installing floor coverings and painting internal walls. | Gordonbrook | $9,332 | |||
Hillview Memorial Hall and Recreation Grounds Inc | Lawn Mower Purchase Support volunteer ability to maintain a welcoming community space by purchasing a ride-on mower to care for the grounds. | Hillview | $7,730 | |||
Ingham Coast Guard - The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Incorporated | Improving Access Improve the Coast Guard's ability to support and service the community by building an accessible ramp and handrails. | Lucinda | $10,000 | |||
Julatten State School Parents and Citizens Association | Celebrating 100 Years Julatten / Bushy Creek / Euluma Creek State Schools Centenary 1923-2023 Encourage new community members and past students to come together to foster a sense of identity and community connection by jointly celebrating the schools' centenary anniversaries. | Julatten | $5,650 | |||
Low Isles Preservation Society Incorporated | Supporting Local Student Visitation to the Low Isles Education Centre Support students from disadvantaged outer regional schools to take part in a citizen science project and experience the Great Barrier Reef firsthand, integrating environmental awareness and STEM learning into the curriculum. | Port Douglas | $10,000 | |||
Mount Morgan Citizens Club Inc | Kitchen Compliance Improve functionality of club's workspace for social connection and community gatherings by modernising the kitchen by adding stainless-steel bench tops and energy efficient appliances. | Mount Morgan | $10,000 | |||
QCWA Branch Clifton | Installation of Air Conditioning to CWA Clifton Hall Expand the use of the CWA hall by installing a heating and cooling system to make the community meeting space more comfortable and welcoming. | Clifton | $3,990 | |||
Retreat Creek Campdraft Association Inc | Connecting Power to the Community Shed at Roy Day Park, Sapphire Help locals come together and connect by installing electricity at the park's community shed to provide the first 'powered' public meeting space in Sapphire. | Sapphire | $10,000 | |||
Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Emu Park Sub-Branch Inc | Emu Park RSL Mural Creating a commemorative mural to help residents and visitors better understand the impacts of past conflicts on returned service people. | Emu Park | $4,500 | |||
Roma Historical Precincts Inc | Roma Butter Factory - Workshop Building Upgrade Improve volunteer experience and safety by installing accessible roller doors that enable local artisans to demonstrate old time trades and skills more easily for an interactive visitor experience. | Roma | $10,000 | |||
U3A Cairns Incorporated | Health, Wellbeing and Social Interaction through Low Impact Sports Enhance older people's wellbeing through supporting physical activity and social connection by purchasing low impact activity equipment. | Mossman | $5,205 | |||
University of Southern Queensland | Allora and the Australian Silo Art Trail: Enhancing Community Wellbeing Boost tourism, amenity and community engagement in Allora through the co-design and installation of a mural representing important stories of the town. | Allora | $10,000 | |||
Prepare & Recover | ||||||
Mulgowie Public Hall Association Incorporated | Lets Get it Happening at Mulgowie! Strengthen the lifesaving capacity of a bushfire-impacted community by purchasing a defibrillator to enhance preparedness. | Mulgowie | $2,950 | |||
Withcott & District Progress Association Inc | Kitchen Renovation & Storage for the Community Hall Improve functionality of volunteers' catering and working spaces, and comfort of users with renovations to an 88-year-old hall in a community impacted by bushfires and floods. | Postmans Ridge | $21,150 | |||
Community Information and Resource Service Association Incorporated | CoolaFlix Build community resilience and foster social connectedness after flooding in Rainbow Beach through the purchase of cinema equipment and film licensing fees to facilitate a series of community fundraising movie nights. | Rainbow Beach | $17,510 | |||
Goomeri Pumpkin Festival Inc | Pumpkin to Power Economic Recovery in Gympie Region! Stimulate the community and economy post-flooding by hiring equipment to re-start the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival. | Goomeri | $15,000 | |||
Murgon Primary P&C Association | Murgon Community Fair Encourage people to come together and celebrate for mental wellbeing after the floods by establishing the Murgon Community Fair. | Murgon | $10,792 | |||
North East Downs Landcare Group Inc | Rehydrating to Regenerate the Landscape Build environmental resilience to flood through encouraging the restoration of landscape hydrology cycles by providing 'natural sequence' education workshops in the communities of Peranga, Brymaroo and Maclagan. | Peranga | $9,855 | |||
Tamrookum Memorial Hall Incorporated | Roof Repairs Enhance the recovery of the Tamrookum community by providing a safe and dry community space through repairing the hall's roof damaged during a flooding event. | Tamrookum | $24,420 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Large | ||||||
Boulia Camel Races Incorporated | Legacy - Boulia Enhance the process of COVID-19 recovery, reconnect residents, reignite tourism and stimulate the economy in Boulia through the establishment of a community cooperative. | Boulia | $50,000 | |||
Bundaberg Regional Council | Integrated Pathways at Kepnock (IP@K) Enhance the process of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic for disengaged youth in the Bundaberg area by facilitating work placement with the local agricultural industry and facilitating reengagement with educational activities and the broader community. | Bundaberg | $50,000 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Micro | ||||||
