In this quarter’s update for FRRR’s donor partners, read about:

• Grants in Action: Bootstraps working to strengthen community social fabric
• FRRR launches Heartbeat of Australia Study
• Partnering Opportunity – Building resilience to drought
• Donor Spotlight: Portland House Foundation
• Insights from the bush
• Community Partner Spotlight: St Paul’s Carcoar Community Facility Ltd.
• Our progress, with your support

In this quarter’s update for FRRR’s donor partners, read about:

• Grants in Action: Sitting together and speaking up in WA’s mid-west
• Partnering Opportunity – Building resilience to drought
• Donor Spotlight: Thankful4Farmers
• Insights from the bush
• Community Partner Spotlight: Foundation Barossa
• Our progress, with your support

An innovative program drawing on the personal experience of its founder’s family is making an impact on veterans and current service personnel in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley.

Bootstraps is a volunteer-operated charity that runs a drop-in recovery centre for former service personnel who may be having difficulties connecting with family or society at large. Given the proximity of the RAAF Base at Amberley, Army Aviation at Oakey and Signals Regiment at Cabarlah, and with RSL Sub-Branches dotted through the Lockyer Valley, the organisation is well-located to offer this support.

President and founder of Bootstraps, Sam Kavanagh, was taught leatherworking by his father, who was in the air force and practised this craft as a kind of therapy. Building on this, as part of its offering, Bootstraps runs a leatherworking program to facilitate reconnection and social interaction. Ex-service personnel, current serving personnel and their families take priority, but space allowing, the program is open is open to anyone in the community.

The organisation needed some equipment to deliver the program and applied to FRRR for funding for an industrial leather sewing machine and a new computer, which they received in the form of a $5,407 Strengthening Rural Communities grant, funded by The Sylvia & Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation.

The computer replaced a small inefficient laptop and enhances the organisation’s day-to-day communications and planning, while the sewing machine supports every level of the Bootstraps leatherwork training program. The model chosen is capable of being hand-cranked, which facilitates use by veterans with lower limb disabilities in particular, and those confined to a wheelchair.

The grant application noted, “There are not many (if any) families in the Lockyer Valley that do not have a military and/or a horse connection that could benefit from the leatherwork activities run by Bootstraps.”

At the time of reporting, Bootstraps noted that more than 250 patrons have used the Bootstraps facilities, including the new leather sewing machine. The new IT facilities have meant better access and clearer information is available to the public about the program, via a more responsive and efficient website and communications.

These important pieces of equipment will help the program’s participants further their craft, while enabling social connection and helping veterans and the general community remain in a good head-space.

Did you know that some schools in remote Australian communities might have as few as 15 books in their library?

That discovery in 2017 prompted Corey Tutt to start sourcing and supplying resources himself, initially from his personal library. DeadlyScience Limited was established in 2020, and is now a registered charity. Through DeadlyScience, Corey is seeking to inspire a new generation of scientists.
It focuses on providing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and early learning reading resources to remote Australian schools to help increase engagement.

The initial priority is schools with a high proportion of Indigenous children. Where possible, and appropriate, DeadlyScience sources materials from Indigenous authors, artists, and translated versions in Indigenous languages. In the three and a bit years since inception, DeadlyScience has had more than 110 schools requesting resources.

They have delivered more than 16,000 books, 500 telescopes (and basic science kits), 80 educational resources and six greenhouses (plus seeds, and educational materials to support food production projects) to more than 100 Australian schools and/or communities.

This growth looks set to continue as the organisation gains more momentum and profile. Another key activity involves maintaining a website to support teachers in remote schools with access to high quality scientific research and relevant experts in their fields (also of Indigenous background, where possible). 

In 2020, DeadlyScience partnered with FRRR to set up a Not-for-Profit Fundraising Account, allowing them to attract tax deductible contributions from a broad range of donors to expand their activities and support the overall capacity and operations. 

You can add your support by donate securely online, or check out the DeadlyScience website to learn more about their work.

