This story was submitted as part of FRRR’s 25th birthday celebrations.

“From the first time we contacted FRRR to inquire about a grant, we felt supported by an intelligent, insightful and caring organisation of real people. The website information itself was informative and all-encompassing, but the people who helped us by phone were considerate, encouraging and resourceful. They went out of their way to ensure that applications were submitted correctly and the follow-up reviews were helpful. The human element that we encountered at FRRR was reassuring. We felt understood and ‘on the same wavelength’. Unlike some other funding bodies, our need to re-build our community after the disaster of COVID, by prioritising our need to rebuild social capital was recognised by FRRR. It was clear reading the FRRR community grant guidelines that our project, which relied upon educating and connecting different social groups and cultures to locate vulnerable and isolated people was “in sync” with FRRR values. We felt trusting – and trusted. This inspired our volunteers to work hard to reach high standards. To us, FRRR was far more than a reactive funding source. It was a beacon of “best practice” in all ways needed by remote, rural and regional communities where our needs locally are very different – and sometimes far more urgent – than other places.

FRRR appreciated our need to reach deeply within our grassroots – to get people talking together and sharing ideas – at the very coalface. FRRR addresses regional issues holistically and recognises the importance of our community’s non-profit efforts to assess what we must do to inspire good change at the community level. The empowerment that we have felt has been outstanding, and every person who was involved in our MHFA project who has gone on to carry the FRRR values forward to other community groups has experienced personal growth, while developing new and transferable skills. For us, the FRRR-granted money has been a gift that has gone on giving! Donors to FRRR should be pleased and proud to know that their donations have been well-spent. Congratulations, FRRR, on your 25th anniversary. You will continue to be a blessing to both old and new and evolving communities in a way that is unique and highly respected – and to us, irreplaceable”

Elizabeth Mitchell, Ex-Secretary

“FRRR funding helped us to provide Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to maximum class sizes of 25 people in each session. We held a two-day training session initially to cover the Core Course in late 2023, followed by two optional one-day sessions to cover Gambling and Suicide in early 2024. All classes were fully booked. We had very high levels of interest from health service workers, especially multicultural health workers and also interested community members, which created a wide range of insights and discussion. 

Our classes included people from India, Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Poland and the Philippines. We were able to share stories from our different cultural communities and hear entirely new perspectives, especially when discussing stigma-related issues like Gambling and Domestic Violence. Feedback received after the training ended was very positive. People reported increased confidence and empowerment in holding difficult social conversations that they had avoided previously. Many were grateful to meet new friends with whom they have since engaged socially. 

We offered free lunches and morning tea to all participants, for all training sessions. Special dietary requirements like Halal, vegetarian, gluten and dairy-free were all catered for, so everyone felt equally respected and included. Eating together created welcoming, inclusive breaks and people who would likely not have met otherwise all relaxed and got to know each other. 

From those first two days, many firm, ongoing friendships evolved. Two social / learning activities were held later in 2024 to attract more community members and provide more opportunities for course participants to meet and engage over Morning Tea, while listening to “special interest” experts. One activity covered “Making Latrobe Valley Bee-Friendly” and the other included a presentation on “Turning Upcycled Clothing into Funky Wearable Art”. 

In 2025, these same topics were incorporated into another community project because they were popular and had attracted so much interest in the 2023/2024 MHFA project. MHFA course participants cooked and served multicultural foods for these events, and new networks were formed that are still expanding.

As a non-profit community association, Living Well Yallourn North Inc could never have afforded to fund the Mental Health First Aid Australia courses that have since impacted so many local people. The prime MHFA project goals were to inform, raise awareness, and connect potentially vulnerable and isolated people from diverse groups in Latrobe Valley. Since the training, several people have joined and connected with three important multicultural community groups: International Women’s Group, Filipino Seniors Carers Support Group of Gippsland, and United Muslim Sisters of Latrobe Valley. 

MHFA participants have joined a social networking group, Latrobe Women Creating Conversations and our local food security action group, Food For All Latrobe Valley, to become active committee and general members. Two other Latrobe Valley sustainability and art projects, Celebrating Permaculture and Conference of the Birds, have been supported by a new band of multicultural MHFA volunteers.

