Pine Village is in the Murray River flood-affected region Murbko, South Australia. Pine Village Land & Services Management Association Incorporated represents members and associate members of Pine Village and they are passionate about maintaining facilities to the highest standard for the safety and enjoyment of everyone in their community.

The Association identified that access to emergency first-aid equipment needed to improve and decided to apply to the Small and Vital stream of the Strengthening Rural Communities program. They were awarded $3,704 to purchase and install an automatic defibrillator at Pine Village.

The grant also covered the cost of an outdoor storage cabinet and defibrillator-ready kit. To ensure the best possible health outcomes for Pine Village residents, and increase positive outcomes in an emergency, the defibrillator they chose guides first-time rescuers through the process.

The Association decided to mount the new life-saving equipment in an accessible location and place signage in the surrounding areas directing users to local emergency services and Association members with senior first-aid training.

Once volunteers installed the new equipment, a newsletter was sent out to people in the neighbourhood to raise awareness of the new defibrillator and it’s been well-received.

“Local support for the grant was tremendous, along with the number of members willing to assist with the installation. We are proud to have the AED available to the Murbko community as needed.”

Ten years ago, when Alex was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease and two other autoimmune conditions, she quickly learned how tough it was to find safe, gluten-free food – especially in a regional town. But it wasn’t just about food; explaining her condition to others was a challenge too.

Her personal experience sparked the creation of “Jack the Silly-Yak,” a character initially brought to life in a children’s book to help young people understand Coeliac disease in a fun and approachable way. Jack the Silly-Yak soon became a live, interactive musical and imaginative play, performed to children in regional NSW.

From this work, Alex knew there was more to be done to make Jack the Silly-Yak more accessible to kids with chronic illnesses in other regional communities.

With the help of a $6,330 grant from FRRR through the Sally Foundation Trailblazers Development Fund, Alex was able to take Jack the Silly-Yak to a whole new level. Partnering with the Hunter Business Centre, they developed The Giggle and Learn program. This online program includes three music videos and three seven-minute episodes starring Jack. These episodes mix music, craft, cooking and community outreach to create something fun and educational for kids and their families. Plus, there are downloadable resources so families can easily access everything they need to learn about living with Coeliac Disease and other chronic illnesses.

The outcomes of the video program have been remarkable. Alex is thrilled with how well the program turned out, saying, “I’m so proud of the quality of this program and how it gives the same level of fun and information that my live shows do.”

The Jack the Silly-Yak grant project has successfully expanded the reach and impact of Alex’s original vision, ensuring that kids with chronic illnesses are not only seen and heard but also empowered and supported, no matter where they live.

The online program has made it possible for families across Australia to access critical information about living with chronic illnesses. Whether in a city or a remote regional town, children and their families can now learn about Coeliac disease and other conditions in an engaging and easily understandable format.

Through the project, Alex has been able to develop meaningful relationships within the gluten-free community. These connections have helped to strengthen the message and value of the program, ensuring that it resonates with families and communities alike, as well as helping to grow the audience and therefore increase awareness and representation of both Coeliac and non-Coeliac kids.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was the opportunity to support regional creatives, by providing paid and fulfilling work to four filmmakers and artists. Supporting local talent is a key focus for Alex, and she is committed to continuing this approach in future projects.

Kowanyama is a small, very remote town in the Gulf Country in QLD and it ranks as one of Australia’s most socially and economically disadvantaged communities.  

Sadly, the community has experienced a disproportionate amount of sorrow and trauma in recent years, yet it has limited places for families and community groups to safely meet and hold traditional gatherings, eat together or hold community events.

But that’s changed thanks in part to a $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities grant. A new communal fire pit, picnic table and shelter against harsh weather conditions have been built. The people of Kowanyama now have a place to socialise and connect, which is a critical part of fostering wellbeing and strengthening the community.

This project was led by Out There Kowanyama (OTK), a dynamic, volunteer-run organisation that works to create hope and opportunity in the remote community by empowering youth with various projects and activities. OTK has a strong understanding of the community’s needs, and this project was an expansion of the community park and picnic area they had previously developed.

Although the pandemic caused a delay in completing this project, the new amenities were successfully installed by 2021 and the community reaction has been wonderful.

OTK Treasurer, Lara Wieland, shared the following with us:

“This is a place we could come and relax and get away from things when we’re stressed.”