To learn more about opening a Not-For-Profit fundraising account, get in touch with Jo Kemp.

29 projects funded to support drought-impacted communities

FRRR has awarded $1,264,396 in grants to 29 projects that will support communities across the country that are experiencing prolonged rainfall shortages. The funding is through its award-winning grants program[1], Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT).

The grants will help drought-impacted regions access the resources needed to bring people together, so they can feel connected and supported. These places, like many parts of remote, rural and regional Australia, continue to face the real and persistent challenges caused by Australia’s Big Dry. Despite rainfall across some areas, these extended dry periods and long-term rainfall deficits may continue for some time.[2]

Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead, said that the TTTT program encourages communities experiencing the Big Dry to take the lead in their recovery and renewal.

Many places facing long-term rainfall shortages have seen their local economy hit. These resilient communities are finding ways to strengthen their economy and encourage local spending and tourism. For Orroroo Carrieton, the District Council is boosting the local economy by developing the Black Rock Wool Press Rotunda as a local attraction. The Rotunda will showcase local historic artifacts including the restored Black Rock Wool Press.

“Other places like Washpool in South Australia and Cecil Plains in Queensland, are renewing their regions by upgrading local facilities to give people a place where they can come together in safety and comfort.

“We are delighted to be able to award these grants to help turn local ideas into reality. We know it’s challenging to get these projects off the ground in the midst of a pandemic, especially when many are dealing with reduced local fundraising capacity, and fatigued volunteers.

“We want people experiencing drought to know that there is still funding available. TTTT is a flexible grant program specifically designed to support communities as they move to recovery. Our team will work with you to help make your project happen, even if it might look a bit different to what you’d initially planned, in light of COVID-19,” Ms O’Brien explained.

Some of the 29 projects awarded this round include:

• District Council of Orroroo Carrieton, SA – Black Rock Wool Press Rotunda – $143,252 – Boost local economy and tourism opportunities by supporting the development of the Black Rock Wool Press Rotunda to showcase local historical artefacts including the restored Black Rock Wool Press.
  
• ABC Foundation Limited, WA – AWRAE: Aboriginal Women’s Research Assistant & Evaluation Training Project – $60,000 – Create opportunities for Indigenous women of Carnarvon and surrounds to develop leadership skills by training them to research and evaluate projects delivered in Indigenous communities.
  
• Gooloogong Historical Society Incorporated, NSW – Stage 1 – Restoration and revitalisation of Gooloogong’s meeting place – $59,752 – Reduce volunteer fatigue and increase community connections and sense of place by restoring the Gooloogong Clubhouse to house the Gooloogong Historical Society.
  
• Drillham Primary Parents and Citizens Association, QLD – Along the Garden Path – $13,000 – Reduce social isolation and encourage people to come together and connect through a two-day creative arts workshop program.
  
• Wheatbelt Business Network Incorporated, WA – Accredited Mental Health First Aid Training in the Wheatbelt – $26,300 – Develop community leaders’ skills and training to provide support for their communities by engaging them in Mental Health First Aid training.

Applications for the TTTT program are always open and groups in drought-affected areas are encouraged to apply for funding to help their community come together to tackle the drought. Grants are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities.

The cut-off dates for future rounds are:

• 24 May 2021. Outcomes will be advised late August 2021. (Note: Stage One for the $150,000 grant tier must be received by 13 April). Outcomes will be advised late November 2021.
• 24 August 2021. (Note: Stage One for the $150,000 grant tier must be received by 12 August). Outcomes will be advised late November 2021.

Tackling Tough Times Together is possible thanks to the collaborative support of several donors, including the Australian Government which committed $15M to be distributed over three years. Generous contributions have also been made by Pratt Foundation, Stockland CARE Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, The Snow Foundation, Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, Henroth Group and private donors from across the nation.

To support grants like this through FRRR, make a tax deductible donation here.