Of the original 25 people who participated in the MHFA training, we know of 17 who have since engaged with and assisted other community organisations. At least 400 meaningful opportunities for networking and overcoming social barriers have been achieved in Latrobe Valley by that group of 17 people alone. 

Because we wanted to attract and engage with isolated, vulnerable people in Latrobe Valley in a socially welcoming but educational environment, our need to provide food for both morning teas and lunches for guests at our social / learning events was significant. Unlike some other Latrobe City funders, FRRR provided funds for catering that made such events possible. It is factual that none of that information-sharing, networking, and connection would have been possible without the caring, supportive and generous help of FRRR.”

Living Well Yallourn North’s vision for the future

“By 2050, we envision WRNA as a nationally recognised organisation that continues to foster inclusivity, support and connection within communities. We hope to continue to make more co-designed events for young people, by young people. Our goal is to build a network of strong partnerships, ensuring that everyone – regardless of background or circumstances – feels heard, valued and supported. These are the small stepping stones we wish to achieve to ultimately create a long-lasting movement for disability justice in regional Australia.

Latrobe Valley is going through a very rough transition in 2025. It is negatively impacting our levels of mental and physical health and wellbeing. The need for change has caused high levels of anxiety, tension, disagreement and division in our already disadvantaged community. Existing industries are closing; made worse by the closure of local retail businesses. Both economic and social deficits have become more acute because of the cost-of-living crisis and global uncertainty. There is a heightened demand for increased education about the crises that too often confront people, and we must learn to face and deal with them proactively. 

Mental Health First Aid training helps our community members to seek out and connect more meaningfully, to avoid needless social upheaval and tragedy. By 2050, we hope that MHFA training will no longer be needed. Our region will no longer be going through this unsettling transition. New industries will provide longer-term career satisfaction and job security for our residents, particularly our youth and young families. Our levels of health and wellbeing will be long-lifted. There will be a new sense of pride within Latrobe Valley, with people feeling less isolated, less lonely but happier and more connected. Wind turbines and solar panels will provide energy and “nuclear” debates will be long forgotten. Latrobe City will be clean, green and sought after as a destination to live in, work in and visit. Harmony will reign, and hopefully, we will travel to Melbourne by ‘fast train’.”

The Riverina region is home to a large number of current and former Australian Defence Force personnel and first responders. It is well-documented that these groups face significant mental health challenges. A survey by the Pro Patria Centre (PPC) revealed alarming statistics: nearly half of respondents were medically discharged; over 40% had been hospitalised for service-related injuries; and 60% had experienced suicidal thoughts in the past two years.

Established in 2021, PPC set out to create a multidisciplinary support hub focused on the mental, emotional and physical health of veterans, first responders and their families at Wagga Wagga’s neglected Carmelite Monastery site.

With a $17,160 In a Good Place grant funded by CCI Giving, the “Kitchen Garden to Plate” initiative set out to restore and expand the two-acre garden, creating a welcoming environment where veterans, first responders and their families could engage in therapeutic gardening. Overgrown areas were cleared, fresh produce was planted, and gardening zones were introduced to accommodate accessibility needs. Raised garden beds, a Zen Garden for reflection and a propagation tunnel for sustainable planting are now all integral parts of the space.

Beyond gardening, participants took part in hands-on workshops that brought the experience full circle. Garden-to-Plate cooking classes empowered them to turn their homegrown produce into nutritious meals, reinforcing the connection between food, health and wellbeing. As the project developed, additional activities such as sustainability workshops and community engagement initiatives enriched the experience further.

The program is supporting more than 500 people with fresh food and it continues to foster awareness of mental health challenges in the wider community. For participants who have given so much in service to others, the therapeutic outlets are reducing stress, encouraging healthier lifestyles and cultivating a renewed sense of purpose.  

As with any project, there were challenges along the way. Coordinating schedules to ensure participation was difficult, as was securing additional funding to accommodate the expanded scope. The disruptions caused by COVID also required adaptability and resilience. Reflecting on these experiences, the team has identified key learnings, such as the value of early needs assessments and the importance of flexibility to accommodate participants’ varying commitments.