Cape York Institute | Mayi Market COVID-19 Resilience Project Sustain the work of the Mayi (food) Market by purchasing and installing freezers in four remote Cape York communities to boost food security in the event of future isolation such as that experienced during the pandemic. | Coen | $9,592 | |||
Innisfail Community Band Incorporated | Enhancing Performance Capability at Outdoor and Large Open Space Community Cultural Events Improve the band's capability to perform in a COVID-safe outdoor environment and sustain their work through the purchase of foldback speakers and the provision of appropriate sheet music. | Innisfail | $3,000 | |||
Mossman State School P&C Association | Community Navigator - Douglas Community Early Childhood Hub Reduce social isolation and foster a stronger, more resilient Mossman community after COVID-19 by engaging a 'Community Navigator' to support families to learn about and access early years services and learning pathways. | Mossman | $10,000 | |||
Rockhampton Women's Shed Inc | Tool Kits Reduce social isolation following COVID-19 and foster a stronger, more resilient community by providing basic start-up tool kits to establish the women's shed as a place of connection, and for developing skills and capabilities. | Rockhampton | $9,979 | |||
Tully Nursing Home Inc | Outdoor Area Improvements Encourage the COVID-safe reconnection of nursing home residents with family and friends through the purchase of outdoor furniture for visitation, reducing social isolation and fostering a stronger, more resilient community. | Tully | $4,960 | |||
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Small & Vital | ||||||
Orroroo Regional Tourism Group - District Council of Orroroo Carrieton | Chats Over Charcoal Enhance a men's support program and strengthen community wellbeing by providing a facilitated mental health and wellbeing workshop. | Orroroo | $5,585 | |||
The Beltana Progress Association Incorporated | Beltana 150 Years On - A Celebration of Our Township Boost local economy by increasing visitation to a remote location and support local cultural connections by engaging a bush band to perform at the Beltana 150-year milestone event. | Beltana | $6,725 | |||
Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Incorporated | Aboriginal 715 Health Check Incentive Shirts Improve health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people living in rural and remote regions by providing Aboriginal designed polo shirts to connect community members to a vital health check program. | Maitland | $10,000 | |||
Prepare & Recover | ||||||
American River Buick Orchard Reserve (ARBOR) - American River Progress Association Inc | American River Community Garden Support bushfire recovery on Kangaroo Island by enhancing a culturally significant orchard garden for broader community access. | American River | $10,000 | |||
Berri Barmera Landcare | The Environmental Connection Strengthen community connections and engagement to the local environment in a region severely impacted by recent floods, by holding six biodiversity education workshops. | Berri | $10,000 | |||
Friends of Port Moorowie Inc | Purchase of a Ride-on Mower Increase the capacity of volunteers to support bushfire preparedness and safeguard Port Moorowie by purchasing a ride-on mower. | Port Moorowie | $5,000 | |||
Hardwicke Bay & District Progress Association | Providing Cooking Facilities at Our Planned Beach Shelter / Lookout Support community to live well in a remote place and strengthen recovery post-bushfires by installing a barbeque at an outdoor recreation shelter. | Hardwicke Bay | $5,000 | |||
Marble Range Community & Sports Centre Inc | Marble Range Community and Sports Centre - Playground Develop a safe space for children's play and provide a health and wellbeing activity to enhance community recovery from bushfires, through the development of a playground. | Wangary | $10,000 | |||
Rotary Club of Onkaparinga Inc | Onkaparinga Rotary Fencing Project Boost volunteer capacity to support community recovery post-bushfires through purchasing equipment to rebuild damaged fencing. | Lobethal | $24,317 | |||
The Pine Village Land & Services Management Association Incorporated | Improve Access to Life Saving Equipment: Installation of a Defibrillator at Pine Village Provide emergency first aid equipment to strengthen community recovery and support health outcomes for the Murray River flood-affected region by installing an external automatic defibrillator system. | Murbko | $3,704 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Large | ||||||
District Council of Tumby Bay | Youth Empowerment and Skate Activation Program (YESAP) Reduce social isolation and build young people's resilience in a remote community impacted by COVID-19 by establishing a sustainable skate program designed to empower and connect young people. | Tumby Bay | $39,820 | |||
Pine Point Progress Association Incorporated | Construction and Establishment of a Community Shed to be Primarily Used for Storing Equipment and Undertaking the Sorting of Recyclable Deposit Containers and Modifying an Existing Shed for Cooking of BBQ's Reduce social isolation and foster a more resilient regional community post-pandemic through establishing a community shed for community gatherings and storage of community assets. | Pine Point | $17,321 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Micro | ||||||
BMW Football Club Inc | Building Successful and Resilient Leaders in the Upper North Community through a Champions Academy Sustain the work of community organisations across the region and reinvigorate volunteering after COVID-19 through community-wide volunteer engagement and skill-building workshops. | Melrose | $7,000 | |||
Bridge to Nowhere Arts Association Incorporation | BTNArts Community Infrastructure Project: Enhancing Creative Space Usability Year Round Enhance the process of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by providing a comfortable environment for seniors and encourage greater participation in activities at a local community arts facility through heating and cooling upgrades. | Warnertown | $7,405 | |||
