Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) will host two free capacity building workshops for volunteers, Board members and paid staff members of community groups and not-for-profits in Taree and Wingham, as part of the Investing in Not-for-Profit Capacity in Regional NSW (INFPC) program.
![](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Manning-Valley-Historical-Society-1024x762.png)
The program, which is funded by Paul Ramsay Foundation, aims to enhance the capacity of local grassroots not-for-profit organisations, helping them to respond and thrive in the face of current challenges, including recovery from the fires, floods and impacts of COVID.
These workshops have been specifically created based on input from community groups at workshops last year. The two sessions will focus on building the confidence and capacity of community group Board’s, exploring practical solutions for success and sustainability and engaging strategies for recruitment, retention and management of volunteers.
Workshop 1: Governance Skills: Build your Board’s confidence & capacity Date: Tuesday 29 November 2022 Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (catering included) Venue: The Auditorium, Club Taree, 121 Wingham Road, Taree Register: https://bit.ly/3FpMy3Q | Workshop 2: Engaging & Sustaining Volunteers: Recruitment, retention & management strategies Date: Wednesday 30 November 2022 Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (catering included) Venue: The Auditorium, Club Taree, 121 Wingham Road, Taree Register: https://bit.ly/3DEnAfG |
The sessions are free but places are limited, so attendees are encouraged to register now. These highly interactive workshops will be facilitated by Nicole Weber, who has 25 years’ experience as a manager of teams, in mostly Human Services organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sector.
For queries about the workshops, email info@frrr.org.au or call 1800 170 020
Investing in Not-for-Profit Capacity in Regional NSW is an 18 month place-based program running in three bushfire affected communities, being Bega, Taree and Wingham, and Glen Innes. For more information visit https://frrr.org.au/investing-in-not-for-profit-capacity-nsw/.
In December 2021, FRRR awarded five grants totalling $150,152 to a range of community groups in Taree and Wingham. Projects responded to many of the issues raised during previous workshop sessions, including strategic and operational planning, marketing, revenue strategy and digital solutions to support volunteers and not-for-profit organisations.
Initiatives funded in Nowra, Ulladulla, Bateman’s Bay and Bay & Basin
In partnership with The Snow Foundation and the Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation, FRRR has awarded $470,670 to community organisations across the South Coast of NSW. These grants are through the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program, which builds and supports the capacity of local not-for-profit (NFP) organisations.
![South Coast communities given a boost of more than $450,000_community leaders in Bay & Basin](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/IRCF_Bay-Basin_Group-1-1-1024x735.jpg)
IRCF is a multi-year program that gives NFPs the resources and connections they need to support one another and to establish relationships that allow them to collaborate to fill in the existing gaps in their communities. The program operates in the South Coast communities of Nowra, Ulladulla, Bateman’s Bay and Bay & Basin.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that the FRRR team has seen an increase in the level of interest in the IRCF program.
“One of the key elements of this program is the road mapping process where we bring local leaders together to identify gaps and, more importantly, future opportunities for their communities. This is quite unique to this program and so we have really noticed during this round, that the engagement in the road mapping process increased as everyone involved has now developed a greater understanding of how it works and how much it can benefit their local communities.
“We also noticed that community groups and NFPs are taking a much more collaborative approach to finding volunteers after volunteer engagement levels dropped off as a result of back-to-back disasters over the last couple of years. This is wonderful to see, as this program is designed specifically to encourage community organisations to work with one another and to find solutions within their own area and network,” Ms Egleton said.
Terry Snow, Founder of The Snow Foundation, which supports three regions within the IRCF program – Nowra, Bateman’s Bay and Ulladulla – said partnering with FRRR over the past three years has built stronger relationships within the South Coast communities.
“The South Coast is my home and given the challenges over the past few years, I have seen how bringing people together strengthens community. This is why the IRCF program is so good. It brings community groups together to work collaboratively and decide what they need and the best way to make it happen and each year relationships just get stronger,” Mr Snow said.
David Impey, CEO of Community Enterprise Foundation, the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s charitable arm, said they are proud of their partnership with FRRR and supporting the Bay & Basin communities.