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

Jump to: SA | NSW | QLD | VIC | WA

Organisation	Project	Location	Grant
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Up to $150,000
District Council of Orroroo Carrieton	Black Rock Wool Press Rotunda Enhance economic recovery and renewal through the development of the Black Rock Wool Press Rotunda showcasing local historical artifacts including the restored Black Rock Wool Press.	Orroroo	$143,252
Wilmington Progress Society Incorporated	Wilmington Community Multipurpose Gym Facility Project Reduce social isolation by facilitating strong social cohesion and connections and increase organisational capacity through the construction of a multipurpose community facility.	Wilmington	$108,367
Up to $60,000
Auburn Southern Gateway Committee Auburn Community Development Committee	Auburn Southern Gateway Enhance economic recovery and renewal through the installation of town entrance statement signage for the Auburn township in the South Australia Clare Valley.	Auburn	$43,826
Washpool Hall Management Committee Spalding District Incorporated	Washpool Hall Kitchen and Rear Lobby Revitalisation Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity of the Washpool Hall through the upgrade of the kitchen and rear lobby area.	Washpool	$60,000
NEW SOUTH WALES
Up to $60,000
Gilgandra Museum and Historical Society Incorporated	Experience our Amazing History @ Gilgandra Rural Museum Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity, capability and sustainability of the Gilgandra Museum and Historical Society Incorporated through upgrading the kitchen, exhibition/meeting room flooring, lighting, audio equipment and promotional brochure.	Gilgandra	$50,909
Gooloogong Historical Society Incorporated	Stage 1 – Restoration and Revitalisation of Gooloogong’s Meeting Place Reduce volunteer fatigue and increase opportunity for community cohesion through the restoration of the Gooloogong Clubhouse to house the Gooloogong Historical Society.	Gooloogong	$59,752
Lower Lachlan Community Services Incorporated	Roof Over Community Support the capacity and sustainability of Lower Lachlan Community Services through the replacement of the roof.	Lake Cargelligo	$50,000
Mandagery Public Hall Land Manager	Improved Amenities for the Mandagery Hall Build the capacity of the Mandagery Public Hall Land Manager with upgrades to the amenities with an Eco-Flo toilet system.	Mandagery	$55,000
Up to $20,000
Coleambally Community Club Limited	Installation of Tesla Battery for Solar Power Storage Support climate resilience and sustainability of the Coleambally Community Club through the purchase of a Tesla power wall battery for excess power storage.	Coleambally	$19,841
Tullera Community Hall Incorporated No Y17180 27	RAMP US UP Reduce social isolation and support strong social cohesion and connection with an upgrade of a disabled access ramp at the Tullera Community Hall.	Tullera	$18,000
QUEENSLAND
Up to $60,000
Bloomin Beautiful Blackbutt Festival Incorporated	Blackbutt Arts Strategy, Big Avocado and Arts Project Officer: Towards a Strategic Future Support stronger economies and sustainability of local tourism events with the development of the Blackbutt Art Strategy and a Project Plan to build a Big Avocado in Blackbutt.	Blackbutt	$58,744
Broxburn Music Club	Staged for Success Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity of Broxburn volunteers with the repair and upgrade of the stage and the construction of a lockable shed at The Broxburn Community Grounds.	Broxburn	$58,401
Cecil Plains History Group	Relocation and Restumping of Norwin CWA Hall Build the capacity of the Cecil Plains History Group through the relocation and restumping of Norwin CWA Hall to provide an all-weather space for historical displays and a community meeting space.	Cecil Plains	$55,000
Goondiwindi Pastoral and Agricultural Society	Fencing for the Future Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity of the local organisation to support their community through drought with the installation of internal zone fencing at the Goondiwindi Showgrounds.	Goondiwindi	$60,000