Community Care and Transport Incorporated | Melrose Office Upgrade Sustain the work of the organisation post COVID-19 and improve amenity and comfort for volunteers through the purchase of new fit-for-purpose office furniture. | Blinman | $2,670 | |||
Orroroo Recreation Group - Orroroo Football Club Incorporated | Roasting in the Roo - Camp Oven Cook Off 2023 Enhance the social and economic recovery of the Orroroo community from the COVID-19 pandemic by staging a two-day family-friendly festival. | Orroroo | $10,000 | |||
Southern Yorke Peninsula Agricultural Society Incorporated | SYP Show Pavilion Salt Damp Project Sustain the organisation and its work following the pandemic through building repairs to a local heritage building to provide a safe, fit-for-use community meeting place. | Minlaton | $10,000 | |||
The Booleroo and Districts Men's Shed Incorporated | Installation of Reverse Cycle Air-Conditioning to Meeting Area of Facility Sustain the Men's Shed and its work after COVID-19 by improving conditions in the facility through the purchase and installation of air conditioners. | Booleroo Centre | $10,000 | |||
TASMANIA | ||||||
Small & Vital | ||||||
Central Coast Marine Rescue and Training - Surf Life Saving in Tasmania Inc | Aquatic Emergency Preparedness for Volunteers at Central Coast Volunteer Marine Rescue Enhance community safety and boost volunteer capacity through expansion of training and lifesaving equipment. | Ulverstone | $9,383 | |||
St Helens Online Inc | Safety and Training for Volunteers at St Helens Online Access Centre Support and boost volunteer participation through the delivery of appropriate IT training and security upgrades to provide a safe work environment. | St Helens | $1,459 | |||
Turrakana Tasman Arts Inc | Lightwave Festival 2023 Boost community social wellbeing and foster increased visitation to Nubeena by supporting community workshops and musical performances at a mid-winter creative arts festival. | Nubeena | $10,000 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Large | ||||||
Launceston City Mission Inc | The Ark - Youth and Community Hub Outdoor Area Reduce isolation and foster a more resilient community post-pandemic through developing of a community youth hub for disadvantaged young people. | St Leonards | $45,000 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Micro | ||||||
Motherland Ltd | Motherland Village - Reducing Crippling Social Isolation & Connecting Rural Mums Reduce social isolation after the pandemic for new mothers and foster stronger, more resilient regional communities through the creation of an innovative online rural mother's group. | Dunorlan | $10,000 | |||
Mount Roland Land Care Inc | Reconnecting with Community and the Mount Roland Environment - Part Two Reduce social isolation in Mount Roland by facilitating a public tree planting festival, creating new connections to foster a stronger, more resilient community after COVID-19. | Sheffield | $3,489 | |||
VICTORIA | ||||||
Small & Vital | ||||||
Bendigo Science and Technology Museum Inc | The New Bendigo Planetarium Enable rural and regional school students to access a science education program that will feature Djaara First Nations astronomy knowledge, through the development of a new planetarium. | Bendigo | $10,000 | |||
Cowwarr Recreation Reserve Committee of Management Incorporated | Cowwarr People's Shed Boost social engagement activities and support capacity of volunteers to maintain a community space through the purchase of a storage shed. | Cowwarr | $9,624 | |||
Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre Inc | Community Co-Working Spaces Expand organisational capacity of a Neighbourhood House to support community members working remotely, through the establishment of a co-working office space. | Daylesford | $10,000 | |||
Donald 2000 Inc | Donald Social Housing Strategic Plan Engage with community and stakeholders to develop a social housing strategic plan for social and affordable housing solutions for disadvantaged people in the community of Donald. | Donald | $10,000 | |||
Fairfax Youth Initiative Swan Hill Rural City Council | The Marruk Project Support youth and First Nations people's engagement in the creative arts and promote wider community connection to local culture through the development of a theatre program. | Swan Hill | $10,000 | |||
Fishy Stories Fabelo Incorporated | Fishy Stories: The Fish Creek Children's Festival of Stories Engage young people in a creative writing and skill development program and improve literacy outcomes through the delivery of a children's storytelling festival. | Fish Creek | $10,000 | |||
Golden and Paradise Beach Ratepayers and Residents Association Incorporated | Golden Paradise Beach Community Tourist Park (Facilities Toilet Block) Increase visitation to a community precinct and improve access and inclusion for all-abilities through an upgrade of toilets to meet disability standards. | Golden Beach | $8,336 | |||
Grampians Health | Essential Aids and Equipment Loan Service Empower older people in the West Wimmera district to live safely and independently at home through access to a disability equipment loan program. | Edenhope | $9,975 | |||
Loch & District Bowling Club Inc | All Welcome @ Loch Improve access to social activities for all abilities by upgrading a bathroom to current disability standards at a key community venue. | Loch | $9,683 | |||
Macedon Ranges Further Education Centre Inc | Community Social Space Provide a comfortable environment for older people participating in wellbeing activities by providing accessible furniture and a smart TV to engage in online group sessions. | Gisborne | $8,759 | |||