Volunteer horticulturalists are providing labour and expertise pro bono to support the development of the garden and its impact. The initiative is more than just a garden, it has become a foundation for healing and resilience and as it continues to grow, it will ensure that even more veterans and first responders can benefit in the years ahead.

You can watch the project in action on ABC News.

Grants up to $20,000 available to support wellbeing in rural areas

FRRR’s In a Good Place (IAGP) program is inviting applications for grants up to $20,000 for community-driven projects that strengthen the mental, social and/or emotional health and wellbeing of people living in remote, rural and regional places, particularly in farming communities.

This round, the IAGP program has $290,000 to support initiatives or activities that prevent or respond to mental wellbeing concerns. Priorities include increasing mental health education and understanding to reduce stigma; supporting people to build connections and reduce social isolation; and encouraging, supporting and enabling people to seek help for their mental health.

Thanks to FRRR’s donor partners, community groups and not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) can apply for grants through two streams of funding:

1. Community wellbeing: for projects that focus on strengthening the general mental health and wellbeing of people in remote, rural and regional communities.
2. Farmers and farming communities: for projects specifically supporting the mental health and wellbeing of farmers and the communities they live in.

Jill Karena, Head of Granting at FRRR, said that while Australia’s farming communities are incredibly vibrant and resilient, even the strongest person needs help from time to time.

“There is a legacy of silence and perceived stigma around speaking up and seeking support for mental health issues. Thankfully, in rural communities, this narrative is shifting.

“Together with our funding partners, we are supporting local groups to be part of that momentum and continue to challenge and positively shift perceptions about mental health in their remote, rural and regional communities.

“We want to fund initiatives that foster open and honest discussions around mental health, support the social and emotional wellbeing of vulnerable community members, and encourage farmers, and other community members concerned with their mental health, to seek support.

“We look forward to reading the project ideas put forward by community groups and not-for-profits across the country, and to be inspired by their positive, proactive and community-focussed, mental health initiatives,” Ms Karena said.

Groups seeking support must first lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI), which is due 14 February. Final applications from those shortlisted are due 11 March.

Learn more at: https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/in-a-good-place/. FRRR would also welcome more partners for this program. Potential supporters should contact partnerships@frrr.org.au or call 03 5430 2399.

The Pinnaroo Project is a creative, community-wide, health improvement project that has been established by Mallee Arts and the community to address the lack of locally available health services in regional communities in that region of SA and measure the impact of the interventions. The Project aims to improve the health and wellbeing of residents through community engagement and participation in various art and cultural activities over a two-to-three-year period.

A research team from Flinders University is managing the research component of the project. Health data is being collected from the Pinnaroo residents at the beginning, during and at the end of the project.

Like many regional towns, Pinnaroo has limited access to health services, with only one local nurse practitioner and visiting doctors, meaning residents seeking additional services must drive more than 120 km to the likes of Berri in the Riverland or Murray Bridge. Appointments with medical specialists often require trips to Adelaide, three hours away.

Their Pinnaroo Connections project received a $20,000 In a Good Place grant from FRRR, co-funded by the Macdoch Foundation and the Morris Family Foundation, to address the issues of isolation and depression. A series of three events (one for men; another for women; and one for the whole community) aimed to normalise conversations around mental health and strengthen social and emotional health and wellbeing. A focus was both to increase social connections and to educate people around prevention and support strategies and ultimately to create new dialogues around health discussion and self-help.

So far, two events have been held – the women’s Sunday Funday and the very successful men’s burger night, which attracted 90 men, aged between 18 and 85, who gathered at the Pinnaroo Cricket shed for an informal men’s get together. A panel of local farmers, a medical health professional and people with lived mental health experience shared stories of resilience and getting help for mental health issues.

The organisers were thrilled with the turnout, saying that it was a fabulous event.

“The vibe was great and just what they needed, given the tough drought conditions our district is facing. While the speakers were doing their thing you could have heard a pin drop!”

The whole of community event is scheduled for March 2025.

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/.

