Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
The work of the Wardell Community Organised Resilience Effort (CORE) is an example of how a small town can rally in the face of a natural disaster and be ready for disasters to come. Most days, Wardell is an idyllic spot to live. Lush, green and quiet on the banks of the Richmond River in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. But in 2022, floods devastated the town and others nearby. Wardell had never flooded before, and no one was prepared.
Wardell CORE was set up as a resource centre for emergency donations. Bedding, blankets, clothes, food, medical supplies, water, torches, batteries and tents were all gratefully received. The need was immense. Two years on, Wardell CORE’s primary purpose is still helping affected people. Some are still homeless and many struggle with mental health issues, including PTSD. Their other main aim is to make sure the community is never impacted in the same way again.
Planning for the way forward
During the 2022 floods, mobile and internet telecommunications were impacted, meaning Wardell and the surrounding communities had limited or no communication in many areas until power could be restored or services fixed. Having no communications during a disaster created all kinds of problems – the emergency services people couldn’t share vital information, residents were cut off from family and friends, and there were any number of complexities around ongoing recovery.
After the flood receded, Wardell CORE immediately started planning for the next one, and detailed planning identified a need for a way for the community to stay informed, given the power outage lasted for two weeks or more. CB radio was the solution. They received a $10,000 grant from FRRR through Telstra’s Connected Communities program that funded the purchase of 10 hand-held devices and two base stations, as well as funds left over to support the community with the appropriate training. Through additional fundraising, they were able to install a relay station that helps to extend the signal as far as possible to provide radio reception throughout town and with the nearby communities of Woodburn and Coraki up-river, and Ballina down-river.
Where to next?
The organisation plans to distribute more radios throughout the region to anticipate flood events as widely and comprehensively as possible. Another resilience move they made was installing a Starlink service that uses a network of satellites to provide internet coverage, and installing onsite battery storage so that they will have internet in the event of future power outages.
The team behind Wardell CORE recognises that locals in the region experience high levels of anxiety about weather events, but the low level of digital literacy in the community is a real barrier to disaster preparedness. To resolve this, they’re looking at establishing a program that teaches people how to access and interpret weather apps and other related platforms.
A spokesperson for Wardell CORE explained the impact of the grant they received.
“Without the FRRR grant from Telstra’s Connected Communities program, we would never have been able to put our disaster preparation plans into action. The lessons learned from the 2022 floods meant we knew what technology we needed and where it should be located. But our reliance on small donations meant we could never have afforded it. Now we have the communications we need to feel confident about our ability to protect our people, physically and mentally, from any flood events in the future.”
NFPs and local organisations can apply for up to $10,000
FRRR and Telstra are inviting applications for funding through Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program to provide access to information, technology, education and facilities to strengthen social capital and digital capability.
The program aims to boost support for communities across remote, rural and regional Australia to build resilience, improve environmental sustainability and enhance liveability through the power of connection.
In the second round of this program, there is $200,000 available through grants of up to $10,000 to community-led organisations.
The program aims to foster:
- Liveable communities that have digital capability and help to equip individuals with the skills to live, learn and work in a digital society;
- Sustainable communities that are diverse and inclusive, planning for the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of their people and the planet; and
- Resilient communities that are well prepared and socially connected when disaster strikes, with the ability to renew and recover together.
Loretta Willaton, Regional Australia Executive and Regional Customer Advocate at Telstra said that last year’s projects are connecting communities and helping them thrive in a range of ways, both online and offline.
“We’re proud to have been able to enhance community connectedness through last year’s grants, with projects as diverse as upgrading Wi-Fi connectivity, new digital equipment, upskilling volunteers and community members in cyber security, social media and using new systems to support their organisations.
“This year, we look forward to supporting more grassroots groups as they do their important work and keep their communities connected,” Ms Willaton said.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that programs like this one help to create more equitable access to the services and support many in urban areas take for granted.
“While there have been improvements, there is still a significant digital divide for remote, rural and regional not-for-profit organisations, particularly when it comes to accessing digital resources and the opportunity to improve knowledge and skills to harness technology to maintain and create connections.
“This partnership with Telstra means that more community groups can find local solutions to these complex problems, thereby creating more sustainable places to live, work and play.
“I look forward to reading this year’s funding requests,” Ms Egleton said.
Applications close at 5pm AEDT on Wednesday, 27 March. Successful grants will be announced in June 2024 and applicants will have 12 months to complete the funded projects.