Mondure Public Hall Committee Incorporated	The Mondure Public Hall Amenities Refurbishment including a Disabled Toilet Support the capacity and sustainability of the Mondure Public Hall Committee with upgrades and refurbishment to amenities.	Mondure	$58,680
Mulga Mates Centre Incorporated	Playground upgrade Reduce volunteer fatigue, and support sustainability and capacity of Mulga Mates Centre with the installation of a playground to improved early childhood development.	Quilpie	$53,958
Outback Festival Incorporated	‘Giants of the Outback’ Reduce social isolation and enhance economic recovery through the delivery of the 2021 Outback Festival in Winton, QLD.	Winton	$45,000
Roma Historical Precincts Incorporated	Preparation of a Business Case to be used as a Supporting Document for the Development of the Roma Butter Factory Support organisational capacity and sustainability with the development of a business case to support the redevelopment of the Roma Butter Factory as a visitor experience to boost economic activity and visitation in Roma.	Roma	$49,800
Tansey Show Society Incorporated	Purchase Shaded Grandstands and Water Troughs for Tansey Showgrounds Build the capacity of Tansey Show Society through the purchase of two transportable shaded grandstands.	Tansey	$23,848
Up to $20,000
Bullyard Hall, Sports and Recreation Club Incorporated	Assisting the disabled Reduce social isolation and build community participation opportunities through the installation of an access ramp at Bullyard Hall.	Bullyard	$9,460
Drillham Primary Parents and Citizens Association	Along the Garden Path Reduce social isolation through the provision of creative arts activities enabling the community of Miles to come together and connect during times of hardship.	Miles	$13,000
Guides Queensland – Warwick District Guides Queensland	Refresh and Replacement of the Floor Coverings in 1st Warwick Girl Guide Hut Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity, capability, and sustainability of the 1st Warwick Girl Guide Hut through refreshing and replacing floor coverings	Warwick	$9,878
Outback Gondwana Foundation Limited	Futureproofing with a Forklift Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity of Outback Gondwana Foundation by supplying a forklift.	Eromanga	$20,000
Stanthorpe Agricultural Society	Gotta get a Gator! Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity of Stanthorpe Agricultural Society through the purchase of a ‘Gator’ utility vehicle to support community events held at the facility.	Stanthorpe	$19,140
Warra Tennis Club Incorporated	Serving for Sustainability with Solar Panels Reduce volunteer fatigue and build the capacity and sustainability of the Warra Tennis Club through the purchase and installation of a solar panel system.	Warra	$8,710
Maranoa Regional Council	Ignite and Excite: Career Pathway Taster Support opportunities for learning and education participation at Roma, Mitchell, Injune and Surat with the Ignite & Excite: Career Pathway Taster project.	Roma	$5,530
VICTORIA
Up to $20,000
Yaapeet Community Club Incorporated	Turkey Bottom Lake – Picnic Shelter Reduce volunteer fatigue and enhance opportunities for social cohesion and connection through the construction of picnic shelter at Turkey Bottom Lake.	Yaapeet	$20,000
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Up to $60,000
ABC Foundation Limited	AWRAE: Aboriginal Women’s Research Assistant & Evaluation Training Project Enhance opportunity for leadership development and skills training for Indigenous women of Carnarvon and surrounds, through the delivery of the Aboriginal Women’s Research Assistant and Evaluation Training Project (AWRAE) focused on research and evaluation for projects delivered in Indigenous communities.	Carnarvon	$60,000
Wheatbelt Business Network Incorporated	Accredited Mental Health First Aid Training in the Wheatbelt Support leadership development and skills training in Wheatbelt Business Network through the delivery of Mental Health First Aid Training.	Quairading	$26,300