Farm businesses are inherently stressful workplaces. Managing the vagaries of climate change, working with family members, and doing so in an isolated farm environment, can be hard.

Often in farming, family and business are intertwined. The Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) was hearing from local farmers about the consequences poor communication can have on the farm business, the bottom line, safety and mental health.

Feedback from young farmers had identified poor communication as a key source of stress, anxiety and isolation, which subsequently has negative effects on their mental health.

BCG secured an In a Good Place grant to hold a one-day Tomorrow Farmer event, to discuss the skills that all members of the farming operation require to have the crucial conversations about farm business prosperity, without compromising the social fabric of a family. The event focussed on how to manage and maintain positive mental health during these conversations. Improving their ability to communicate and have the ‘difficult conversations’, often across generations, was the aim of this project.

After rescheduling three times due to lock downs, the training, which was led by Tom Bell from Tomorrow Man, was held on 16 March 2022. And it wasn’t just for men – it was open to everyone interested and there was a broad cross-section of ages that attended.

Approximately 40 farmers, advisers and industry representatives attended the event with a further 20 people registered but unable to attend due to needing to isolate as per COVID guidelines.

While the numbers were less than anticipated, this allowed the group to participate in interactive sessions without the need for a panel session. Tom created a safe and intimate environment for people to feel comfortable asking questions and sharing experiences throughout the sessions.

The sessions covered active listening, asking the right questions, storytelling for connection, being authentic, and knowing when to call in extra support to make important decisions.

The engaging and participatory event provided a framework for ongoing, open and honest communication – a tool as useful as any other in a farmer’s toolbox.

When surveyed about the benefits gained from the event and what tools they planned to implement as a result of attending, the resounding answer was to ‘listen more!’.

“It was one of the best events to meet people in the BCG in my experience and I found it to be a very energising day. Thank you!”

New partners join FRRR’s In a Good Place program

More funding is now on offer to support mental health projects in remote, rural and regional communities, thanks to new supporters of FRRR’s In a Good Place grants program, with grants of up to $20,000 are now available.

First established in 2018 with the support of CCI Giving, the program’s focus has been on supporting community-driven initiatives that reduce social isolation, increase social participation and connectedness, and increase help-seeking for people within rural, regional and remote communities who are at risk of, or are experiencing, mental health issues.

Now the IAGP program is expanding, adding a stream focussed on farmers and farming communities, following the recent National Farmer Wellbeing Report, which was presented at a recent mental health and wellbeing forum, hosted by National Farmers Federation (NFF).

The Report revealed that in recent years, 45% of Australian farmers have felt depressed, with 64% experiencing anxiety. The causes of this are many-fold, but top among them were weather or natural disasters (47%), financial stress (36%) and inflation and cost pressures (35%). Add to this that 76% of Australian farmers believe that the role they play is undervalued by the Australian public and it’s not hard to understand why farmers and farming communities are experiencing declining mental health.

The Report called for additional funding and support, which prompted six new partners to join FRRR’s IAGP program, alongside CCI Giving – Macdoch Foundation, Jibb Foundation, Morris Family Foundation, Norman Family Foundation and Rebecca Gorman & John Sevior.

These funders have committed to the program for three years, ensuring dedicated funding for farmers and farming communities from 2024-2026. In total, $1,063,000 has been committed over the next three years.

FRRR’s CEO, Natalie Egleton, said that the insights shared by farmers and farmer advocates, reaffirm the relevance of the In a Good Place program, and the role it can play in supporting the wellbeing of farming communities.

“These firsthand experiences and insights, highlight the need for investment in projects that promote preventative and responsive mental health approaches in farming and agriculture-dependent communities.

“Critically, the additional funding will help to address gaps in services by upskilling people locally and bringing in experts, so that locals in farming communities can better support one another.

“Thanks to the generous support of our new partners and CCI Giving, we can build on from the valuable impact that the IAGP program has had on rural Australia over the last six years, by ensuring farming communities can access more funding to develop the community-led, place-based solutions that make sense, locally,” Ms Egleton said.

Jeremy Yipp, Chair of CCI Giving, is also pleased to see the expansion of the program.