Potential applicants are encouraged to register for an online Grantseeker Webinar at 12pm AEDT, Tuesday 5 March to learn more about the program and useful tips for applying.
FRRR has awarded $213,343 via Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program to 30 local groups and not-for-profits (NFPs) across remote, rural and regional Australia for projects embracing technology to foster the resilience, environmental sustainability and liveability of their communities.
This is the first round of Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program, which is the core of its new partnership with FRRR (announced February 2023). The focus of the program is on fostering a resilient community, a more sustainable community or a more liveable community.
Awarded grants range from $1,849, which will be used to provide the Victorian community of Strathbogie with access to free Wi-Fi at the local hall, through to $10,000, for projects such as Collinsville Connect Telecentre Group’s cyber security workshop for older members of their Queensland community.
Loretta Willaton, Regional Australia Executive and Regional Customer Advocate at Telstra, said the program’s impacts go beyond simply supplying internet or technology.
“We’re really excited to see this program beginning to come to fruition and to see funding going to rural communities that have been doing it really tough the last few years.
“This round of grants has highlighted the ways in which digital connectivity goes hand-in-hand with social and cultural connectivity. How these factors complement one another has a strong impact on the liveability of a community, so it makes sense that a majority of funded projects are designed to equip locals with the skills to live, learn and work in a digital society.
“That’s what this program is all about – keeping people connected in the most important sense of the word,” Ms Willaton said.
This round saw most projects fall into the liveability category, with a range of initiatives being funded like the provision of Wi-Fi connectivity, new digital equipment, the training of volunteers and community members to build their digital knowledge, be it for cyber security, social media or simply navigating new computing hardware and software that would contribute to better operations of community events and organisations.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that there was a lot of interest in the program, with the Foundation receiving many applications for high quality projects.
“Keeping rural communities connected has never been more important, which was reflected by the strong response we received from communities all over remote, rural and regional Australia.
“Community organisations and local not-for-profits (NFPs) in rural communities are clearly keen to make sure locals have the equipment and the knowledge they need to engage in activities that are often taken for granted in metro areas. That might be spreading important information quickly, increasing opportunities for education or providing access to the electronic resources that become vital in emergency situations.
“With so many impressive initiatives on the table, we are grateful that Telstra increased its commitment this year to more than $213,000. There are so many different ways to keep a community connected, and more importantly, a lot of positive outcomes that can be achieved and we look forward to seeing these ideas come to life,” Ms Egleton said.
Some other examples of the projects being funded are below:
A full list of grant recipients is detailed below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
Bathurst Information and Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated | Connecting Our Community Build community capacity to meet, train and connect by providing Wi-Fi internet to the Bathurst Neighbourhood Centre community meeting room. | Bathurst | $7,510 | |||
Broadwater Rileys Hill Community Centre | Strengthening IT Access and Literacy for Broadwater Residents Boost technological skills and digital connectivity for vulnerable residents in Broadwater by conducting IT training sessions and upgrading computer software. | Broadwater | $2,760 | |||
Eden Community Access Centre Inc | Southern Cyber Safety Boost community knowledge around cyber safety in Eden and surrounding communities by providing specialist IT training for six months and offering a weekly drop-in service for checking device security. | Eden | $10,000 | |||
Lachlan and Western Regional Services Inc | Empowered Connections Boost organisational digital capability to better support remote community members' social and economic outcomes. | Condobolin | $10,000 | |||
RiverSmart Australia Limited | Using Digital Technology to Discover Tiger Bay Grow cultural and environmental knowledge of the rivers and wetlands around Warren by the creation of an app to provide information and digital upskilling to the community. | Warren | $10,000 | |||
Wardell Community Organised Resilience Effort Inc | Wardell Community Organised Resilience Effort Boost community resilience with training and equipment to support digital capability and connectivity during disasters. | Wardell | $10,000 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Cape York Digital Network Pty Ltd | Fall-back Server Build capacity of the Cape York Digital Network to enable connectivity in remote Queensland with a new server to manage increasing demands. | Cairns | $8,000 | |||
Collinsville Connect Telecentre Group Incorporated | Cyber Security Sessions for Seniors Boost digital capability for older people through a cyber security workshop to enhance skills and risk management. | Collinsville | $10,000 | |||
Goondir Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders Corporation for Health Services | Improving Digital Capability for Better Collaboration Improve digital capability of First Nations health service with video conferencing equipment to enhance staff and stakeholder communications, improving overall service delivery to clients. | Dalby | $10,000 | |||
