Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal
FRRR has awarded $311,049 in grants to volunteer emergency services organisations impacted by the 2019/20 bushfires for projects that will help them to respond to local disaster recovery needs and address preparedness priorities ahead of the 2021/22 bushfire season.
Funded through the Volunteer Emergency Services Grant Program, grants range from $4500 for Audio Visual Equipment, to $25,000 for the installation of a solar power battery backup system.
Made possible thanks to a generous private donation, funded initiatives will support fire-affected local volunteer emergency services and first-responder organisations in communities across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that she was pleased to see this targeted funding going to initiatives that will build and strengthen the capacity of these vital members of impacted communities.
“We saw strong demand for equipment and infrastructure improvements through this round of applications. Providing safe and secure facilities and equipment not only allows these services to better support their communities and respond to emergencies and future disasters, but they are also important to the recovery of the volunteers, building their resilience and caring for their mental health and wellbeing.
“The mental health and wellbeing of the volunteers will also be supported through funded training and education projects. These initiatives will increase the capacity of these volunteer-run emergency services, so that they are better equipped to care for their local community as they continue to recover from the bushfires,” Ms Egleton said.
Some of the projects awarded this round include:
- Tinonee Rural Fire Brigade, NSW – Disaster Response Go Bags for Support Vehicles – $6,713 – Improve the capacity and enhance the safety of volunteers through the provision of fire safety equipment for community evacuation notifications and emergencies.
- South Eastern Region QLD Rural Fire Service Division, QLD – Upgrade Emergency Services Response Command Vehicle – $25,000 – Boost operational capacity of the Beaudesert RFB Group through the upgrade of the Group Command vehicle.
- Country Fire Authority – St Arnaud CFA, VIC – Connecting Our Group – $5,000 – Support volunteer capability through the provision of a laptop computer for operations at the St Arnaud CFA.
- Onkaparinga CFS Group, SA – Onkaparinga CFS Group Tablet Grant – $19,628 – Enhance organisational capacity through the provision of information technology equipment at the Onkaparinga CFS.
- Surf Life Saving Lower North Coast Branch Incorporated, NSW– Provision of emergency response equipment for frontline lifesavers during bushfire emergencies – $25,000 – Improving preparedness and capability for Surf Life Saving volunteers in the Lower North Coast.
The next round of the Volunteer Emergency Services Fund Grant program will open 24 September 2021. For more information, visit – https://frrr.org.au/volunteer-emergency-services-fund-grant-program/.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
| Emmaville Rural Fire Brigade | Lockers for Firefighters at Emmaville RFS Shed Enhance emergency response times through the provision of volunteer lockers at the Emmaville Rural Fire Brigade. | Emmaville | $6,200 | |||
| Far South Coast Branch Surf Life Saving Association of Australia Inc | Disaster Preparedness for Volunteer Lifesavers and the Community Increase organisational capacity through the provision of Bushfire Response Kits for South Coast Surf Life Saving clubs. | Bermagui | $23,411 | |||
| Merriwa and District Rescue Squad Inc | It's a Long Way to the Top, if You've Tripped and had a Fall! Increase organisational capacity through the provision of vertical rescue equipment for the Merriwa and Districts Rescue Squad. | Merriwa | $22,000 | |||
| Liverpool Ranges RFS NSW Rural Fire Service | Group 1 Liverpool Range Strengthen local volunteer emergency groups and their activities through facility and equipment upgrades for the Cassilis RFS. | Merriwa | $16,587 | |||
| Pambula Beach Surf Life Saving Club Inc | Expansion of Pambula Surf Life Saving Club Patrol and Emergency Search and Rescue Capabilities Increase organisation capacity with an additional IRB Zodiac to ensure timely volunteer emergency response. | Pambula | $24,979 | |||
| Surf Life Saving Lower North Coast Branch Incorporated | Provision of Emergency Response Equipment for Frontline Lifesavers During Bushfire Emergencies Improve volunteer emergency response capability wiith items including a defibrillator and portable radios. | Forster | $25,000 | |||
| Tarana Volunteer Bushfire Brigade | Install Solar Power Battery Backup System Boost organisational capacity through the provision of a solar power system including backup battery. | Tarana | $25,000 | |||
| Tinonee Rural Fire Brigade | Disaster Response Go Bags for Support Vehicles Improve the capacity and enhance the safety of volunteers through the provision of fire safety equipment for community evacuation notifications and emergencies. | Tinonee | $6,713 | |||
| QUEENSLAND | ||||||