“The events of recent years have added complexity to the challenges that remote, rural and regional communities face. But we’ve seen first-hand that by supporting projects that remove barriers to people getting appropriate support, we can make a lasting difference. So it’s wonderful to have more organisations coming on board, enabling FRRR to support even more non-clinical approaches that are community-based and accessible at a grassroots level. It will mean that even more communities can access support,” Mr Yipp said.

Michelle Gortan, CEO of Macdoch Foundation, one of the new partners, said that due to increasingly variable weather conditions, financial and market pressures, and the need to navigate industry and land use transitions, there is a need to ensure farming communities are feeling well-supported.

“Maintaining good mental health and community wellbeing is multi-faceted and a lifelong process that requires a range of different approaches. We recognise that local communities know what will work in their particular context, and as a collective of funders, we are delighted to be partnering with FRRR so that that agricultural communities can design and implement community-led solutions that are fit for purpose.

“FRRR’s special tax status means that as partners, we can respond practically to the issues raised in the National Farmer Wellbeing Report and ensure funding reaches grassroots communities to support improved community wellbeing and mental health, which ultimately helps to create a stronger Australia,” Ms Gortan said.

The expanded program supports a range of approaches that are preventative or responsive in nature, reduce social isolation by increasing social participation and connectedness, and reduce stigma surrounding mental health by encouraging open discussion and supporting self-help-seeking. Communities of less 10,000 will receive priority.

Grants of up to $20,000 are available from a funding pool of at least $290,000. Grants are available via two streams:

1. Community wellbeing – focussing on mental health and wellbeing within remote, rural and regional communities;
2. Farmers and farming communities – supporting mental health and wellbeing of farmers and the communities they live in.

Applications are via an expression of interest process, with EOIs due 30 April, with final applications for those shortlisted due 15 May. Learn more at: https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/in-a-good-place/.

FRRR would also welcome more partners for this program. Potential supporters should contact partnerships@frrr.org.au or call 03 5430 2399.

Beyond the Bell Great Southern Coast applied to the In a Good Place program, on behalf of the Southern Grampians Live4Life Partnership Group, for funds to support the implementation of the Live4Life model in the Southern Grampians Shire.

Live4Life is a community-grown, evidence-based, rural youth mental health model designed to prevent youth suicide. The Live4Life model aims to ensure that young people, teachers, parents and the wider community are better informed about mental ill health so they can be proactive in identifying the signs and symptoms of an emerging mental health issue before a crisis occurs.

The Live4Life model focuses on an ‘upstream’ approach to mental health education and suicide prevention to build resilient young people and communities. This is achieved by ‘wrapping’ protective factors around young people such as supportive relationships, support at critical times, positive help-seeking attitudes, connection to family, school and community and positive peer role models.

The school-based project to support Youth Crew activities and mental health education was all geared up ready to go when COVID first struck and schools and communities across the country went into lock-down.

After a year of navigating the challenges of not being able to deliver face-to-face programs and other challenges such as the loss of the Youth Engagement Officer, who normally coordinates the crew activities, the group developed new strategies and approaches that enabled them to successfully deliver the activities in a COVID-safe manner, including a new model of blended Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training.

The group was highly successful in maintaining the momentum of the project, despite delivering a personal development program and training in a lock-down environment. They launched a social media presence on Instagram during Mental Health Week and created various collateral and promotional materials such as stickers, posters and help-seeking flyers to use in info packs to be distributed to students at in-school promotional events.

Once the Partnership Group was able to recommence activities within the community, they successfully delivered a series of Leadership and YMHFA courses and training sessions using a mix of face-to-face session and a blended online model via Zoom, reaching across six schools and eight allied community-based organisations that work with young people.

The organisation reported that what they were most proud of about the expansion of the Live4Life project into the Southern Grampians Shire, which they estimate has directly benefitted at least 950 people, was the engagement of the young people who joined the Live4Life CREW. They also mentioned the local YMHFA Instructor training, which has increased the community’s capacity to deliver more training across the Southern Grampians region.