---

[1] 2020 Australian Philanthropy Awards – Best Grant Program

[2] Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. Drought Rainfall deficiencies and water availability. 7 October 2020. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2I1PSqA.

The Tablelands Region is around 150 km south-west of Cairns in Far North Queensland. Drought declared since May 2016, the community has been under significant pressure, specifically the grazing families in the west of the region. The residents in this area are located in remote settings, which can create challenges like difficulty accessing services, social isolation and lack of opportunities. There are very few regular social activities, as these areas are mostly cattle stations run by self-employed graziers.

In the past few years, the Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) and Northern Gulf Resource Management Group (NGRMG) have worked together to deliver a range of drought relief projects that contributed to connectedness, social wellbeing and increased access and awareness to support services.

They teamed up again to provide a series of gardening workshops to people in areas that have been drought declared to bring them together for new learning experiences that assist in their empowerment and resilience during difficult times, in a bid to promote social cohesion and wellbeing.

A $15,000 Tackling Tough Times Together grant, funded by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, enabled TRC to consult and engage gardening experts to design and deliver the workshops. The funding also covered ancillary costs such as the promotion of the events, catering and workshop materials.

In all, four drought-resilient gardening workshops were held, two at Pinnarendi Station and two at Woodleigh Station. The first workshops were held in November 2018 and were attended by 26 participants. The focus was on learning how to build a spiral herb garden utilising existing materials (upcycling) from around their properties. This included preparing the bed and understanding the design benefit for water-saving and planting complementary and seasonal plants, as well as making fertiliser out of existing resources.

The next round of workshops was held in May 2019, and 14 participants learnt to build wicking beds (self-watering gardens) and salad baskets out of hay bales.

Additionally, a morning/afternoon tea was held at each of the stations to discuss what they had learnt, evaluate the workshops and see how they would take any learnings into the future.

Project outcomes from the gardening workshops were significant for the participants who all stated in their evaluation that they had reconnected with old friends socially, and made new connections. From the beginning of the first workshop, participants were looking to increase their skills and knowledge. They reported that the benefit of receiving some plants to take home reinforced their commitment to translate their learnings to their gardens and build garden beds. The participants learnt to utilise their resources in different ways, which increased feelings of empowerment, as well as building resilience and sustainability.

Many of the participants have kept up their gardening and are noticing benefits for their whole family, including healthy living, self-confidence, new social connections, cost efficiency, self-reliance and wellbeing. Participating in the workshops has developed additional common ground between the participants and the community, which increases their social cohesion. Both groups decided to continue their gardening groups and rotate morning teas at each other’s gardens to maintain the connection and interest in their projects.

From all accounts, it certainly sounds as though the project succeeded in inspiring and empowering isolated communities to have some control to support their mental health with activities that are also coping strategies for personal challenges. One participant commented, “The workshops were wonderful opportunities for gardeners (of all levels) to get together; wellness at its best, thank you again!”

Eidsvold Kindergarten management believes that rural children and families are deserving of high-quality Early Learning and that it is vital that they are equipped to give children the best start in life. Relationships are so important in early years education, but the town experiences frequent turnover of teachers. A lack of options for tertiary studies and professional development (which is only available via the internet or expensive travel) is a major factor. Teaching positions are difficult to fill and rely on bringing people in from other areas or appointing teachers who are still studying. 

An FRRR grant enabled Eidsvold Kindergarten to host a professional development day for Early Childhood Educators from North Burnett and beyond, to raise their professional knowledge and skills and in turn, benefit young children and families across the region.

The day-long professional learning workshop was attended by 40 guests from kindergarten, long daycare, schools and family daycare services in Eidsvold, Mundubbera, Gayndah, Biggenden, Wondai and Kingaroy. Eidsvold Kindergarten President Jessie McNeale said educators’ knowledge and ability to plan and document children’s learning was strengthened, and they learned about working with natural resources through a practical session. 

“We were able to inspire educators across a region spanning 500 km to innovate on their teaching practice and provide high-quality environments for children.”

Educators were also able to network, share ideas, and make plans for future professional development opportunities. The project brought positive publicity to the kindy and the town of Eidsvold through newspaper articles and heaps of positive feedback from community members.

“Next time we would like to go bigger and better and plan a whole weekend designed to highlight more of what the region has to offer,” Mrs McNeale said.

 “While local educators stand to benefit most directly from this event, the flow-on effects on young children and families are endless. It is hoped that this event will be the first of many and result in a strong community of collaboration across North Burnett Early Learning contexts.”