North Burnett Regional SES Queensland Fire and Emergency Services | North Burnett State Emergency Service Digital Connectivity Improve digital connectivity with equipment to improve connectivity operation to enhance operational capacity and better quality training for QFES in North Burnett. | Gayndah | $2,559 | |||
Numabulla Men's Shed Inc. | IT Education and Access Program Improve digital capability and literacy with technology equipment at the Men's Shed to deliver access and education. | Brooloo | $9,985 | |||
QCWA Branch Upper Stone | Connecting our Community Build community resilience and preparedness with an inverter generator and mobile booster to ensure power and connectivity in disasters and emergencies. | Upper Stone | $8,125 | |||
St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland | Expanding Our Virtual Reach in Far North QLD Enhance digital capacity and literacy of volunteers with equipment and training that will benefit the broader community accessing services. | Cooktown | $8,144 | |||
State Emergency Service - Charters Towers Queensland Fire and Emergency Services | Mobile Operations Centre Build preparedness and resilience in communities by upgrading the QFES Mobile Operation Centre with radios and back-up solar power to deliver disaster preparedness education and enable connectivity in extreme weather events across the Charters Towers region. | Charters Towers | $10,000 | |||
Whitfield Community Kindergarten Association Inc | Water Tank and Weather Station Support early child development and learning on environmental sustainability with digital tools to understand weather and water accessibility. | Cairns | $2,845 | |||
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Callington A & H Society Inc | Callington Show - Online Software Build organisational capacity with software to improve local show operations, developing digital capability for volunteers and efficiencies for participants. | Callington | $3,700 | |||
Moorook Bowling Club Incorporated | Future Connections Increase community capacity with digital connection via a mobile booster to support access to the internet in Moorook. | Moorook | $1,794 | |||
Parndana Soldier Settlement Museum Parndana Progress Association | Adding to the Mosaic Improve digital literacy and capability of local museum volunteers with software, equipment and a website upgrade to better present and promote local history. | Parndana | $3,409 | |||
Southern Yorke Peninsula Community Hub Incorporated | Let's Get Social! Social Media Content Marketing 101 for SYP Volunteers & Community Groups Upskill community group volunteers to increase their efficiency in navigating the digital world. | Yorketown | $9,766 | |||
TASMANIA | ||||||
Clarendon Vale Neighbourhood Centre Inc | Communities Connect Foster a more inclusive and connected community, by providing access to digital resources. | Clarendon Vale | $9,510 | |||
King Island Regional Development Organisation Inc 2520 | Digital Literacy Workshops and Buddy Program Improve digital literacy for the King Island community with an upgrade of technology and delivery of digital training and mentoring to build capability. | Currie | $5,243 | |||
Live Well Tasmania | Community, Power and Communications Resilience Equipment Build community resilience with preparedness by purchasing equipment to provide power during outages including a generator, solar panels and rechargeable radios and torches. | Wynyard | $5,398 | |||
VICTORIA | ||||||
Central Victorian Biolinks Alliance Inc | Connecting People to Restore and Reconnect Nature Build organisational capacity of Biolinks Alliance with computer equipment, software and subscriptions to increase dissemination of educational information for repairing regional ecosystems. | Tooborac | $7,055 | |||
Poowong Public Hall Inc | Equipment for Training in Meeting Room 2 of the Poowong Public Hall Inc Improve community facilities with a digital TV and laptop for the Poowong Hall meeting facilities to enhance functionality and support increased use. | Poowong | $2,312 | |||
Strathbogie Memorial Hall Incorporated | Strathbogie Memorial Hall Wi-Fi Boost digital connectivity for the community of Strathbogie by providing free Wi-Fi access at the local hall. | Strathbogie | $1,849 | |||
Wodonga Urban Landcare Network | Strive to Thrive - Connecting Environmental Volunteers Build community capability for improved environmental sustainability practice via a new website to share information and educate volunteers and the wider community surrounding Wodonga. | Wodonga | $10,000 | |||
Woomelang & District Development Assoc | Website Redevelopment Project Strengthen community engagement and connection through the creation of a website for Woomelang township to share information for locals and tourists. | Woomelang | $7,310 | |||
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Albany & Regional Volunteer Service Inc | Community eSafe Clubs - Equipping Clubs to Confidently Embrace the Use of Digital Technologies Build volunteer capacity with cyber security workshops to develop digital literacy and upskill people working in community to manage information online with confidence. | Albany | $7,650 | |||
Broome Community Resource Centre Inc | Public Access Computers - Technology Refresh and Enhancement Support community digital access with upgraded computers, ensuring people in and around Broome have access and can be trained in current software use for social and economic needs. | Broome | $10,000 | |||
Harvey Aboriginal Corporation | Connecting Community, Culture and Computers Provide access to digital resources and First Nations language and culture learning opportunities to students of Harvey by purchasing an interactive whiteboard, tablets and monitors. | Harvey | $8,419 |
Community groups and NFPs can apply for up to $10,000
FRRR has announced the opening of the first round of Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program.