Minyip Progress Association Inc | West Wall Repairs to Emma's Building Foster connection to place and opportunities for social engagement by repairing a salt-damaged wall in an iconic community-owned building. | Minyip | $10,000 | |||
Morwell Historical Society Inc | Improvements to Upgrade a 70-year-old Kitchen - Stage Two Provide a fit-for-purpose venue for older participants and volunteers by upgrading the 70-year-old kitchen. | Morwell | $10,000 | |||
Next Gen Theatrical Inc | Next Gen Presents... Provide a social wellbeing program to support marginalised communities in Gippsland and enhance the creativity of a theatre company through the provision of performance venue hire. | Traralgon | $10,000 | |||
Numurkah Toy Library | Numurkah Toy Library Building Capacity Project Support children's early education and development by providing a safe and efficient storage area for toys and equipment. | Numurkah | $9,612 | |||
Pomonal Men's Shed Incorporated | Better Access and Storage Support men's health and wellbeing activities by constructing a slip-resistant pathway and storage area to enhance the maintenance workshop. | Pomonal | $8,659 | |||
Pomonal Progress Association Incorporated | Communicating, Our way Forward Strengthen capacity of the Pomonal community to collectively support each other, particularly during community emergencies, by engaging a consultant to facilitate a community resilience workshop. | Pomonal | $1,290 | |||
Stanhope & District Development Committee Inc | RSL Seating and Montevideo Mural All Weather Shelters Encourage visitation and community engagement by installing shelters at two outdoor gathering spaces in Stanhope. | Stanhope | $10,000 | |||
Tarrangower Village Inc | Village Living Improve access to affordable housing for older people by engaging a consultant to develop a financially sustainable masterplan for a community-owned and managed retirement village. | Maldon | $10,000 | |||
The Patch Community Garden The Trustee for The Salvation Army (Victoria) Property Trust | Enhancing our Community Space Encourage participant engagement and promote greater nutritional health outcomes for disadvantaged community members, by providing a rotunda to shelter volunteers from weather extremes at a community garden. | Horsham | $10,000 | |||
Wodonga Senior Secondary College | Community Pathways Connections Foster lifelong learning and promote community connections through the establishment of an arts and vocational skills project to support disengaged school students. | Tatura | $10,000 | |||
Yea Community Service Group Inc | The Community Sufficiency Project Educate community members in self-sufficiency skills and build resilience to climate challenges through the facilitation of 12 workshops. | Yea | $7,183 | |||
Prepare & Recover | ||||||
Alpine Multi Skill Group | Upskill Community Workshops Support recovery from bushfires and develop networks between community groups through the provision of craft and skills workshops. | Bright | $8,430 | |||
Ardoch Limited | Supporting the Wellbeing of Children in Regional Victoria through the Arts Support the mental health and wellbeing of children impacted by bushfires through the development of a creative arts program. | Wangaratta | $10,000 | |||
Arts Council of Mansfield | Mansfield Arts Collective Studios (MACS) Future Proofing Upgrade Support recovery from the impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires through upgrades to a community facility to provide a fit-for-purpose and comfortable arts activity centre. | Mansfield | $9,859 | |||
Boort Resource and Information Centre | Boort Meet and Eat Support flood recovery and boost local connections by bringing the people of Boort together at a free shared community meal event. | Boort | $9,090 | |||
Committee for Echuca Moama Incorporated | Let's Get Connected Build group connections and support social and economic recovery of flood-impacted communities by providing a business networking event for women. | Echuca | $10,000 | |||
Coonooer Bridge Fire Brigade Country Fire Authority | Coonooer Bridge Fire Brigade Wildfire Thermal Imaging Camera Project Enhance volunteer capacity and community safety by providing volunteer fire fighters with vital safety equipment to detect fire hotspots. | Coonooer Bridge | $3,614 | |||
East Gippsland Festivals Ltd | On Foot in the High Country Support the social and economic recovery of bushfire-impacted communities by providing three curated walks in the Omeo region, as part of the East Gippsland Winter Festival. | Swifts Creek | $7,100 | |||
Goulburn Valley Sports Assembly Inc | On the Front Foot Enhance the recovery of flood-impacted communities and improve wellbeing outcomes by providing a mental health referral and support program. | Seymour | $10,000 | |||
Indigo Valley Landcare Group Inc | Connecting on Country: Building a Relationship Between Landcare and Traditional Custodians through Exploration of the Cultural Landscape Build First Nations recognition and boost bushfire recovery by filming Duduroa Dhargal workshops to share cultural geography knowledge with Landcare groups and the wider community. | Yackandandah | $9,970 | |||
Koondrook Development Committee Incorporated | Celebrating the Paddleboat Heritage of Koondrook Enhance regional recovery and promote community resilience by supporting a paddleboat centenary-heritage project and community festival to bring people together. | Koondrook | $24,500 | |||
Life! Central Services Incoporated | Rural and Remote Digital Suicide Safety Initiative Enable a suicide safety organisation to expand their reach and support communities recovering from bushfires by providing workshops and an online interactive program. | Corryong | $25,000 | |||
Mansfield Historical Society Inc | Mansfield Heritage Museum - Mansfield Historical Society - Mansfield Courier Restoration Project Enhance community connection and celebrate local identity in a bushfire-impacted region by restoring and safeguarding local historical artefacts. | Mansfield | $10,000 | |||
