Nearly $700,000 in funding awarded to local community groups

Funding announced by FRRR today, is helping local community groups in Junee and Nambucca Valley to carry on their operations, despite multiple disruptions, by funding staff, developing efficient processes and boosting their capabilities through collaboration and technology.

Fourteen local not-for-profits (NFPs) are sharing $695,166 in grants, which will strengthen how their organisations function, and bolster the ways in which these groups can support their communities.

Funded by FRRR, in partnership with Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) is a five-year program designed to provide local NFPs with the tools and support they need to make lasting impacts in their areas of focus for the community. As part of the program, FRRR worked with the groups to create a tailored NFP sector roadmap, reflecting their shared goals. This funding and other ongoing support, including local facilitators on the ground, is helping bring these plans to life.

Nancy Sposato, FRRR Program Manager, said that the IRCF program, now in its third year, gives participating not-for-profits the opportunity to identify common issues and develop local strategies that will support their long-term sustainability.

“Through these grants, we have supported six organisations we’ve previously funded, alongside eight new organisations. This package really shows a deeper understanding and sophistication in how organisations are approaching capacity building,” Ms Sposato explained.

“At this point in the program, it is fantastic to see collaborations and sector alliances building within each community. A great example of this is support for Unkya Local Aboriginal Land Council in the Nambucca Valley, who will deepen First Nations NFP sector collaboration and support key leaders to develop a cultural-competency induction package.

“Local employment continues to be a key capacity building measure in supporting stability and sustainability, particularly considering COVID related disruptions. For example, Junee Business and Trades will be able to employ a part-time grants officer, which will make it easier for local NFPs to apply for funding to support local projects. These grants also respond to the need for technology system and small-scale infrastructure upgrades, further enhancing organisational efficiency.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Junee and Nambucca Valley NFPs, and continuing to support them as they implement their unique roadmaps,” Ms Sposato, said.

In addition to Junee and Nambucca Valley, the rural community of Leeton is taking part in the VFFF-funded IRCF program. FRRR has also partnered with The Snow Foundation to expand the program into the Shoalhaven communities of Batemans Bay, Nowra and Ulladulla. In June, FRRR partnered with Bendigo Bank’s charitable arm, Community Enterprise Foundation to further expand the IRCF program into the Bay and Basin region.

For more information about the Investing in Rural Community Futures program visit – https://frrr.org.au/ircf-program/.

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

The search is on for a facilitator to continue to support Nambucca Valley not-for-profits (NFPs) in their ongoing development, as part of FRRR’s Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program.

The five-year program, established by FRRR and the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), involves a wide range of activities that help strengthen the capability of local NFP organisations.

Now in its third year, the IRCF program is well underway in the Nambucca Valley, as well as two other communities (Leeton and Junee), which joined the program in 2018. FRRR, supported by VFFF, is working closely with the facilitators and NFPs in each community, providing grants, coaching and other resources as the needs evolve.

Former IRCF Nambucca Valley facilitator Nancy Sposato has recently transitioned to an in-house role at FRRR, creating an opportunity for a new local leader to take her place.

Ms Sposato said the IRCF program provides great opportunities for NFPs to come together to celebrate what makes the Nambucca Valley remarkable and work together to find tailored solutions to their challenges. She encourages her fellow locals and community organisers to apply for the vacant role.

“It’s a great opportunity for a community leader to step forward and help secure a vibrant, strong and sustainable future for the Nambucca Valley community,” Ms Sposato said. 

“The role allows you to walk side by side with our local community organisations to help them identify their challenges, find solutions and then support them to access the funding needed to turn ideas into action. It’s a fast-paced role that is building momentum and confidence for change in the Valley.

“Our regular NFP breakfasts bring together community leaders to collaborate on ideas as diverse as renewable energy, volunteer recruitment, governance training and new approaches to securing funding,” Ms Sposato said.

FRRR’s IRCF Program Manager, Alli Mudford, says having someone with local knowledge on the ground has been vital for the success of the program so far.