“This could be a neutral place for mediations.”

“Counsellors could use this to catch up with people who don’t want a home or clinic visit.”

“We will hold our next women’s group here.”

“What a great place to come and hold an event. I especially like the firepit.”

“People can gather here in the shade after funerals or christenings and the old people will have somewhere shady to sit.”

In partnership with the Sally Foundation and the ABC, FRRR has awarded $40,000 in grants to eight youth-led community projects in remote, rural and regional Australia as part of the Trailblazers program. The young people have partnered with local community organisations to receive the grants.

Trailblazers are invited to apply for funds to help them to take their project ideas to the next level, or for personal development opportunities to build their skills and networks and boost their capacity to strengthen their community. This year’s themes centred around inclusivity, access to services and education, as well as improving social connectedness.

Lauren Ryan, FRRR’s Youth Futures Manager, said that it was great to have several alumni on the Advisory Panel.

“This year we had four previous Trailblazers helping out with the selection process, all of whom provided unique insights, curiosity and constructive feedback to the applicants.

“Three of the Trailblazers to receive funding this year are previous grant recipients. The idea behind funding them again is to help in developing capacity for the sustainability of their projects, which are making a great impact within their communities.”

The Sally Foundation partners with FRRR through a Giving Sub-Fund, which helps to ensure that their funding reaches groups and young people in all corners of the country. The priority of this fund is to invest in young regional leaders to build their leadership skills, and their capacity to make a difference in their communities.

Co-founder of The Sally Foundation, Geraldine Roche, said “The Trailblazers program has shown to be an important stepping stone for the young people involved to achieve and exceed their goals within their communities. Grants from the Development Fund are designed to help these change-makers do what they can to make regional Australia a better place.

“This is our fifth year in supporting Trailblazers, and it’s inspiring to see their enthusiasm and the impact of their projects addressing the needs of young people in their local communities.”

This year’s recipients are detailed below.

A report commissioned by FRRR into its long-running Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT) drought support program has found that funding local not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) and community groups and activities that strengthen social capital during drought sustains communities and supports recovery.

The TTTT program ran from 2014 to 2022 and was collaboratively funded by government and philanthropy, awarding $18.6 million via 681 grants. The majority of funding – 84% – went to outer regional, remote or very remote community groups, which often struggle to access other funding. At least half a million people benefited from the program.

The report found there were clear benefits from the projects funded, both during the drought and in the longer-term. The funding helped mitigate the extreme impacts of drought on local people and communities, either directly through investment in human and social capital, or indirectly through built infrastructure investment, strengthening the enabling conditions for short and long-term community vitality.

The review also found:

FRRR’s CEO, Natalie Egleton, says that the TTTT program remains a unique grant program in the funding landscape across remote, rural and regional Australia.

“This program is unmatched in terms of supporting regional communities throughout the drought, and to a depth and ease of accessibility when other funding was not readily available. While there were guidelines of course, the program was flexible and allowed community groups to respond to and prioritise what was important in their town.

“Some of the other key learnings were around the importance of having a longer than usual timeframe for groups to deliver the projects, as well as the importance of the funding being available for more than just two or three years. This allowed some places to co-design projects that have had a lasting legacy. Continued support after drought-breaking rain was also critical,” she explained.

This report has reinforced FRRR’s advocacy for funding that is right-sized and tailored to rural communities and grassroots NFPs during drought as an approach that can mitigate the effects of drought on communities, economies and landscapes.

You can read the report online on FRRR’s website.

FRRR is hosting a webinar to share more of these learnings on Thursday 29 August, from 1:00-2:00 pm AEST. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/tackling-tough-times-together-frrr-webinar.   

Seventy-nine community groups across remote, rural and regional Australia are sharing more than $730,000 in grants, thanks to FRRR’s flagship Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program.

The grants are awarded through two streams of funding – one that focuses on ‘small and vital projects’ that enhance the vitality and liveability of these country communities, and another that focuses on disaster recovery and preparedness.

FRRR Place Portfolio Lead, Jill Karena, says that as in recent rounds, most projects are seeking to innovate or respond to local opportunities, or enhance community identity, wellbeing and a sense of place – but there are different priorities across the country.