“After what’s been an unimaginably difficult couple of years for these communities, it’s inspirational to see the community members coming together and working with one another as they once again begin to look towards building a more vibrant and resilient future. It’s this kind of dedication and willingness to support one another that will see the South Coast region thriving long into the future and that’s something that we take great pride in being part of,” Mr Impey said.
Some of the projects being funded are:
- Nowra Community Food Store Incorporated, Nowra – Planning for the Future – Define the direction of the organisation with a five-year strategic plan, operational business plan and HR framework – $13,000
- StoryFest Incorporated, Ulladulla/Shoalhaven – Fundraising for StoryFest school students – Enable the continued growth and success of StoryFest with a new website and marketing campaign – $10,000
- Rotary Club of Batemans Bay Inc, Batemans Bay/Eurobodalla – Establish and maintain the Batemans Bay Community Hub to provide information, resources and opportunities for local NFP organisations – $19,370
- Bay & Basin Community Resources Limited, Bay & Basin – Work, life and training Centre – Increase opportunities for youth to engage in training and employment with a project coordinator to establish a work, life and training centre – $30,000
In addition to the South Coast region, the IRCF South Coast program is also working in in Junee, Leeton and Nambucca Valley in partnership with the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation.
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 is below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BATEMANS BAY PARTNERSHIP GRANTS | ||||||
The Circle Foundation Cooperative Ltd | Building Capacity: Circle Foundation Cooperative Business Systems Development Build capacity by employing a project officer and IT enhancements to facilitate ongoing service delivery for people living with chronic illness. | Eurobodalla | $22,675 | |||
Eurobodalla Education and Therapy Services Ltd | Attract and Retain Allied Health Professionals Attract and retain specialised staff by formulating a well structured learning and development strategy for the organisation. | Batemans Bay | $20,000 | |||
The Family Place Inc | Scoping Housing Solutions - Community Creating a Better Future Stimulate innovative thinking focussed on housing solutions by engaging a project officer to develop and cost models to enable clients and broader community to sustain tenancy and support sector wide collaboration. | Moruya | $26,208 | |||
Rotary Club of Batemans Bay Inc | Batemans Bay Community Hub Establish and maintain the Batemans Bay Community Hub to provide information, resources and opportunities for local NFP organisations. | Batemans Bay | $19,370 | |||
SEARMS Community Housing Aboriginal Corporation | Living Library - Knowledge Circle Celebrating the cultural gift of language and the art of story telling in Aboriginal culture by adopting a holistic approach and sustained capabilities to community engagement. | Batemans Bay | $14,000 | |||
Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance | Batemans Bay Community Coordinator and Business Manager Strengthen governance and business systems internally, continue to connect with council and assist not for profit community organisations to reduce their on-going energy costs. | Batemans Bay Region | $20,000 | |||
BAY & BASIN PARTNERSHIP GRANTS | ||||||
Bay & Basin Community Resources Ltd | Work, Life and Training Centre Increase opportunities for youth to engage in training and employment with a project coordinator to establish a work, life and training centre. | Sanctuary Point | $30,000 | |||
Sussex Inlet Foundation for Community Development | Strengthening our Foundation Strengthen the volunteer committee of the Foundation for Community Development to help them grow the ways they can support and strengthen the Sussex Inlet Community. | Sussex Inlet | $19,500 | |||
Tomerong School of Arts | Policies and Procedures Project Enable the hall to operate more effectively with the development of policies and procedures. | Tomerong | $12,000 | |||
Vincentia High School P & C Association | Launch of Walawaani-ngarn Boost the profile and awareness of the community health hub with a launch event and marketing material. | Vincentia | $9,000 | |||
NOWRA PARTNERSHIP GRANTS | ||||||
Bomaderry Community Inc | Paying It Forward - Supporting Those People Who Sustain Our Community Support the volunteers to rejuvenate and focus on their passion | Bomaderry | $3,240 | |||
Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Aboriginal Corporation | Maintaining Momentum - Cullunghutti Master Plan Boost capacity to engage project officer to operationalise the strategic plan previously funded. | Shoalhaven | $20,000 | |||
Kangaroo Valley Voice Incorporated | Kangaroo Valley Hub Enable development of a community hub with the collation of information and scoping of project. | Kangaroo Valley | $15,000 | |||
Noahs Ark Centre of Shoalhaven Inc | Knowledge, Strength and Resilience- Sharing for the Future Nurture opportunity to provide intergenerational peer mentoring of professionals in the disability service. | Nowra | $7,900 | |||
Nowra Community Food Store Incorporated | Planning for the Future Define the direction of the organisation with a 5 year strategic plan, operational business plan and HR framework. | South Nowra | $13,000 | |||
Nowra Local Aboriginal Land Council | Strong Foundations Establish organisational policies and procedures manual, branding and communications strategy and provide governance support to the board. | Bomaderry | $18,315 | |||
Pathways Foundation Limited | Pathways To Leadership Strengthen skills and abilities of youth mentors to deliver best practice programs locally. | Berry | $24,000 | |||
Shoalhaven Business Chamber Incorporated | Community Plus Enable the community sector to leverage the established business chamber to share knowledge, build capacity and resilience by strengthening the links between the corporate and community sector. | Shoalhaven | $20,000 | |||
Shoalhaven Community Pre School Inc | Administration and Operations Manager Support the final transition of the organisational growth and relocation of preschool. | Nowra | $30,000 | |||
The Shoalhaven Women's Resource Group Ltd | Capacity and Capability Building Prepare the organisation to achieve accreditation, develop branding and a more efficient and informative website. | Nowra | $10,000 | |||
ULLADULLA PARTNERSHIP GRANTS | ||||||
Independence Ulladulla Inc | Helping Hands Improve systems to support leadership to innovate and grow | Ulladulla | $19,000 | |||
Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber Inc | Community Connect - Information Creates Endless Possibilities Continuation of building connections within the community groups, assisting the the existing and new volunteers by capturing important information, to then share and create possibilities for the broader community. | Ulladulla | $20,830 | |||
Noahs Ark Centre of Shoalhaven Inc | Destination Ulladulla Part Two Implement communication plan and to disseminate our videos most effectively and will build on capacity in recruitment and communications into the future. | Ulladulla | $12,000 | |||
Safe Waters Community Care Inc | De-Escalation Training and Occupational Violence Prevention Training Empower staff and volunteers with the skills to de-escalate conflict and violence situations. | Ulladulla | $3,900 | |||
South Coast Bookclubs Inc | Saving and Expanding the Bookclub Support for a self-sustaining book club service in Ulladulla to create a sense of community for new and existing residents. | Ulladulla | $6,456 | |||
StoryFest Inc | StoryFest Inc - Fundraising for StoryFest Enable the continued growth and success of StoryFest with a new website and marketing campaign | Milton | $10,000 | |||
The Dunn & Lewis Youth Development Foundation Ltd | Community Spotlight Foster youth interest in community volunteering with a Youth Podcast Series. | Ulladulla | $10,795 | |||
Treading Lightly Inc | Regenerative Development Officer Role Build a Regenerative Design Model for the benefit of this and other NFP organisation as well as a wider range of stakeholders. | Ulladulla | $30,000 | |||
Ulladulla and Districts Community Resources Centre Inc | Building Sustainability Prepare the Raft Race Committee for the future with succession planning and marketing support. | Ulladulla | $3,481 |
For 33 years families from Singleton and surrounding areas experiencing life challenges – from domestic violence to anxiety in young people – have been coming to Singleton Family Support for therapeutic counselling, family capacity building, education and wellbeing programs.
Situated on the banks of the Hunter River, Singleton is in NSW, some 197 kilometres north-north-west of Sydney. A major coal mining centre, the rural region has limited public transport options, a transient and often isolated population linked to the mining industry and limited support services.
Supporting this community, Singleton Family Support Services has a passionate, capable and qualified team of professional workers. Together, they offer support to more than 50 families in a one-to-one setting and approximately 30 individuals in a group setting at any given time.