Storytelling is a vital part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, allowing beliefs and concepts to be passed on through generations. JUTE Theatre Company (JUTE) uses theatre performance and workshop participation to present professional role models and positive stories about a range of Indigenous experiences and possible futures.

Founded in Cairns in 1992, JUTE helps Indigenous students feel valued and connected, by letting them see their cultures and stories represented on stage. There are also longer-term benefits in employment and post-school options for young Indigenous people. Since the beginning of its Dare to Dream program, JUTE has impacted over 6,000 young people and community members in remote parts of North Queensland with more than 3,600 young people taking part in skills development workshops.

With the support of a $15,000 ANZ Seeds of Renewal grant, JUTE was able to take its 2019 show, The Longest Minute, to 10 North Queensland schools in Lockhart River, Bamaga, Mapoon, Mossman, Ravenshoe, Yarrabah, Mt Isa, Doomadgee and Cloncurry – all very remote locations with significant numbers of Indigenous students. The Longest Minute is a story about the 2015 National Rugby League Grand Final, won by local heroes, North Queensland Cowboys in a nail-biting finish.

The funding helped JUTE refine its school program to meet a broad range of needs across artists and facilitators, community, schools and students.

“It was fantastic,” said one of the Mapoon teachers. “The acting was incredible, and it offered our students an opportunity to see successful Indigenous people who are proud of their identity performing at their best. This is something we don’t have easy access to, being so remote.”

Bendigo, 21 November 2019: Schools, show societies, and a family support service are among the 30 not-for-profit organisations in New South Wales and Queensland cotton-growing communities to receive a $5,000 boost from the Bayer Fund this year as part of the Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program.

Today’s announcement coincides with National Agriculture Day. This year marks the sixth round of the Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program, which is delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and takes the total investment into cotton communities to $900,000.

A local cotton grower nominated each of the not-for-profits that are receiving funds, which will help strengthen community resilience and positively impact on the wellbeing of cotton-growing communities. The majority of grant funding will be used to invest in infrastructure and equipment, and 23 percent of funds are being used to provide activities and services.

“There are many challenges associated with the drought for people living in rural Australia at the moment, and so there was a strong focus on developing organisational resilience, as was supporting lifelong learning, education and training,” said FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton.

“FRRR ran a series of grantseeker workshops in these cotton-growing areas, and the increased demand on not-for-profits for both short and long-term support was a talking point. Additionally, organisations providing direct support to farmers and their families discussed the heavy reliance on volunteers and the impact on those individuals who were giving support to others, while experiencing the effects of the drought first-hand.

“These grants will not only boost morale in the short-term but also create a lasting impact, as FRRR’s research shows that communities typically leverage a grant three times over.”

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said the grants will provide a much-needed boost to cotton communities.

“We are proud of the contribution our industry makes to the communities in which we operate. It is during times like these, where drought is biting, that the strength of our industry in supporting these communities comes to the fore. I congratulate the recipients of this year’s grants and look forward to seeing what is accomplished.”

Bayer Fund representative in Australia, Carissa Buckland, said that this year’s nominations illustrated that there is strong community spirit within the cotton areas.

“Many of the projects being funded are all about bringing people together – for artistic workshops, picnic areas, school gardens and community shows. It’s great to see cotton growers giving back and doing their bit to strengthen their local community.”

The full list of recipients can be found below.