The lastest news on the project from the Southern Grampians Live4Life website reports:

The project has led to increased community capacity and shared awareness of preventative mental health strategies through the MHFA training, as well as a deeper engagement with the Partnership Group in a broader context. They report that there is a noticeable increase in collaboration across the Southern Grampians area, possibly due to participation in the Live4Life initiative that connected people and agencies / organisations, and promoted collaboration centred on young people in the Shire.

“I think the most rewarding part of being in the Crew is seeing the difference you’ve wanted to achieve happen. Getting people into the idea of talking about mental health is hard but I think it’s slowly starting to happen, with the Crew being a part of that change.” – 2023 Crew member, Southern Grampians

By Jeanice Henderson, In a Good Place Program Coordinator

Despite the many positive aspects of living in remote, rural, and regional communities, there are also distinct challenges associated with distance and isolation, which place these communities at greater risk of poorer mental health outcomes.

These include:

• Lack of available service or long wait times;
• Poor, interrupted or lack of digital services and access;
• Reduction in volunteers, business closures, job losses, loss of agricultural markets;
• Poorer outcomes in the social determinants of health;
• Life on the land can be hard – drought, fire, flood, mouse plague, cyclones; and
• Stigma, shame, and ‘stiff upper lip’ attitudes to mental health.

The compounding and accumulative effects of some or all of these things take their toll – on individuals, families and the communities they live in.

Local solutions need support

At FRRR, we have found that the most effective responses to these challenges are often community centered but lack access or visibility to government or philanthropic funding.

Simple, flexible and accessible funding is required to support projects, programs and activities that create supportive environments, strengthen communities to act, develop personal skills and support services to re-orientate their programs to be both inclusive and appropriate for all.

This is where philanthropy can play an important enabling role, especially for grassroots organisations that often can’t access traditional philanthropy.

Small grants can be the straightforward and friendly ‘front door’ through which grassroots organisations can step to build their capability, connect their community and navigate and drive change.

In fact, for many communities experiencing disadvantage, small grants are one of the few ways that they can get the resources and opportunities to launch new ideas or approaches in their communities.

While not always ‘sexy’, the projects and the needs met through these grants, can address areas of disadvantage and inequity in communities that often have little visibility to funders and policymakers.

We’ve seen this be particularly effective when those small grants are targeted toward addressing specific needs. A case in point is in the area of mental health.

In A Good Place

In a Good Place is a national philanthropic grant program, delivered by FRRR and funded in partnership with CCI Giving.

This aim is to support people living in remote, rural and regional communities seeking help who are at risk of, or are experiencing, mental health issues.

The program has a relatively small, flexible funding pool of $250,000 per year, and offers grants of up to $20,000 to enable rural communities to action their ideas and solutions.

Our focus is to support efforts to strengthen the mental health of at-risk or vulnerable people via services or activities that are preventative or responsive in nature and designed to engage those less likely or unable to participate in mental, social and emotional wellbeing activities.

This program truly reflects the FRRR ethos that local communities are best placed to identify local needs, local opportunities and lead local responses.

We have run the program since 2018 and have so far funded 84 projects  – that’s $1.25 million in small grants invested into remote, rural and regional communities to support non-clinical approaches to mental health and wellbeing.

We’re very proud of it, but it’s really a drop in the ocean, as demand for this kind of support is very strong – and only increasing. Between 2018 and 2023, 397 applications requested over $6,443,348 in grant funding for combined total project cost of $18,981,059.

Further, 24.8% of these were first time applicants to FRRR, as this is one of the few programs of its type. And, in reality, they are not seeking very much funding – the average request was $16,230.

Of the successful applications:

• The smallest grant was $2,970.
• The average grant was $14,935.80.
• 23.8% were awarded the full grant amount ($20,000).
• Our $1.25 million support projects valued at over $4.5 million.
• Local communities are still putting in a lot – the estimated value of in-kind support for funded projects is $1,126,082.

Every dollar granted by the In a Good Place program was matched by an additional $2.61 in other funding or in -kind support.

Demand is high

Since the program opened, more than 400 organisations have applied, requesting nearly $6.5 million towards projects with a combined value of over $19 million.

Remember, these are for relatively small grants – up to $20,000 – so it’s clear that there is a strong appetite out there to support community mental health and wellbeing.