Since the COVID pandemic and critically in the last few months as restrictions have eased, the Service has been inundated with referrals from individuals, families and other service providers. Over the last six months, referrals have increased more than 50% on the same time the previous year. The Service’s ability to refer onto other professionals, such as GPs, Psychologists, Housing services and Mental health providers, has also been impacted, with many professionals’ books closed and long waiting lists. This has placed a significant strain on the Singleton Family Support’s ability to respond to each referral appropriately. While there are many issues and people needing support, the Service is particularly concerned about the mental health of young people. COVID created a pandemic of anxiety and uncertainty with this group. There are no youth-specific mental health services in Singleton.
A $49,500 COVID Regional Community Support Program grant, funded by Resilience NSW, will allow the service to increase staff time. This equates to 80 additional referrals to Family Works, including 10 additional counselling places for youth. An additional six support groups can be offered to the community and it means further support for the organisation’s wellbeing programs. The funding reduces the pressure on the organisation. For families, this will mean timely assessments of the family’s needs, earlier interventions, greater access to counselling, educational programs and support groups, building awareness in parenting theories, domestic and family violence and mental health. This will all lead to increased family capacity to build resilience and safety for children and families.
![](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Singleton-Family-Support-Service-1024x768.jpg)
The NSW / VIC border towns of Albury / Wodonga and surrounds were severely impacted by the cross-border lockdowns during COVID restrictions. THose who live in these adjacent communities consider them one town, yet community members were unable to cross the border unless there was an extenuating circumstance. That meant families were unable to support isolated elderly family members and those living in challenging conditions, and this was exacerbated by the devastating effects of the Black Saturday bushfires which also affected the community.
![HEADING: Combatting COVID with Care. IMAGE: Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare Logo.](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/1377145_844646878924079_2770836116575788434_n.jpg)
The COVID Regional Community Support program, which was funded by the New South Wales Government and delivered by FRRR, was designed to support community groups and associated volunteers that incurred expenses in delivering food and personal care items to individuals and families affected by COVID lockdowns, by contributing funds to support ongoing service provision.
One such organisation to benefit from this program with a reimbursement grant of $13,500 was Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare, who has supported those in need in their community since 2011, and their response to the COVID-19 pandemic was remarkable.
FoodShare commenced their Community Pantry program in 2020, which enabled food hampers to be delivered directly to members of the community. To alleviate some of the hardship experienced by families in the region due to the long-term impacts of COVID and cross-border lockdowns, they also coordinated two local pop-up hamper drive-throughs in September 2021, which provided 300 families with emergency food relief.
During the peak of the COVID outbreak, 1,200 food hampers, including culturally appropriate ingredients, were distributed locally across the region. More than half of these were delivered directly to local homes as part of a coordinated COVID emergency relief effort.
To facilitate the immediate increase in demand for FoodShare’s services, operations were extended to seven days a week. This put a strain on resources, particularly on volunteers, but was necessary to keep the community safe. On average, 30 households received hampers each day, and in many instances, this doubled on occasions during the peak of the local COVID outbreak.
To provide specialised support for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, FoodShare was supported by local organisations such as Albury-Wodonga Ethnic Communities Council (AWECC) and Murray Valley Sanctuary Refugee Group. These agencies took enquiries from CALD households who were in isolation due to the COVID outbreak. These agencies also assisted by nominating culturally specific ingredients and in some instances. their volunteers purchased additional food items and delivered these to the CALD households.
In addition to delivering hampers to local residents, FoodShare was also asked to deliver food and personal care hampers to various locations where people had been forced to isolate in accordance with Health Orders, including Rutherglen Hotels, Howlong and the Albury Caravan Park. Over 4,500 kilometres were logged from October to December last year on just one of the FoodShare vans, which was dedicated to supporting COVID operations. To support the heightened increase in demand, an additional van was also hired in November to support delivering hampers to COVID households.
This is a wonderful example of the critical role that so many local NFPs played, and the way in which they collaborated with other groups to support their community. FRRR is pleased to have been able to support this program and help the NSW Government to reimburse FoodShare for some of the costs incurred in supporting their community.
Nutrien Ag Solutions partnered with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) to invest in meaningful community projects across Australia.
![HEADING: Nutrien grant provides improved facilities for children’s occupational therapy. IMAGE: Child on the monkey bars looking at the camera.](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Coonamble-Monkey-Bars-3-with-Billy-Schieb-768x1024.jpg)
In the first round of the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program, one recipient was Coonamble Pre School Association.