The aim of the program is to boost remote, rural and regional communities resilience, environmental sustainability and liveability.
Telstra has committed to funding this grant program until 2025. The annual commitment of $200,000 will make grants up to $10,000 available for not-for-profit community organisations that provide access to information, technology, education and facilities for the purpose of building both social capital and digital capability.
The new program has three goals. To foster:
- Resilient communities that are well prepared and socially connected when disaster strikes with the ability to renew and recover together;
- Sustainable communities that are diverse and inclusive, planning for the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of their people and the planet; and
- Liveable communities that have digital capability and help to equip individuals with the skills to live, learn and work in a digital society.
Loretta Willaton, Regional Australia Executive and Regional Customer Advocate at Telstra said the program is all about keeping people connected in a range of ways, both online and offline.
“At Telstra, we know how important it is to keep people connected. The last few years in particular have shown everyone the importance of connectedness within our communities. Rural and regional Australia has been doing it particularly tough in recent years and so we wanted to do our part in helping the country to rebuild.
“Obviously one of the best ways to keep people connected is through technology and digital equipment but we know access, understanding and management of these tools can be a barrier. We’ve designed this program to create opportunities for a wide range of projects to address these barriers such as a local event, an educational workshop or not for profit organisations embracing new technology or managing cyber security. We are open to support any kind of initiative that gives people better access to information that will enable a stronger social network, safer online interactions, or access to information for disaster preparedness or environmental sustainability,” Ms Willaton said.
FRRR’s Acting CEO, Sarah Matthee, said that programs like these, help people to maintain their connection to their community and play a key role in many different aspects of life in remote, rural and regional Australia.
“We’re excited to launch the first round of this new program in partnership with Telstra. Our Heartbeat study highlighted a significant digital divide for remote, rural and regional not-for-profit organisations, particularly when it comes to accessing digital resources and the opportunity to improve knowledge and skills to harness technology to maintain and create connections. We know that these connections are so important in strengthening each community’s ability to withstand future disruptions and maximise sustainability and liveability.
“We’re looking forward to applications from community groups that are facilitating local events and community programs that support local communities learning and adapting to change – be it accessing information for disaster preparedness or better environmental practices, implementing better e-waste solutions, boosting cyber-security, and much more” Ms Matthee said.
Applications close Thursday, 30 March 2023 at 5pm AEDT. For more information and the guidelines, visit https://frrr.org.au/telstra-connected-communities-program/.
Potential applicants are encouraged to sign up for an online Grantseeker Webinar for more information about the program and useful tips for applying at 12pm AEDT, Monday 6 March.
FRRR today welcomed a new $600,000 partnership with Telstra, which will see a new grant program launch in March 2023.
Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program will boost support for NFPs and communities across remote, rural and regional Australia to improve resilience, environmental sustainability and liveability through the power of connection.
The program will offer grants up to $10,000 for not-for-profit community organisations that are providing access to information, technology, education and facilities to support their communities to embrace new technologies and ways of working to build social capital and digital capability.
FRRR’s Acting CEO, Sarah Matthee, said that this is a wonderful new partnership that will help address one of the biggest gaps identified in FRRR’s Heartbeat of Rural Australia study in 2021.
“The Heartbeat study really highlighted a significant digital divide for remote, rural and regional not-for-profit organisations, particularly when it comes to capacity to access digital resources and the opportunity to improve knowledge and skills to harness technology to maintain and create connections. But we also know that connections are so important in building resilient communities, as well as sustainable communities. So this contribution from Telstra is very welcome, as it will help to address some of those challenges and harness many of the opportunities in country Australia. We very much look forward to launching the program next month,” Ms Matthee said.
Read Telstra’s full announcement or learn more on Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program page.