Who benefits

So, just who is applying for these grants?

The short answer is grassroots community groups. FRRR doesn’t require applicants to have any special status, such as DRG1. This means we receive applications from community groups that are working directly with community members, families, young people, older people, veterans, gender specific focus groups, mental health and suicide awareness groups, community houses and school councils.

The word cloud above comes directly from the themes listed in this year’s In a Good Place applications. While there are different ideas that appear each round, there are some consistent themes and project approaches each round, including:

• Suicide prevention.
• Capacity building such as Mental Health First Aid training.
• Alleviating loneliness and isolation.
• Projects focused on the mental health of specific cohorts – men, youth, aged, students, families, farmers, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
• Community gardens / horticulture, animal therapy, art therapy nutrition and exercise as integral parts of overall mental health and wellbeing programs.
• Mental health and wellbeing awareness activities.
• Events that bring people together, connect with each other.
• Responding to the impacts of cumulative economic, social and emotional impacts of successive natural disasters and COVID.

Emerging themes of late have included:

• Community based support programs for ADF Veterans / First Responders.
• Supporting those affected by domestic violence.
• Responding to social determinants of mental health, such as food security, housing security / homelessness, disability and under / insecure employment.
• Increased recognition and use of lived experience and peer volunteers.

Proven impacts

There are many stories that we could share about the impacts of these grants and how they have contributed to building healthier, resilient and better-connected communities by supporting and promoting mental health awareness, and building individual and community resilience.

I’m Not Afraid To Talk

For example – University of South Australia partnered with a community group called I’m Not Afraid to Talk to pilot and evaluate a Men’s Mental Health program. It sought to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health – by doing so in an environment that is very familiar to local men and adolescents – the football club. The aim was to improve mental health and reduce the risk of suicide by providing a safe and informed environment in which to connect with others and normalise self-help seeking. 

Working around COVID restrictions, cancellation of the football season, harvesting and extreme weather events, the workshops were held in Kimba, Tumby Bay and Cowell in SA.

Each four-hour workshop featured local speakers who shared their experienced, which was followed by a series of activities that focused on how men may be perceived by others and how they perceive themselves, shared experiences and the importance of ongoing open conversations about mental health.

Comments received after the football club presentations were interesting, but we particularly liked the insight from one man  –  “mental health discussion rarely starts without a major poke.:

Subsequently, a toolkit was developed by UniSA and INATT to guide the footy clubs in continuing the mental health conversation. The steps and strategies listed in the resource were based on community development principles.

INATT ran an additional workshop for women. This was  extremely popular, with more than 80 women attending from Kimba and surrounding communities.

The project leveraged the extremely strong links INATT has with the Greater Flinders and Eastern Eyre communities, which was evident by their excellent leadership and facilitation of the workshops and high attendance, and the expertise of Uni SA in capturing the insights from each workshop and developing the community tool kits for clubs to use.

Melodies, Mates and Mental Health

In another example, Mullewa is a small agricultural community in WA, which experiences the challenges of rural isolation, declining population, long distances and dependence on the weather for economic success in farming and tourism. These challenges were putting many at risk of poor physical and mental health, exacerbated by the consequences of COVID which saw events cancelled that traditionally brought people together and sustained strong social connections.

The Mullewa Community Resource Centre used their grant to deliver six free, community concerts in the smaller remote locations in the district. Each event brought people together for a BBQ, music and an interval during which there was a presentation regarding mental health. There was always a collection of resources that people could take home. They also conducted events in Mullewa at the end of the year and at the Mullewa Agricultural Show, which not only attracted the locals but visitors who were in town.

To really drive home the mental health message and develop the skills and capacity of the locals, the Resource Centre engaged a facilitator to run a Mental Health First Aid course. While only nine people attended, it actually meant that one additional skilled person was now available for every 50 adults in their community.

With the remaining funds, they engaged professionals to facilitate “Gather with the Women of Mullewa” and “A Night with the Blokes of Mullewa”, with both workshops focused on open, honest communication about how you are feeling with loved ones, family or friends.

Overall, they estimate about 500 people participated, sometimes more than once. The music events brought people together and built shared memories, while the training events built vital skills and networks and the confidence to use them when needed.