The pre-school funds and provides an occupational therapy program for local children, which involves tailored physical education programs that aim to develop motor skills critical to school readiness.
The grant was used to purchase a set of monkey bars to be utilised as part of the occupational therapy program with the aim to build children’s shoulder stability, balance, core strength and develop gross motor skills.
Speaking on behalf of the pre-school, Coonamble Pre-School President Jess Lovel described the monkey bars as being a “valued contribution to our occupational therapy program”, playing a “key role in our children’s overall development”.
“The children have been learning to swing forward and backwards, hold and swing while they tuck their legs up and propel themselves forward thus improving their hand eye coordination, building their core, leg, arm and spinal strength and improving their overall health, well-being and posture,” she said.
In an agricultural community, it is not uncommon to have a male-dominated population. However in and around Glen Innes, NSW this isn’t the case. More than half of the Glen Innes population is female. But local leadership and committee membership didn’t reflect that balance.
The Glen Innes Natural Resources Advisory Committee (GLENRAC) is dedicated to creating opportunities for land owners and the community to take an active role in managing and maintaining the natural resources of the region.
GLENRAC identified the need to improve governance skills and gender diversity within community groups and organisations to satisfy government and funding bodies.
To address this issue, GLENRAC used a $5,000 grant from FRRR’s Small Grants for Rural Communities grant program, funded in collaboration with Australia Post, to deliver a project aimed at building skills and capacity to engage with community groups in a meaningful way.
The project included three workshops over two days, targeting all members of the community and focusing on increasing knowledge of governance and leadership. During the workshops, community members engaged with experienced and professional facilitators. Participants were given the opportunity to build on their existing networks and increase their connections within the community.
GLENRAC hopes that following these workshops, women in the community will feel more confident and empowered to get involved with local committees with the skills and knowledge acquired from the events.
![HEADING: Good governance supports great outcomes in Glen Innes. IMAGE: Group of people sitting in on a presentation.](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Sourced-from-GLENRAC-FB-1024x768.jpg)
There are many elderly residents living there in aged care in the Southern Highlands in New South Wales who have limited financial support. In fact, the community-owned Harbison Memorial Retirement Village – which provides up to 50% of their residential places to residents who can’t afford to pay for their care and accommodation – receives no government funding for wellbeing, or capacity building programs.
In 2021, Harbison initiated the Grand Friends Pilot Program, an inter-generational community initiative connecting elderly residents with Kinder to Year 2 students, their families and the wider community. Partway through, the program was suspended due to COVID and a lack of funding. But the Southern Highlands Community Foundation – an organisation fostering local philanthropy to support community needs and initiatives – auspiced a grant application on behalf of Harbison, and received $20,000 through FRRR’s In a Good Place (IAGP) program to complete their pilot.
Through the generous support of CCI Giving, this IAGP grant helped restart Harbison’s pilot program, which concluded in December 2021 following a short suspension. And with benefits for both aged care residents and children alike, the program has now begun to roll out to other local schools.
The weekly program involves Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 classes hosting their Grand Friends, with everyone participating in structured activities, conversation and a shared morning tea. In between visits, the children write letters, make cards, rock friends and complete activities to prepare for the next Grand Friends visit – Grand Friends become part of the day-to-day discussions and activities in the classroom. Residents reported reduced loneliness and incidences of depression, improved memory, mood, confidence and mobility, and an increased sense of meaning and purpose in their life.. The program also saw evidence that participating children develop empathy, social confidence and language skills.
Harbison resident, Harold Griffin, believes it is a gift to be able to visit his junior class each week.
“I get a thrill out of attending the school visit. The energy and excitement the kids have, created by our group attending their school, is wonderful,“ Harold said.
A rural NSW grantseeker is proving that philanthropic investment in people and skills can produce a huge return on investment – bringing in more than $2.4million in grants for his community.
![](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Street-Junee-1-1024x768.png)
While many Government and philanthropic funders won’t give grants for funding people or capacity building, Junee Business and Trades Community Liaison Officer Nicholas Pyers is showing such investments can pay large dividends.
