Strengthening Rural Communities – Rebuilding Regional Communities

Woman wearing a mask delivering a Xmas meal to a resident at his house.

The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Rebuilding Regional Communities (RRC) stream gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities.

Recognising the impacts of COVID-19 on communities, the Australian Government has partnered with FRRR to distribute $5 million from 2022 to 2024 to support community-led initiatives. The objectives of the program are to:   

  • Enhance the process of recovery of remote, rural and regional communities from the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • Reduce social isolation and foster stronger, more resilient remote, rural and regional communities; and/or  
  • Sustain local remote, rural and regional organisations and their work.  
Proudly funded by
Australian Government

Explore other streams in the Strengthening Rural Communities program:

How to apply for SRC — Rebuilding Regional Communities

Please read the information on each of the three tabs below to make sure this is the right grant for your project.

If you want to explore other grant options, please go to Find Funding Now.


I have a question, who can I talk to?

Our Rebuilding Regional Communities Grants Officer is your go-to person for any program related queries for the RRC program.

  • Melanie Morgan or Jane Crane

Ph: 1800 170 020 or Email: covidsupport@frrr.org.au

Confirm you are eligible to apply for this grant

To make sure this is the right grant for your community, please read the grant information detailed in the Program Guidelines below carefully. Click on each headline to reveal the detail. If you need to share this information with others, you can download the guidelines below.

Gather information to support your grant application

Please read the information below to support the planning and preparation of your project. It also sets out what you MUST include for your project to be considered. There are plenty of helpful resources to support you along the way.

Please contact FRRR if you have any questions about the following information.

Your grant application MUST include:

Need some more help?

We have a large selection of resources on our Grantseeker Resources page to help you along the way.

Submit your grant application via the Grants Gateway

Applications close 5pm VIC time (AEDT), 26 February, 2024.

Please contact FRRR if you have questions about any aspect of the Grants Gateway online application form.

Helpful resources:

It is time to submit your application. If it is helpful, you can download a sample copy of the application form:

Please read the instructions on how to use the Grants Gateway How-to Guide and have your questions answered with our Grants Gateway FAQs.

Before you submit your application via the online Grants Gateway, please ensure you have:

  • confirmed you are eligible to apply for this grant
  • provided clear information about your project
  • checked that you are an eligible legal entity
  • provided the financial information required
  • created a budget for the project
  • gathered supporting materials
  • spoken to an FRRR contact person where you were unsure of any requirement
  • gathered community support for the project
  • checked the information you are providing to make sure it is clear and relevant to the project

If you have significant issues accessing a stable internet connection, please contact our team to discuss an alternative way of applying:
Ph: 1800 170 020 or Email: info@frrr.org.au

“We are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to provide what will be a very different and improved facility for our community and cannot thank your organisation enough. We look forward to reporting on the outcome and hope that you will also be thrilled with the end result.”

Sue McMahon, Chairperson – Tonimbuk Hall Committee of Management, SRC Rebuilding Regional Communities R15

Inspiration – Past projects

Explore some of the projects we’ve previously funded to see how other organisations have helped their community thrive.

A man holding a mobile phone and wearing a red jacket that says Marine Rescue, standing in front of a yellow boat.

A mobile boost for Freycinet’s Volunteer Marine Rescue Assoc

COVID exacerbated the need for a mobile booster to provide stronger and more reliable mobile coverage as member training had to move to Zoom sessions. Zoom provided additional benefits by allowing members the opportunity to remain connected and still have timely input into the Association’s activities.

Man and boy wearing helmets with welding equipment in a workshop.

Boosting capacity to support COVID response

Boys to the Bush provides support to disadvantaged youth in Central NSW. They received funding to purchase workshop equipment for applied construction and maintenance projects, which help disadvantaged youth affected by COVID lockdowns connect and learn life skills, as well as earn accreditation towards employment in their community.

Responding to COVID in East Arnhem Land

The Gong-Dal Aboriginal Corporation in East Arnhem Land in the NT used part of their grant to employ experienced facilitators to work with and support a COVID-response group specially formed by Yolŋu leaders to provide intercultural advice to government agencies and other stakeholders and ensure culturally safe and appropriate community engagement.

Making a big impact with a small grant in Foster

COVID affected the ability of Manna Community Garden in Foster, VIC to fundraise to support the vital services the garden provides. So they used their RRC grant to install new seating around their fire pit. This small project kick-started an annual event, which brings people together to learn and celebrate the many advantages of growing locally.