Creating a Safe Space

Another great example is local suicide prevention group, Every Life Matters (ELM), who teamed up with the Castlemaine Neighbourhood House to establish the Castlemaine Safe Space. It has become an inclusive venue for people to connect with others when feeling vulnerable.

Working with the local health services, ELM identified when there were local spikes in calls for assistance and pinpointed two evenings per week where there seemed to be a greatest need and aimed to operate over those times.

While the challenge was on to find a suitable location, the group worked with Roses in the Ocean and Living Works to develop a training schedule to support lived experience volunteers to work at the Safe Space during opening times. The In a Good Place program provided seed funding to support the training and purchase some basic equipment for the space.

Eighteen peer volunteers were trained in the first instance, and the centre welcomed more than 30 people through the doors in the first three months. Interestingly, most of them were male.

The Safe Space is now an independent group and has found a more permanent home. They have received additional funding to train more volunteers with lived experience to enable extended opening times and guard against fatigue, and to increase the visibility of the space in the local community. They have also gained funding support from the local Council. This is an innovative project and one that we watch with interest as it develops and progresses.

Small grants, big impact

The In a Good Place program – and targeted small grants more generally, have a definite and important role to play in supporting rural communities to activate their ideas and solutions.

Analysis of final reports confirm that at a community level, the program has increased the knowledge and understanding of mental health issues in those rural communities, and helped to reduce stigma for those experiencing mental health challenges.

It is a relevant, responsive and proactive program within the greater scope of positive mental health promotion and early mental ill-health intervention.

We acknowledge that it is a relatively small contribution. But the communities we work with tell us they are forever grateful that the funds were available to support them.

One grantee sums this up perfectly, “If just one person can be supported through a crisis without a tragedy, then the program is a success.”

If you’d like to add your support to these kinds of impactful community-led projects, please contact our partnerships team.

Workshops for women

Goomalling Aboriginal Corporation in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, used their $19,605 In a Good Place grant, funded by CCI Giving for their project called Maangart Yorga (Jam Tree Woman) – a workshop series delivered over the course of a year to impart both traditional and life skills to Aboriginal women and girls.

The program was created for Aboriginal women who might be experiencing poverty, isolation, family issues or mental health concerns, and Aboriginal girls, from twelve years old, who were at risk of disengagement. The program aimed to increase social participation by providing relevant and culturally appropriate workshops and a culturally safe space for connectedness. The workshops enabled the re-emergence of yarning circles and connection to Country that has helped foster relationships with young Aboriginal girls and Elders and provide an ongoing support network.

Maangart Yorga was an initiative to provide a safe space for women and girls to come together, learn, share and connect. Delivered through a series of workshops over a year, the aim was to increase participation in social activity, enhance the sense of community connectedness, improve outlook and help participants make healthier choices.

The workshops included a wide variety of traditional art, yoga and meditation, and health and wellbeing presentations. A series of practical skills sessions and workshops were held for women to have greater confidence, such as:

The organisation reported that participants would sometimes come to the workshop feeling apathetic, tired or stressed, but always left feeling fulfilled and empowered after each workshop. The workshops provided a set of skills that can be transferred amongst the community.

While the workshop roll-out was interrupted by family leave for the program manager, the silver lining was that her leave coincided with movement restrictions due to COVID, so there was no additional impact from the pandemic.  

Sadly, participation rates were lower than expected due to Sorry business in the community. For some members, the Maangart Yorga was a saving grace and gave them something positive to focus on.

Overall, 16 women participated across the program (including 2 non-Indigenous ladies), with a good cross section of ages from 21 years to 61 years old. Four female Aboriginal facilitators, three local female non-Indigenous facilitators, and two local female-owned food businesses also benefited from the project.

The greatest success of the program was providing a consistent and safe space for women to meet and yarn about their experience, which assisted healing and created lasting connections. The group plans to continue to meet monthly to use some of the skills they’ve learned and to continue connecting with each other. The Council is working with the Goomalling Aboriginal Corporation to create a permanent space for the women to take ownership of so they can create and share culture.