“That’s the beauty of this program. It’s flexible, so it can respond to the priorities of each individual place. But there are some common themes, including building community resilience and local disaster preparedness, especially when it comes to having a self-sufficient centre that can support the community during or after a disaster; responding to increasing food insecurity as costs of living rises; filling gaps caused by more people moving into more rural and remote areas, which in turns drives up demand for community support services – especially specialist services like disability support, First Nations literacy or responding to neurodiversity.

“The focus we saw last round on support for small-scale infrastructure or equipment continued, as more local NFPs take on the management and maintenance of community facilities to ensure they aren’t lost. These kinds of facilities are critical to maintaining social connection, as well as being critical hubs from which visiting services such as mobile playgroups and regular exercise classes operate, or as a place to host critical meetings, so ensuring they are fit for-purpose is vital,” Ms Karena explained.

Some of the projects funded include:

The SRC program is collaboratively supported by donors, ranging from private individuals to larger foundations, who are acknowledged on the FRRR website. However, demand for funding continues to outstrip what FRRR has available, with this round seeing more than 60 ‘funding-ready’ and worthy small and vital projects seeking $680,000 in support missing out. If you would like to help, you can donate at www.frrr.org.au/donate.

FRRR always accepts applications to this program, which awards funds around four times a year. Local not-for-profit organisations 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.

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

Grants awarded to 18 communities, including funding for farmers

FRRR’s In a Good Place (IAGP) program has awarded $286,992 to 18 not-for-profit organisations in remote, rural and regional communities for community-driven projects, services, activities or initiatives that help people at risk of, or currently experiencing, mental health challenges.

The grants, of up to $20,000, have been awarded by FRRR thanks to support from long-term partner CCI Giving, as well as Macdoch Foundation, Jibb Foundation, Morris Family Foundation, Norman Family Foundation and Rebecca Gorman & John Sevior, all of whom have come on board this year to support an expanded program.

For the last seven years, the focus has been on supporting mental wellbeing in rural communities. However, following the release of the NFF’s National Farmer Wellbeing Report, the six new partners have joined with FRRR to support a second stream of funding focusing specifically on mental health of farmers and farming communities.

Jeremy Yipp, Chair of CCI Giving, said social isolation is a big challenge in remote, rural and regional communities.

“Most applications this round focused on addressing current and emerging mental health issues that are a result of social isolation – an impact of the pandemic that’s still being felt in rural communities. Programs like IAGP mean that small grassroots organisations, community health providers and even local councils can access funding to create opportunities for social connection to support both personal and community resilience,” Mr Yipp said.

Michelle Gortan, CEO of Macdoch Foundation, one of the new IAGP partners, said that applications for the new stream of funding confirmed the importance of community-led initiatives to support mental health.

“The applications for the farmers and farming communities stream confirm that grassroots, non-clinical initiatives play an essential role in filling growing gaps in the system. We’ve been impressed by FRRR’s wide and deep reach into rural and regional communities, which has highlighted the need for investment in projects that promote preventative and responsive mental health approaches in farming and agriculture-dependent communities, all over Australia.”

Jill Karena, FRRR’s People Programs Portfolio Lead, said there are a range of factors in agriculture-dependent communities that affect wellbeing.

“The new farmers and farming communities stream of the IAGP program has given us the chance to offer more funding and support to projects that are filling the gaps in mental health services in farming communities. These places are often under a lot of pressure due to natural disasters, inflation and financial stress – all of which can lead to high levels of mental health struggles. We’re thrilled to have our new partners on board the IAGP program to help promote positive mental health outcomes in these communities,” Ms Karena said.

Ms Karena went on to highlight the importance of supporting initiatives in First Nations communities where mental health projects go hand in hand with culture.

“During this round, we also saw an increase in applications from First Nations organisations, many of which highlighted the vital nature of connection to culture and Country for social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations peoples. It means a lot for us be able to support these initiatives, as we strive to play our part to help close the gap in access for these communities,” Ms Karena said.

A list of the grant recipients and their projects, which include some innovative ways to promote current mental health services to vulnerable cohorts that wouldn’t normally seek assistance – such as working dog training, art, or environmental projects – is available below.

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

Tomaree Neighbourhood Centre Inc (TNC) set out to build the economic and cultural sustainability of the Worimi Indigenous Community through a free, culturally safe workshop where participants were able to connect with culture through story and art. 