Nicholas’s role has been funded since 2019 by The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)’s Investing in Rural Community Futures program. He has been successful in helping win and advise on grants totalling $2,483,226 – and is awaiting news on a further $1million of grants that are in progress for Junee, which is located 440km south-west of Sydney in the Riverina region.
FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said that since late 2018, regional NSW communities have faced a series of unrelenting disruptions, with drought, bushfire, flood and the COVID-19 pandemic continuing into 2022.
“The impact on these NFP organisations has been significant. It has taken its toll on the people that lead and run these organisations and has increased their load and affected their wellbeing. The sector has been dealing with extreme fatigue, burnout, limited fundraising options, access to volunteers, disconnection and, in some instances wholesale organisational change.
“The funding of Nicholas and the grant support role is a great example of how investing in local jobs and paying someone who has skills can result in high-yielding results and impact for organisations and communities,” she said. “This gives weight to our practise of employing local people and leveraging their position to help build the capacity of the entire town or community,” Ms Egleton said.
The impressive tally has been reached by a combination of activities. The grants have been won either by Nicholas directly developing a project concept and budget, then writing and submitting the grant application, or him reviewing other grant applications that have been submitted, as well as him identifying grant opportunities for other groups so they are able to apply. Nicholas also provides support to individuals in organisations, building their capacity and knowledge of grant writing, which allows them to prepare and submit grants, and secure funding for their own organisations.
FRRR’s Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) model was developed in partnership with Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) and aims to strengthen local not-for-profit (NFP) organisations and, ultimately, enable them to thrive. It is a grassroots approach designed to build and support the capacity of individual and collective NFPs, over a sustained period of time.
This program now operates in seven communities in NSW, delivering a blend of grants and capacity building activities supported by local facilitators. Junee, Leeton and the Nambucca Valley were the initial cohort of communities supported by the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation. Supported by The Snow Foundation Nowra, Ulladulla & Batemans Bay started an IRCF program in 2020 and further investment by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation saw Bay & Basin communities join in 2021.
Successful grants for the Junee community range from upgrades to sporting facilities and meeting rooms through to projects supporting the likes of a museum.
Nine projects funded across NSW, QLD and WA
While drought is out of the media spotlight, for many communities it is still a very real and significant issue. FRRR’s Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT) program has just awarded $86,083 to nine community initiatives in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia still dealing with the impacts of drought.
![Mural painted on shed of an old car.](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Friends-of-the-Railway_WA-1024x715.jpg)
TTTT is a long-running, collaboratively-funded program that helps drought-affected communities to access the funding and resources they need to tackle the long-term impacts of drought. This round of grants will help fund a variety of projects run by local not-for-profit organisations and community groups, including a series of art workshops for both adults and children, a community event featuring Aboriginal artwork, the creation of murals and skills training to support community members experiencing loss and grief.
Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead, said that there are still many regions across Australia being impacted by drought.
“During this round of grants, the number of eligible LGAs dropped from 152 to 47. While we’re delighted to see such a significant drop in the number of communities being impacted by drought, it’s crucial that we continue to provide support. A lot of places, like remote SA, are still tackling extreme periods of dryness while others are very much still in drought recovery mode. Not to mention the fact that communities are dealing with a variety of other factors as they continue to stand strong and keep their community connected and supported.
“In this round of applications, we saw a lot of projects that are aiming to improve volunteer capacity and build a sense of social connectedness. If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that our remote, rural and regional communities need volunteers and a strong sense of community in order to thrive.
“When we carried out our Heartbeat of Rural Australia survey last year, the results showed that the effects of drought, as well as the cumulative effects of multiple other disasters, have left volunteers feeling extremely fatigued, and those living in rural communities feeling isolated. That’s why we’re so pleased to be able to fund these kinds of grassroots initiatives at a time when they’re truly needed,” Ms O’Brien said.