| Beaudesert Rural Fire Brigade Group South Eastern Region QLD Rural Fire Service Division | Upgrade Emergency Services Response Command Vehicle Boost operational capacity of the Beaudesert RFB Group through the upgrade of the Group Command vehicle. | Scenic Rim Regional Council Area | $25,000 | |||
| Gatton State Emergency Service Social Club Inc | Capability Enhancement Program Boost organisational capacity through the replacement of electric tool, batteries and radio holsters at the Gatton SES. | Gatton | $10,178 | |||
| Maroochydore State Emergency Service Support Association Incorporated | Audio Visual Equipment for Volunteer Training Boost capacity of the Maroochydore SES with the provision of technology equipment to enhance the training of volunteers. | Maroochydore | $4,500 | |||
| Woodhill Rural Fire Brigade | Firefighting ATV Increase community safety with the provision of an off road ATV and emergency response trailer for Woodhill Rural Fire Brigade. | Kooralbyn | $25,000 | |||
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Onkaparinga CFS Group | Onkaparinga CFS Group Tablet Grant Enhance organisation capacity through the provision of information technology equipment at the Onkaparinga CFS. | Lobethal | $19,628 | |||
| VICTORIA | ||||||
| Buffalo River CFA Country Fire Authority - Headoffice | Buffalo River Scrolling Electronic LED Notice Board Increase community awareness by installing a scrolling notice board for public safety announcements and information sharing at the Buffalo River CFA shed. | Myrtleford | $12,400 | |||
| Porepunkah CFA Country Fire Authority - Headoffice | IT Training Equipment and Kitchen Appliances Support volunteer training and wellbeing with technology and appliance upgrades at the Porepunkah CFA Shed. | Porepunkah | $10,875 | |||
| St Arnaud CFA Country Fire Authority - Headoffice | Connecting Our Group Support volunteer vitality through the provision of upgraded information technology equipment at the St Arnaud CFA. | St Arnaud | $5,000 | |||
| Corryong Ambulance and Walma Ambulance Ambulance Victoria | Corryong Ambulance Community Officer and Walwa Community Emergency Response Team Uplift Support organisational capacity of the organisation through the provision of training and operation equipment. | Corryong | $17,928 | |||
| Mallacoota SES Victoria State Emergency Service Authority | Mallacoota-Genoa Community Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Project Enhance community safety through the provision of portable fire fighting equipment and PPE for emergency volunteers in the Genoa community. | Genoa | $12,650 | |||
| Tallangatta SES Victoria State Emergency Service Authority | Turn Out Bay Upgrade Boost community safety through turn out bay upgrades at the Tallangatta SES. | Tallangatta | $18,000 | |||
Grants available for services supporting communities impacted by Black Summer bushfires
A generous private donation of $1 million will fund FRRR‘s new Volunteer Emergency Services Fund Grant Program. The Program will fund volunteer emergency services to support their recovery needs from the 2019/20 bushfires and help them prepare for future challenges.
The Volunteer Emergency Services Fund will offer grants to local volunteer emergency services and first responder organisations in 2019/20 fire-affected regions across rural, regional, and remote Australia. Funds will help them to respond to local disaster recovery needs and address preparedness priorities ahead of the 2021/22 bushfire season.
Grants of up to $25,000 are available for projects including practical improvements and upgrades to facilities and equipment so that these services are better able to respond to future disasters. Initiatives that support the mental health and wellbeing of first responder volunteers, as well as projects that provide training and build the capacity of these services can also be funded.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that an integral part of the recovery process is preparing for future disasters and adapting to changing conditions after a disaster.
“We know that disasters, like bushfires, are not isolated events. They are increasing in frequency and severity; and it is vital for our volunteer-led emergency services groups to be equipped,” Ms Egleton said.
“Throughout the 2019/20 summer bushfires, volunteer emergency and first responder services worked tirelessly to protect and save their communities. They literally saved lives.
“These grants will support those who support the community by funding projects that will help these volunteers process and heal from the trauma of the bushfires, as well as build resilience and preparedness for future disasters.
“We look forward to assisting these vital members of impacted communities and helping to build and strengthen the emergency services they so generously give their time to be a part of,” Ms Egleton said.
The Volunteer Emergency Services Fund Grant Program is now open. Applications close 5pm AEST 7 July 2021 with grants to be announced August 2021. For more information, visit FRRR’s website – https://frrr.org.au/funding/disaster-resilience-and-climate-solutions/volunteer-emergency-services-fund-grant-program/