Organisation	Project	Location	Grant
Darling River Food & Fibre (Bourke), NSW
Bourke Arts Community Inc	Develop organisational resilience and capacity through the purchase of studio equipment and materials to make glazes.	Bourke	$5,000
Gwydir Valley, NSW
St Philomenas Catholic School Moree P & F	Provide access to quality learning environments and experiences through the construction of an all-weather shade area.	Moree	$5,000
Moree Water Ski Club Inc	Build community resilience and maintain recreational assets through the construction of a shade shelter.	Bellata	$5,000
Moree Show Society Inc	Strengthen community wellbeing and identity through the delivery of the Moree Show.	Moree	$5,000
Lower Namoi, NSW
Wee Waa Sports Inc	Enhance community identity through an upgrade of galleries and blades over windows.	Wee Waa	$5,000
Wee Waa Fishing Club	Supporting community engagement through the upgrade of a well-used picnic area	Wee Waa	$5,000
St Joseph’s Catholic School Wee Waa Parents & Friends Association	Improve education outcomes through the establishment of a garden area for students.	Wee Waa	$5,000
Macquarie, NSW
Marra Creek Public School Parents and Citizens Association	Increase engagement in learning through the purchase of media infrastructure and a pizza oven.	Nyngan	$5,000
Narromine Agricultural Show Inc	Develop community engagement through the purchase of portable sound equipment and two shade marquees.	Narromine	$5,000
Southern Valleys, NSW
Wirrinya Aquatic Club Inc	Enhance community sense of place through the upgrade of an outdoor area.	Wirrinya	$5,000
St Marys Catholic Primary Hay Parents and Friends Association	Foster school engagement and improve education outcomes by developing an outdoor learning space.	Hay	$5,000
Lake Cargelligo Central School	Provide access to quality learning environments through the purchase of portable agricultural equipment.	Lake Cargelligo	$5,000
Goolgowi Parents and Citizens Association	Increase engagement in education experiences through the establishment of a garden as part of an environmental education program.	Goolgowi	$5,000
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Hillston Parents & Friends Association	Develop community resilience through the upgrade of a canteen area.	Hillston	$5,000
Upper Namoi, NSW
Gunnedah South School P&C Association	Strengthen community participation through the upgrade of an outdoor area.	Gunnedah	$5,000
Gunnedah Family Support	Develop individual and community capacity and social wellbeing through the delivery of a men’s support program.	Gunnedah	$5,000
Gunnedah Family and Children’s Services Inc	Provide a safe and secure start in life for children through the replacement of a soft-fall area around play equipment.	Gunnedah	$5,000
The Boggabri Tractor Shed Inc	Enhance organisational resilience and capacity through the uprade of a kitchen.	Boggabri	$5,000
Walgett, NSW
Walgett Little Athletics Centre	Develop a more engaged, participative community through the upgrade of kitchen equipment.	Walgett	$5,000
Central Highlands, QLD
Rotary Club of Emerald Inc	Provide access to quality learning environments through the development of an all-abilities playground.	Emerald	$5,000
Emerald Branch Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association	Build stronger individual and/or community resilience through furnishing a youth space within a welfare centre.	Emerald	$5,000
Darling Downs, QLD
Toowoomba and District Down Syndrome Support Group Inc	Promote inclusive community engagement through the provision of an annual family workshop and camp.	Toowoomba	$5,000
Pittsworth and District Men’s Shed Inc	Develop a more engaged, participative community through the purchase of information technology.	Pittsworth	$5,000
Meandarra Primary P&C Association	Strengthen community participation through the installation of a concrete path and seating.	Meandarra	$5,000
Jandowae Kindergarten Assoc Inc	Provide access to inclusive learning environments through the upgrade of a playground cubby.	Jandowae	$5,000
Brookstead Community Hall Association Inc	Providing access to community activities through the installation of a solar powered system.	Brookstead	$5,000
Dawson Valley, QLD
Theodore Early Childhood Centre Association Inc	Support early childhood development through the provision of a shade area and the purchase of an outdoor play set.	Theodore	$5,000
Dirranbandi, QLD
Dirranbandi Swim Club Dirranbandi Courts Sports Association Inc	Strengthen community participation and water safety through the purchase of swimming and pool equipment and barbeque to host a community event.	Dirranbandi	$5,000
Macintyre Valley, QLD
Talwood State School P&C	Increase engagement in learning and improve education outcomes through the purchase of an irrigation system to compliment an orchard project.	Talwood	$5,000
North Star Sporting Club Ltd	Promote community safety and resilience through the purchase of a defibrillator and three comprehensive First Aid kits.	North Star	$5,000

Over $100,000 in grants awarded across rural, regional and remote Australia

Bendigo, 12 November 2019: Eight projects that support and encourage good mental health practices in rural, regional and remote communities have received grants from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal via the In a Good Place program.