Among the other projects funded this round were:
- Red Ridge Ltd – Longreach, QLD – Outback Fashion Festival – Canvas to Catwalk – Provide opportunities for Aboriginal artists from seven outback Queensland communities to participate in fashion print design workshops which culminate in a catwalk runway community event. $10,000
- Rattler Railway Company Ltd – Gympie, QLD – Fatigue Management Accommodation- Build the capacity, capability, and sustainability of Rattler Railway Company Ltd through infrastructure restoration and renovation to support volunteers. $10,000
- For a Better Chapman Valley (FABCV) Incorporated – Chapman Valley & Nabawa, WA – Winter Art Series in Chapman Valley – Facilitate social connection and enhance opportunities for the Chapman Valley community to participate in creative activities through the delivery of art workshops. $7,900
The full list of grant recipients and their projects is listed on the FRRR website.
The TTTT program supports drought-affected regions of Australia by giving community groups and local not-for-profit organisations access to the resources they need to respond to, and recover from, long-term rainfall deficiencies. This program has granted over $18 million to initiatives that are helping communities to tackle the tough times that come with drought.
Funding for this program is generously contributed by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, Pratt Foundation, Stockland CARE Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, The Snow Foundation, Henroth Group and private donors from across the nation. To join these donors, and support grants like this through FRRR, you can 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 | ||||||
Moama and District Pre-School Centre Inc | Moama & District Preschool Brings Sober in the Country to Moama Improve the community’s social and emotional health and encourage local involvement by hosting a community dinner and guest speaker on drinking culture and supporting healthy choices. | Moama | $9,150 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Congregation of Central Western Qld UCA | Edgely Hall Improvements Improve volunteer vitality and support social connection by installing air-conditioning in the multi-purpose room of the Longreach Uniting Church. | Longreach | $10,000 | |||
Red Ridge (Interior Queensland) Limited | Outback Fashion Festival - Canvas to Catwalk Provide opportunities for Aboriginal artists from seven outback Queensland communities to participate in fashion print design workshops which culminate in a catwalk runway community event. | Longreach | $10,000 | |||
Rattler Railway Company Ltd | Fatigue Management Accommodation Build the capacity, capability, and sustainability of Rattler Railway Company Ltd through infrastructure restoration and renovation to support volunteers. | Gympie | $10,000 | |||
Kumbia & District Memorial School of Arts Inc | Kumbia & District School Memorial of Arts Inc Hall Improvements Boost and strengthen the local economy and reduce social isolation with town beautification in Kumbia through mural art. | Kumbia | $10,000 | |||
Connecting Communities Australia Ltd | Let the Show Go On Improve volunteer vitality and support strong social connection by providing a team of volunteers to assist the Longreach Show Committee prepare and coordinate the Longreach Annual Show. | Longreach | $9,933 | |||
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
The Isolated Childrens' Parents Association of (WA) Inc | 2022 ICPA Federal Conference Build communities’ resilience to continue to face the many ongoing issues and uncertainties that are inherent for families living in rural and remote Australia by hosting a conference where participants connect and learn from one another. | Various | $10,000 | |||
Busselton Hospice Care Incorporated | Increasing the Capability to Support Grief and Bereavement in our Compassionate Community Empower a community group by providing skills training and capacity building to further support community members experiencing loss and grief. | Busselton | $9,100 | |||
For a Better Chapman Valley (FABCV) Incorporated | Winter Art Series in Chapman Valley Facilitate social connection and enhance opportunities for the Chapman Valley community to participate in creative activities through the delivery of art workshops. | Nabawa | $7,900 |
Thirty-four local groups and not-for-profits that delivered food and care hampers to regional communities during the height of the 2021 COVID-19 restrictions will share in $300,000 from the NSW Government’s COVID Regional Community Support (CRCS) program.
![HEADING: Regional NSW groups reimbursed $300,000 for COVID relief hamper delivery.
IMAGE: High angle view of a cardboard box filled with multicolored non-perishable canned goods, conserves, sauces and oils shot on wooden table. The composition includes cooking oil bottle, pasta, crackers, preserves and tins.](https://frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Food-Hamper-ex-iStock-1-1024x683.jpg)
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said more than 72,000 hampers were delivered to residents in regional and rural parts of NSW, including Ballina, Tweed Heads, Leeton and Albury.
“These groups and organisations dropped everything and dipped into their own funds to support isolated residents during last year’s COVID-19 restrictions by partnering with Resilience NSW to prepare and deliver food, essential items and relief packs to those in need,” Ms Cooke said.