“The Nambucca Valley community values having local leaders and the traditional landowners, the Gumbaynggirr people, driving the change they recognise as priority in their own communities.

“That’s why the local facilitators are so important – they are the ones who help drive these initiatives and turn ideas into tangible solutions,” said Ms Mudford.

The facilitator role is offered on a part-time basis (20 hours per week) and is suitable for a dynamic community leader that can foster relationships and build partnerships in the Nambucca Valley community sector. It needs someone attuned to community needs and who has a deep understanding of capacity and capability building in a rural setting.

The role is a 12-month contract, with the potential to extend after that period. To apply, visit FRRR’s careers page. Applications close 5pm AEST, Friday 9 July 2021.

If you have any questions about the role or the IRCF program, contact IRCF Program Manager Alli Mudford on 0448 992 820.

Content warning: this article deals with sensitive themes including domestic violence that might be disturbing for some audiences.

The effects of domestic violence on children are well documented, yet often there are no systems in place to support these kids who witness the physical and /or sexual and emotional abuse, threats, and aftermath of such incidents.

These kids are often fearful and anxious, always on guard waiting for the next event to occur. They never know what will trigger the abuse, and therefore, they never feel safe. And children who grow up with abuse are expected to keep the family secret, sometimes not even talking to each other about the abuse.

FRRR’s Innovation for Community Impact (I4CI) program supports innovative responses to domestic and family violence, mental health, education disengagement, criminal behaviour, and unemployment in NSW. It is a unique partnership between philanthropy, local communities and government to tackle some of NSW’s most pressing social issues.

Speak Out 4 Kids project, coordinated by the Kempsey Family Support Services in the Nambucca Local Government Area, received a $45,000 I4CI grant to help deliver an eight-week program called Kidz Group for children aged between 8-12 years who have experienced living with or being exposed to domestic violence and are no longer in that environment.

Whether or not children are physically abused, they often suffer emotional and psychological trauma from living in domestic violence situations. Because they’ve grown up in an environment in which one person uses intimidation and violence over the other person to get their way, children learn that violence is an effective way to resolve conflicts and problems.

With this understanding, it’s easy to see how the cycle is perpetuated.

Over the course of 12 months, 20 children and their caregivers attended the Kidz Group program and engaged with specialist staff to address the impacts of domestic violence.

Four programs, each 8 weeks long, delivered intensive therapeutic support, helping the children to learn protective behaviours and safety strategies, and build their self-esteem, confidence and resilience. They were also encouraged to explore and share their feelings and thoughts on the impacts of domestic violence, and most importantly, have fun and meet new friends in a safe environment.

The families of these children were offered support and referrals to external agencies as identified, and provided with ongoing support while their children were engaged in the groups.

At the end of the program, the feedback from participants was overwhelming. One 10 year old boy said, “Coming to this group has made me realise I can be myself, and not act the way my dad did towards my mum.” Another 9 year old boy said, “If I didn’t come to this group, I wouldn’t be able to talk about my feelings.”

Unanimously, one of the biggest learnings for the kids was that it’s ok to say how they feel.

This grassroots program is a great example of a support service that was needed specifically in this area. For the 20 families participating in the program, it has made a real impact on their day-to-day lives and created a more positive outlook for the future. The behavioural changes that resulted from the program were also noted by caregivers, with one grandmother commenting, “X has really enjoyed going and I have seen a huge improvement in his attitude towards me, school and his siblings.” Another mum said, “I feel my child has realised his behaviour towards me is not ok.”

The partnerships with existing services across the Nambucca LGA were strengthened with the Speak Out 4 Kidz team, with particular focus on the Nambucca / Bellingen Family Support Services and the local education units and the Nambucca Valley Domestic Violence Monitoring Committee.

This project has resulted in enhancement of the capacity for local services to deliver support to women and children impacted by domestic violence, thanks to improved information flows, referrals and new partnerships and training for local staff, which will enable the project to continue after this funding cycle.