Meredith Community Centre Inc | Intergenerational Community Lunch Provide activities that support bushfire recovery and encourage community engagement by running a series of community lunches to bring different age groups together. | Meredith | $6,000 | |||
Myrtleford Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc | Alpine Outreach Mobile Facility Provide a mobile health and wellbeing service to support community recovery from bushfires in Victoria's Alpine region through the purchase of a vehicle. | Myrtleford | $25,000 | |||
Raymond Island Community Association Inc - East Gippsland Shire Council | Disabled Amenity Upgrade as Part of Raymond Island Hall Extension and Renewal Provide an inclusive venue for all abilities and enhance bushfire preparedness by improving disability access at a community gathering space. | Raymond Island | $25,000 | |||
Rochester & District Horse and Pony Club Inc | Rebuilding our Community Kitchen Boost community wellbeing outcomes and enhance the process of recovery from a flood event by replacing water-damaged kitchen equipment and walls in a key community facility used by a number of organisations. | Rochester | $9,037 | |||
South West Alternative Medium Project Inc | Two Rivers Gallery and Artspace Upgrade Project Strengthen First Nations Gunditjmara culture and expand opportunities for bushfire-affected community members to participate in art and craft activities to assist their recovery through the repair of a gallery roof. | Tyrendarra | $10,000 | |||
Startup Shakeup Ltd | Town Teams for Innovation Support recovery from the impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires and strengthen community connections by providing an IT training initiative. | Bright | $25,000 | |||
Up2Us Landcare Alliance | New Volunteering Models to Help Transform Volunteering in Mansfield Boost Landcare memberships and provide younger participants with training and leadership skills to support bushfire recovery by delivering a two-day leadership and mentoring workshop. | Mansfield | $9,500 | |||
Upper Murray Performing Arts Inc | Snowy Mountain Tango Festival 2023 Encourage community connection and generate economic growth by delivering a creative dance festival that will increase tourism in a township recovering from bushfires. | Corryong | $10,000 | |||
Warracknabeal Action Group | Easter In the Beal Encourage visitation and support community recovery after devastating floods by expanding the Easter festival to provide additional entertainment and activities. | Warracknabeal | $10,000 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Large | ||||||
Regional Community Vet Clinic | Build Our Not-for-Profit Community Vet Clinic Reduce social isolation, provide volunteer opportunities, and foster resilience post-pandemic through supporting the establishment of a low-cost vet clinic for the companion animals of disadvantaged community members. | Castlemaine | $50,000 | |||
Regional Food Security Alliance Inc | Growing and Strengthening Volunteerism in the Food Relief Sector in Country Victoria Sustain the work of the Regional Food Security Alliance (RFSA) by developing resources to support volunteer recruitment and retention at food relief agencies across regional Victoria, with demand for services exacerbated by COVID-19. | Mildura | $47,050 | |||
Tonimbuk East Hall | Reconnecting, Rebuilding and Reimagining our Community Enhance the process of community recovery from the pandemic by upgrading the outdoor space of a local hall to encourage community re-engagement. | Tonimbuk | $50,000 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Micro | ||||||
Budgeree Hall Reserve Committee Inc- Budgeree Hall Reserve | Budgeree Hall Shed Encourage greater usage of a community hall to reduce social isolation after COVID-19 through the purchase of a shipping container for the safe storage of equipment. | Budgeree | $4,500 | |||
Destination Phillip Island Inc | Hire an Operations Coordinator to Grow the Island Whale Festival Revitalise tourism after COVID-19 and inform visitors about sustainable conservation by hiring a coordinator to run a three-day festival during Phillip Island's winter whale migration. | Cowes | $10,000 | |||
Destination Rupanyup Incorporated | S.A.T Fest Rupanyup (Silo Art Trail Festival) Collaborate and connect people, community and business to enhance the process of COVID-19 recovery by staging a community festival. | Rupanyup | $10,000 | |||
Dimboola Town Committee - Hindmarsh Shire Council | Wimmera Steampunk Festival 2023 Strengthen and enhance the economic and cultural recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by staging a community festival. | Dimboola | $10,000 | |||
Jumbunna Public Hall Incorporated | Fix Jumbunna Hall Structural Problems Ensure the continued use of the community hall following the pandemic through essential structural subfloor repairs. | Jumbunna | $10,000 | |||
Laharum Public Hall | Small Halls Festival Celebrate community, reduce social isolation and foster a stronger, more resilient Laharum after COVID-19 through hosting a Festival of Small Halls event. | Laharum | $3,500 | |||
Merton Recreation and Memorial Hall Reserves Incorporated | Refurbishment, Repair and Renewal of Merton Recreation Reserve Pavilion Encourage increased community use of the Reserve building through vital upgrades and repairs, to enhance the process of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. | Merton | $10,000 | |||
Ouyen Festivals Committee Incorporated | Mallee Root Festival Enhance the process of recovery of regional communities from the COVID-19 pandemic by encouraging reconnection through staging a community festival. | Ouyen | $10,000 | |||
Poowong Public Hall Inc | Replace and Purchase New Chairs for Seating at the Poowong Hall Enhance the process of recovery of the community from the pandemic by increasing the amenity and capacity of the hall through the purchase of new seating. | Poowong | $3,875 | |||
