Local NFP leaders invited to join online sessions

FRRR, is currently seeking three Victorian communities to partner with in a five-year, place-based program that will strengthen the capacity of local not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) and community groups to undertake vital work in their communities.

Called Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF), the program offers flexible and tailored support to strengthen local organisations to more effectively advocate on shared issues, contribute to a thriving community, and achieve long-term impact across key priority areas.

As part of the exploration and selection process, information sessions are being held in five rural VIC communities – Hamilton, Portland, Colac, Swan Hill and Maryborough – to explain the program, what’s involved in partnering with FRRR as a community and how the process will work. Details will be provided about the next steps for communities keen to express their interest in being involved over the coming years. After an EOI process and in-community workshops in the New Year, three communities will be chosen.

The program includes the combination of a locally-based Community Facilitator, community-led and informed grants, participatory planning processes, skill-building workshops to support individual and community capacity, local networking across the sector and encourages collaboration on shared objectives.

Access to this support will be free, thanks to FRRR’s partnership with four philanthropic organisations – Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Jack Brockhoff Foundation, The Ross Trust, and William Buckland Foundation. Each community will receive a total investment of around $600,000 in grants, as well as capacity building workshops and support.

Jo Kemp, IRCF VIC Program Manager, said that IRCF recognises the crucial work of local NFPs and community groups.

“The program and activities we undertake are based on the principle that if individual organisations can strengthen their own capacity and sustainability, then collectively the NFP sector will be more effective in contributing to a thriving community.

“’I’ve been fortunate to meet with NFPs recently in towns across Victoria. I’m always inspired by their passion to make a difference in their community and their willingness to share local insights and aspirations. Their resilience and positivity truly shines through.

“But I’ve also heard about ongoing challenges their communities face and I know NFPs are often under-resourced to tackle these. Further, volunteers are integral to their work, and many are experiencing fatigue. This is where the IRCF program can provide tangible help through resources and capacity support when the time is right.

“Ultimately, we are looking to partner with communities who are ready to embrace this kind of approach with FRRR. We look forward to sharing with NFPs in each community details about how the program could add value to their work.”

FRRR has successfully delivered the IRCF program alongside eight NSW communities, starting with Junee, Leeton, and Nambucca Valley, and then on the South Coast region including Nowra, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Bay and Basin, and Bega Valley. Learn more about the outcomes as these communities conclude their five-year partnerships.

For more information about the IRCF program visit, www.frrr.org.au/IRCF-Victoria.

Women in the 200+ rural community of Hamilton in the Central Highlands region of Tasmania are healthier and happier, thanks to a series of workshops that focused on empowering women and building their resilience. The sessions were supported by a $5,000 grant through FRRR’s Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants program that helped cover food costs and speaker fees, making it affordable for many rural women to attend.

The sessions came about after the The Hamilton District Agricultural Show Society (HDASS) committee volunteers noticed that women in the district often felt lonely and isolated, as facilities closed down, leaving them fewer options to get involved in activities. Add to that the challenge of balancing work, family life, sport, hobbies, managing access to health services and more.

The committee therefore decided to plan something to bring them together and learn new skills, in the belief that strong women create strong families and communities. The grant meant the committee could offer a series of workshops rather than only one, helping participants build their network and cement connections with new and familiar people.

They ran four sessions from June to December 2023, each with a different topic around the theme of empowering women and building their resilience:

1. The power of the written word – about how reading and book clubs can provide a fabulous networking opportunity for attendees.
2. Resilience through self-care – addressing common health issues for women and reinforcing the need to be proactive in managing your health.
3. Strength through agriculture and community – tips on managing mental health challenges and how important friends and colleagues are in times of need.
4. Protecting rural communities from within – sharing how building connections can help prevent crime in rural communities.

Joanna Jones from the HDASS committee reported that the program brought together around 70 people from a diverse range of ages, social backgrounds, education and jobs, and encouraged learning from the presenters, as well as each other.

“Bringing together people from different facets of the community, and allowing people to make new connections and friends was a highlight … This was a fantastic program. It was also lovely that a representative from Nutrien was able to attend two of the workshops, and see the difference the funding made to the community,” she said.

In many aged care facilities social isolation among elderly residents has been an ongoing battle, especially during COVID, as restrictions and lockdowns prevented family and friends visiting loved ones for almost two years. Luckily for the residents of Eventide Lutheran Homes (ELH) in Hamilton, Victoria, the future is now looking decidedly more social.  

Thanks to a $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) grant supported by Ian Rollo Currie Foundation, ELH was able to purchase a golf buggy that has been assisting with the transport of residents with mobility and sight issues around the facility. This has been especially useful for building social connection among residents who previously may not have engaged with organised activities due to the difficulty of getting around.

The golf buggy has three seats available to move the residents around in a comfortable and protected way across the facility, including the gardens, the golf course, and any other location the residents wish to visit.

The purchase of the buggy has been an absolute success for not only the residents, but for the staff and volunteers as well. After 18 months of almost constant lockdowns, the volunteers and social activities staff have been very excited to see more activities in the facility and to see the enjoyment of the residents. Staff members have also been seen taking more ownership over projects and events within the facility.

In one instance, a resident was taken for a drive around a nearby golf course where he had previously played golf with a handicap of four for 50 years. He was visibly moved by the experience of visiting the golf course once again.

The buggy arrived at Eventide on the 8 November 2021 and was christened with a celebration morning tea and rides for residents outside. Unfortunately, the weather was not so kind, and the rides had to be cut short. But since then, the buggy has been moving people around the grounds with no issues.

“Apart from the obvious enjoyment of the residents it was exciting to see different staff members taking ownership and being part of the project. After 18 months of almost constant lockdown, none or very few volunteers and few social activities staff were very excited to have social activities in the facility and see the enjoyment of the residents. This had a positive effect on staff and they are busy planning events for the buggy.
Visitors who have been prevented from freely seeing their loved ones for almost 2 years have been excited and engaged in the project and will be able to take their loved ones for rides outside.”