“The $300,000 will cover expenses like fuel, couriers, and logistics costs, helping these groups and organisations to continue their wonderful work into the future, including at the Ballina Hot Meal Centre which is using its $5,024 grant to purchase new freezers.”
Each grant being provided through the CRCS program ranges from $1,000 to $30,000 and is administered by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal.
Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal CEO Natalie Egleton said the funding recognises the critical role that local community groups played during the pandemic.
“We’re delighted that 23 per cent of applications are from Indigenous community groups, all of which played such a vital role in ensuring that their community members were cared for, and we are pleased to be able to support them with this funding,” Ms Egleton said.
Applications are currently being accepted for grants of up to $50,000 for capacity building initiatives, such as attracting and retaining volunteers and staff, enhancing governance skills, building digital capacity and creating partnerships that foster stronger, more resilient communities.
See the full list of recipients below:
Organisation | Locations | Grant |
---|---|---|
Agape Outreach Incorporated | Tweed Heads - Byron Bay | $1,681 |
Albury Wodonga Regional Foodshare | Albury | $13,500 |
Allambi Care Limited | Lake Maquarie - Warners Bay - Central Coast - Cessnock - Newcastle | $7,000 |
Armidale / Uralla Meals On Wheels Incorporated | Armidale | $3,183 |
Ballina Hot Meal Centre Incorporated | Ballina | $5,024 |
Belong Blue Mountains Incorporated | Blue Mountains | $1,000 |
Camden Haven Community at 3 | Lakewood | $1,125 |
CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning | Newcastle - Tareer - Forster - Maitland | $1,977 |
Christian Outreach Centre | Kempsey - South West Rocks - Macksville - Nambucca Heads | $1,350 |
Community Resources Limited | Wollongong | $3,540 |
Coonamble Neighbourhood Centre | Coomamble - Gulargambone - Quambone | $10,810 |
Food For Life Community Care Incorporated | Shoalhaven - Primbee - Wollongong - Kiama | $13,500 |
Galambila Aboriginal Corporation | Nambucca Heads - Coffs Harbour - Woolgoolga - Bowraville | $30,000 |
Gloucester Worimi First Peoples Aboriginal Corporation | Gloucester | $1,000 |
Gunnedah Meals on Wheels Association | Gunnedah | $5,514 |
Indigenous Futures Foundation Limited | Tweed Heads South - Lismore - Ballina - Grafton | $30,000 |
Ivanhoe Central School | Ivanhoe - Balranald - Carrathool | $6,100 |
Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health And Community Services | Batemans Bay - Narooma - Bega - Catalina - Dalmeny | $30,000 |
Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre Inc | Kempsey | $4,500 |
Leeton Community Care Development Incorporated | Leeton | $13,500 |
Lions Club Of Raymond Terrace Incorporated | Raymond Terrace | $1,420 |
Livefree Project Incorporated | Newcastle | $13,500 |
Miyay Birray Youth Service Incorporated | Moree - Mungindi - Garah - Boomi | $18,345 |
Moree Sports Health Arts And Education Academy Aboriginal Corporation | Moree | $5,723 |
Orana Support Service Incorporated | Dubbo - Wellington - Narromine | $21,000 |
Oxley Community Transport Service Incorporated | West Tamworth | $4,500 |
Queer Family Incorporated | Mullumbimby - Byron Bay - Lismore - Kyogle | $2,250 |
Salt Care | Ulladulla - Bomaderry - Nowra - Kangaroo Valley - Jervis Bay | $20,460 |
Sapphire Community Projects Incorporated | Bega - Tura Beach - Bermagui - Candelo - Quaama | $4,703 |
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - South New South Wales Conference | Bathurst - Blayney - Mandurama - Cowra | $5,600 |
The Heartland Foundation Limited | Port Macquarie | $5,000 |
The Mend AND Make Do Crew Incorporated | South Grafton | $6,750 |
Uralla Neighbourhood Day Care Centre 1 | Walcha | $4,860 |
Weilwan Local Aboriginal Land Council | Gulargambone | $1,585 |