The projects will share $100,725, thanks to support from CCI Giving, the charitable foundation of Catholic Church Insurance (CCI).

Over a million dollars in grant funding was requested in this third round of In A Good Place, highlighting the need for mental health interventions across rural, regional and remote Australia.

“This third round saw an increase in the number of applications using art-based activities as a tool to encourage community engagement around mental health and resilience,” said FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton.Successful applications include a safe space to enable mental health conversations at the Julia Creek Dirt & Dust Festival – an area of Queensland deeply impacted by drought and flood; creative community workshops and an interactive theatre performance addressing mental ill-health and substance abuse in Hopetoun, Western Australia; and a series of targeted workshops for adolescent and adult men, focusing on improving mental health and reducing the risk of suicide in Kimba, South Australia.

“Training and skill development, particularly Mental Health First Aid, was also a strong theme. It’s been well-documented that people living in rural, regional and remote Australia don’t have the same access to health services as major metropolitan centres. This includes a lack of early intervention services, and often there are long waiting periods for services in neighbouring communities. These grants will help communities to really take charge and be as self-sufficient as possible when it comes to taking care of their own.”

Roberto Scenna, CEO of CCI and Director of CCI Giving, said that his organisation was pleased to provide funding for another round of the In A Good Place program.

“It’s vitally important that every single one of us feels empowered when it comes to our mental health. The unfortunate reality is that societal pressures and factors such as where you live mean that that’s not always possible. These grants will make a real difference throughout rural, regional and remote Australia.”

The next round of the In a Good Place program will open in February 2020. Keep an eye on FRRR’s grants calendar for the details.

The complete list of locally-led projects that have been funded this round is below.

Organisation	Project	Location	Grant
Apostolic Church Australia, as the Operator of a PBI	Building a Stronger You Support students as they transition from primary school to high school, to build personal, social and emotional resilience and promote positive self-esteem to enable them to fully engage in education.	Bourke, NSW	$10,000
Parkes High School P&C	Parkes High Mental Health Awareness Day Provide an inclusive day for high school students to engage with mental health professionals to encourage positive mental health and support self-help seeking behaviour for themselves and their peers.	Parkes, NSW	$6,750
Julia Creek Dirt and Dust Festival Inc.	Have a Yack in the Outback Raise awareness and provide opportunities for conversations about mental health, and encourage help seeking by creating a dedicated meeting area at a key outback event in a drought and flood impacted region.	Roma, Longreach, Richmond, Julia Creek, QLD	$10,000
University of South Australia	A mental wellbeing program delivered in partnership with community-based men’s mental health support groups and rural South Australian football clubs / leagues Support a series of targeted workshops for adolescent and adult men, focusing on improving mental health and reducing the risk of suicide.	Kimba, Cleve, Tumby Bay, SA	$19,900
Huon Valley Council	Mental Health Community Response Build the capacity of the Huon Valley community to respond to and prevent suicide, and promote mental health through the delivery of Mental Health First Aid training to community members and groups.	Dover, Cygnet, Huonville, Geeveston, TAS	$9,255
Beyond the Bell Great South Coast	Live4Life Southern Grampians Build community capacity to support youth mental health and build community capacity through the establishment of the Live4Life model within the Southern Grampians shire.	Hamilton, VIC	$16,340
Youth Affairs Council Victoria Inc	Deadly Yarning & Learning:  Our Mental Health Support the mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people by providing culturally competent Mental Health First Aid training and supporting the establishment of a community of practice to provide ongoing support.	Swan Hill, Robinvale, VIC	$13,480
Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council	Raving About Mental Wellness Provide opportunities for conversations around mental health and wellbeing through creative community workshops and an interactive theatre performance addressing mental ill-health and substance abuse.	Hopetoun, WA	$15,000