Stanley Athenaeum & Public Room Indigo Shire Council | Revitalise and Reinvigorate Increase capacity and amenity to sustain the work of the Stanley Athenaeum volunteers after COVID-19 through the construction and installation of new work benches and storage. | Stanley | $4,862 | |||
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Small & Vital | ||||||
Cervantes Community Men's Shed Inc | Clearing and Fencing, Step One in Building Our Men's Shed Improve the Men's Shed's ability to support and service the community through the development of the group's new shed site. | Cervantes | $10,000 | |||
Great Southern Employment Development Committee | Wheels for Work Great Southern Strengthen employability of disadvantaged job seekers with expansion of a successful driver licensing program into additional outer regional communities and the translations of resources into different languages. | Albany | $10,000 | |||
Kununurra Agricultural Society | Clowning Around with Science Cultivate young people's wellbeing and education through play by running a series of free science and circus skills workshops at the 2023 Kununurra Agricultural Show. | Kununurra | $10,000 | |||
Moore Clothes Inc | Verandah Curtains / Blinds Encourage people to come together and connect by creating a space for community gatherings and volunteer events with the addition of outdoor blinds to enclose a verandah. | Gabbadah | $9,300 | |||
Shire of Mt Marshall | Mt Marshall Community Gardens Encourage a healthy lifestyle and promote inclusion for a small remote community struggling with mental health issues through the development of two community gardens. | Bencubbin | $10,000 | |||
Prepare & Recover | ||||||
Shire of Carnamah | Continued Connectivity Improve the community's resilience for future emergency responses during cyclones by upgrading the medical centre's electrical switchboard, enabling connection to back up generators during power outages. | Carnamah | $10,000 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Large | ||||||
Autism Camp Australia | Helping Hand WA Strengthen the skills and abilities of financially disadvantaged and remotely located autistic children and their families, as a vulnerable cohort impacted by COVID-19, to reduce social isolation and foster resilience by attending a strength-based capacity building camp. | Bicton | $50,000 | |||
Rebuilding Regional Communities Micro | ||||||
Harvey Community Resource Centre Inc | Harvey CRC Outdoor Cooking Adventure Encourage community groups to have safe outdoor gatherings and enable fundraising activities to sustain the organisation's work following the pandemic through the purchase of an outdoor kitchen that will be available for hire. | Harvey | $7,272 | |||
Newman Neighbourhood Centre Inc | 2023 Newman Pride Festival Reduce social isolation experienced by LGBTQIA+ people following COVID-19 and foster a stronger more resilient and inclusive community through holding a Pride Festival. | Newman | $9,350 | |||
Teach Learn Grow Inc | Rural Program Enhance the process of recovery for remote primary students experiencing educational disadvantage exacerbated by the pandemic through providing free one-on-one tutoring and mentoring support. | Kondinin | $10,000 | |||
Wyalkatchem Community Resource Centre Inc | 2023 Wylie Arts Expo Reconnect residents after the pandemic through an inclusive arts expo with a focus on First Nations culture, reducing social isolation and fostering a stronger, more resilient community. | Wyalkatchem | $7,004 | |||
Yongernow - Ongerup Community Resource Centre Inc | Don't Lose your Head Reduce social isolation and foster community resilience after COVID-19 by providing a free program of mental health and wellbeing activities for adults, children and youth. | Ongerup | $4,500 |
Earlier this year, one of FRRR’s long-term supporters, the Pratt Foundation, made a generous $250,000 donation to FRRR’s Flood Recovery Appeal to support Victorian areas affected by the flood.
Over the last two months, FRRR has leveraged its networks to make ‘quick response’ grants to 23 community groups and not-for-profit (NFP) organisations in flood-affected areas of Victoria. The grants are helping to meet short-term recovery needs and help communities as they begin to get up and running again following the flooding events of this past summer.
Anthony Pratt, Chairman of the Pratt Foundation, said the work of the flood-affected not-for-profit groups is admirable and critical to recovery.
“The organisations that have benefitted from these grants are key to the recovery of these communities following the floods. We are very happy to be able to assist their efforts to provide support to the most vulnerable in the community, by providing the resources they need to start building back,” Mr Pratt said.
Sarah Matthee, FRRR’s Acting CEO, said the projects receiving funding will be crucial to the recovery process in the coming months.
“The Pratt Foundation’s generous support has enabled FRRR to work closely with communities across flood-impacted areas of Victoria to identify organisations who are playing key roles in recovery, by responding to local priorities.
“These grants are supporting a range of projects, including many neighbourhood and community houses, who are acting as key hubs to support community members, particularly vulnerable people. The funding will also help communities to build capacity, through activities such as mental health first aid training, so that they are better able to navigate disaster response and recovery challenges that they are likely to face in the coming months. Other grants focus on the repair of critical infrastructure, such as local community radio facilities, and providing immediate aid, such as distributing insect repellent to reduce the risks of mosquito borne diseases.