Born out of a collaboration between Tomaree Neighbourhood Centre and Koori Colours Art Gallery in Tanilba Bay, the ‘Adult Indigenous Art and Cultural Canvas Workshop’ project was supported by a $6,407 grant, awarded through the Small and Vital stream of the Strengthening Rural Communities grant program. 

While the workshop’s primary audience was Indigenous members, it was inclusive to all in the hopes of building a stronger social fabric in the community. There were 50 attendees, including Deputy Mayor Leah Anderson and Warlga Ngurra Women and Children’s Refuge committee member Aunty Mook (Delece Manton). 

The two-day workshop was facilitated by Worimi artist Jason Russel, who inspired members to infuse their unique stories into artistic creations. Jason provided teachings on symbols, the stories behind them, and traditional methods of painting used by Worimi people.

The project culminated in an exhibition on 1 March, 2024, at Tomaree Library and Community Centre. Opened by Jason with a welcome to country in traditional Gathang language and smoking ceremony, the exhibition displayed all participants’ artworks and gave the wider Port Stephens community an opportunity to meet the artists and hear the stories behind their work. 

TNC reported that they were proud to successfully provide a supportive and inclusive space for people to create, heal, yarn, and connect to culture. ‘Through the sharing of culture, we are contributing to closing the gap on a grassroots level.’

Community Action Inc (CAI) is a not-for-profit community organisation based in Gympie, QLD. It is a registered community housing provider with a mission to provide housing and support services in response to community needs. In partnership with Gympie and District Sustainability Alliance (GADSA), they received a $20,000 grant in Round 1 of the Community Led Climate Solutions (CLCS) program, funded by Hand Heart Pocket, for their Building Energy Efficiency Project (CAI BEEP). GADSA is a volunteer-led organisation committed to promoting sustainable communities through the use of technology to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

This project stood out due to its strong alignment to several grant criteria including reducing emissions, supporting a just transition, and educating and advocating for increasing energy efficiency practices in social housing. FRRR was also impressed by the letters of support accompanying the application, demonstrating close connections within the community.

The overall objective of CAI BEEP is to increase energy efficiency in two buildings: a duplex brick veneer structure used to accommodate survivors of domestic violence; and an older elevated timber dwelling, occupied by CAI’s Youth Services Office. The project identified a multifaceted solution that could be implemented in stages involving installing solar panels, batteries, ceiling insulation and modern reverse cycle air conditioning units.

The CLCS grant will fund their first priority – the solar panels, which are anticipated to significantly reduce use of electricity from the grid and save an estimated 30 tonnes of C0₂ emissions through the annual production of 37MWh of renewable energy. In addition to emissions reduction, the project will reduce electricity costs and enable additional spending on other social projects by CAI Inc – enabling the tenants of the buildings to also benefit from the transition to renewables. The energy cost savings are estimated to be $4,000 annually across both parties.

CAI Inc is first and foremost a social housing and support program provider, so their partnership with GADSA has been critical to developing and managing the project delivery, contributing their time and knowledge.

Among the first steps was assessing the duplex under the Building Energy Rating Scheme (BERS), which guided the work program. GADSA sourced quotes for all tasks and identified the trades necessary for each job.

GADSA believes every individual, household and business can make changes to reduce their climate impacts. To help them promote the use of renewables and building efficiency solutions, such as ceiling insulation, to other social housing providers to increase their emissions reduction and social justice impact, GADSA ultimately plans to document this project.

This project demonstrates the power of collaboration and the impact of highly-skilled and energised volunteers, leading to a locally-led and impactful, climate solution.

With support from a variety of generous supporters including The Sally Foundation, Seaton Foundation and Bunnings Warehouse, FRRR awarded $36,000 via six grants to not-for-profit community organisations in and around Lismore for a variety of projects aimed at supporting local youth.

The FRRR ABC Takeover Youth Catalyst Grants support communities to take action on the ideas generated by regional youth at the annual ABC Takeover Regional Summit. The annual Takeover Summit provides local students with a platform to speak up and have their voices heard on issues that matter to them within their own community.

The grants provide a mechanism for these ideas to become reality in their community, with project delivery intended to establish a greater connection between youth and community organisations; support youth to drive change in their community by backing their ideas; and ensure that young people are valued for their contributions and time.