“This funding will not only help to address short-term challenges these flood-impacted communities are facing, but will also contribute to the long-term social and economic recovery of these areas,” Ms Matthee said.
Three of the 23 projects funded are listed below:
- Rochester Community House Inc – Rochester, VIC – Rochester Community Flood Recovery – Boost ability of a community house to provide emergency assistance through additional staffing hours. $10,000.
- International Association for Psychiatric Nurses – Shepparton, VIC – Mental Health First Aid Training – Support community recovery from flood events with mental health first aid training to build awareness, healing and recovery skills. $10,000.
- Gnarly Neighbours – Seymour, VIC – Supporting Youth Programs – Boost organisational capacity and support young people impacted by flood events to access youth programs. $10,000.
The full list of projects funded can be accessed on the FRRR website.
The Prepare & Recover stream of the SRC program is accepting applications to support disaster-impacted communities. More information is available at https://frrr.org.au/src-prepare-recover/.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VICTORIA | ||||||
Bonnie Doon Football Club Inc | Drainage at the Reserve | Bonnie Doon | $8,072 | |||
Bridgewater Recreation and Public Reserve Committee Incorporated | Cleaning after Blaze Aid Boost volunteer capacity and community recovery through purchasing new equipment and cleaning a BlazeAid staging ground. | Bridgewater | $2,157 | |||
Cohuna Neighbourhood House Incorporated | Future Printing Project Enhance Cohuna Neighbourhood House’s provision of information and support to flood-impacted community members by purchasing a multi-functional printer / photocopier. | Cohuna | $10,000 | |||
Echuca Historical Society Incorporated | Two Men in a Boat Exhibition and Riverlife & Romance: a Tribute to "All The Rivers Run" Film Foster social reconnection and recovery in a flood-impacted region through free community events at the Echuca Museum. | Echuca | $2,250 | |||
Echuca Neighbourhood House Inc | ENH Flood Recovery Program Strengthen a Neighbourhood House's capacity to deliver emergency response and support community recovery from floods through the provision of material aid. | Echuca | $10,000 | |||
Gnarly Neighbours | A Roof for Gnarly Neighbours Boost organisational capacity and support young people impacted by flood events to access youth programs by covering rental costs to temporarily house equipment and provide a space resume regular programs and workshops. | Seymour | $10,000 | |||
Greater Shepparton Foundation Limited | Mosquito Borne Disease Education and Intervention Project Supporting flood recovery and health promotion in multicultural communities through developing educational material and distributing insect repellent to reduce the risks of mosquito borne diseases. | Shepparton | $10,000 | |||
Heathcote Community House Incorporated | Heathcote Community Flood Recovery & Support Boost Heathcote Community House’s capacity to deliver targeted support and programs for flood-impacted community members by funding community mental health programs (particularly for vulnerable and elderly residents) and extended hours to meet community need. | Heathcote | $10,000 | |||
Indigo Shire Council | FLOOD RECOVERY EXPO "Are You Bogged Mate!" Strengthen recovery and wellbeing by holding an information and mental health expo for the agricultural sector in the Indigo Shire. | Rutherglen | $7,560 | |||
International Association for Psychiatric Nurses | Mental Health First Aid Training Support community recovery from flood events with mental health first aid training to build awareness, healing and recovery skills. | Shepparton | $10,000 | |||
Lockington Recreation Reserve Incorporated | Lockington and Surrounding Districts: Flood Recovery Assistance Sustain volunteer capacity and support community recovery through cleaning and covering utility costs at a BlazeAid staging ground. | Rochester | $3,000 | |||
Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre Inc | Strengthening Mooroopna Education and Activity (MEAC) Strengthen community resilience and recovery by extending the delivery of community hub activities and programs for flood-impacted community members. | Mooroopna | $10,000 | |||
Nathalia & District Community Assoc Inc | Safe Streetscape Strengthen Nathalia Community House’s support for flood-impacted community members through upgrades to food relief storage, paths and seating areas. | Nathalia | $7,377 | |||
Neighbourhood House Murchison (VIC) Inc | Murchison Flood Recovery Programs and Activities Foster community connectedness and recovery in flood-impacted Murchison through supporting Murchison Neighbourhood House activities and programs. | Murchison | $10,000 | |||
Nexus Primary Health | Seymour Food Relief Collaborative Improve health and wellbeing outcomes for flood-impacted community members by supporting local food relief. | Seymour | $10,000 | |||
Raywood Recreation Reserve Committee of Management | Replacement Mower for our Six Acre Recreation Reserve Increase the capacity and capability of volunteers to support preparedness and recovery from natural disasters through replacing a flood damaged mower. | Raywood | $10,000 | |||
RDA Seymour Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria Inc | Feed the RDA Horses Boost the capacity of a disability organisation impacted by severe flooding by subsidising operational costs for the upkeep of horses for a riding for the disabled program. | Seymour | $10,000 | |||
Rochester Agricultural and Pastoral Association Inc | 2023 Rochester Show Enhance regional recovery and promote community resilience by providing entertainment at the annual agricultural show to bring people together post-disaster. | Rochester | $10,000 | |||
Rochester Community House Inc | Rochester Community Flood Recovery Boost ability of a community house to provide emergency assistance through additional staffing hours to support flood recovery. | Rochester | $10,000 | |||
Rochester Secondary College | Anglesea or Bust! Foster social connection and enhance young people's recovery from flooding events by subsidising a school camp. | Rochester | $10,000 | |||
Seymour Agricultural and Pastoral Society Incorporated | Flood Recovery Strengthen volunteer capacity to run upcoming annual events and support community recovery from a natural disaster by purchasing furniture and equipment. | Seymour | $9,584 | |||
Seymour Performers' Workshop Inc | Seymour Performers Workshop Flood Recovery Supporting local arts events and community recovery through repairing and replacing flood-damaged sets and equipment at a local performance group. | Seymour | $10,000 | |||
Seymour Puckapunyal Community Radio Incorporated | Flood Rebuild Strengthening volunteer capacity and community connection and information sharing through replacing flood-damaged community radio broadcasting equipment. | Seymour | $10,000 |
FRRR has announced the appointment of William Myer to its Board. William is the representative of the Sidney Myer Fund, one of the founding partners of FRRR, alongside the Australian Government.
Replacing Patrick Myer, William brings 10 years of experience in the financial services, family office and fintech industries. He is currently the Head of Analytics & Client Services for Australia and New Zealand with Bloomberg Australia.
FRRR Chairman, Tim Fairfax AC, said that the Myer family has played an important role in shaping the identity of FRRR as an organisation.
“The Sidney Myer Fund helped to establish FRRR and we continue to have a representative helping to guide our activities. William brings a valuable skillset to the board and his background in financial management and client services will help to ensure we continue to serve remote, rural and regional Australia in the most effective and practical ways possible.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Patrick Myer, William’s predecessor, for his long service on the FRRR board and his commitment to enhancing the lives of those living outside urban areas. Paddy took a particular interest in programs supporting youth and I know that his legacy in that area will continue,” said Mr Fairfax AC.
On being appointed to the board, William said, “I have a deep respect for FRRR and the way they have been able to bring so many philanthropic and corporate partners together to support remote, rural and regional Australia. FRRR’s unique approach in supporting community-led conversations and processes genuinely help to build long-term viability and recovery from the ground up,” said Mr Myer.
In addition to Tim Fairfax AC and William Myer, the other members of FRRR’s board include:
- Anne Grindrod, Deputy Chair
- Georgie Somerset AM
- Annabel F. White
- Bruce Scott OAM
- Sue Middleton
- Andrew McKenzie JP
- Hon. Simon Crean
- Hon. John Sharp AM
- James Flintoft
- David Mackay (Australian Government representative)
FRRR is delighted to share that CEO Natalie Egleton has secured a place in the Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA) program. As part of this program, Natalie will be taking a three-month sabbatical from 22 December 2022, returning 12 April 2023
Sarah Matthee has been appointed Acting CEO for this period.
In sharing news of her sabbatical, Natalie said she is grateful for the opportunity to participate in this leadership development program.
“This is a great time for me to take a break to recharge, reset and think big following eight years as CEO of FRRR, during which we have experienced significant growth and delivered much impact in remote, rural, and regional communities across Australia.
“I’m pleased to be able to leave FRRR in the very capable hands of Sarah, who has played a critical part in FRRR’s success in her five-years at FRRR. Sarah has previously filled in as Acting CEO and is well-known and highly regarded by our wonderful partners, staff, and Board. I’m sure you will join me in congratulating her and will enjoy working with her in her capacity as Acting CEO.”
Any inquiries can be directed to FRRR on 1800 170 020.
Final round of funding announced
Applications are now open for The Yulgilbar Foundation Fund grant program, which is run by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). Community groups and local not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) in and around Clarence Valley can apply for grants of up to $50,000 to fund projects that strengthen their capacity and resilience in response to the 2019/20 bushfires, flooding and continued challenges across the region.
This is the final round of funding from this program, offering $2 million across the region through a mix of multi-year and one-off grants depending on the needs of local groups.
The Fund focuses on supporting projects that leverage artistic endeavours, boost educational participation, support locally-led environmental sustainability initiatives or build capacity for communities to respond to bushfires, drought, floods or other events like COVID.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that The Yulgilbar Foundation shares FRRR’s passion for community-led recovery and resilience.
“The people in this region have dealt with a lot the last few years between drought, then the 2019-20 bushfires, COVID restrictions and most recently, flooding. At FRRR, we know that local organisations are led by community members who are best placed to know and really understand what the community needs to recover and also to thrive into the future.
“The Yulgilbar Foundation takes the same approach, which is why this grant program was created in the first place. We have a strong history of partnering and it’s been great to work alongside them on this program strengthening the communities of the Clarence Valley and surrounding regions,” said Ms Egleton.
Community groups and NFPs can apply for the grants before 5pm AEDT, 21 February 2023.
More details, including the program guidelines and EOI form, are available on FRRR’s website – https://frrr.org.au/funding/the-yulgilbar-foundation-fund/.