Strategy
FRRR is the only national foundation specifically focussed on ensuring social and economic strength in remote, rural and regional areas of Australia.
We believe that where you live shouldn’t limit your opportunities. Our ambition is to support the capacity and capability of remote, rural and regional communities so they can be on the front foot of disruption, navigate transition and seek sustainable futures for themselves and the nation.
We recognise that FRRR cannot do everything and needs to reduce the risk of spreading our resources too thinly. In 2024, we refreshed our strategic focus areas to sharpen our focus and target resources on:
- Helping communities respond to climate, generational, population, industry and energy transitions;
- Growing and investing in the next generation;
- Closing the gap and supporting First Nations self-determination;
- Building disaster resilience; and
- Enhancing the liveability of remote areas.
Learn more about how we work, our model and our strategic initiatives and partnerships.
How we work
We focus on connecting good will with good purpose to help realise an Australia where remote, rural and regional communities are vibrant, resilient, empowered and sustainable. In all cases, our work is guided by our principles and our values.
This manifests in applying a community-led, place-based philosophy, with a preference for supporting smaller, more remote and less resourced communities most vulnerable to the effects of market failures. We also prioritise communities impacted by and vulnerable to disasters.
Empowering vibrant, resilient and sustainable communities
We believe that where you live shouldn’t limit your opportunities. To thrive, remote, rural and regional communities need to be self-generating, prosperous and able to drive the kind of future they want for themselves.
Our role is to support their capacity and capability, so they can be on the front foot of disruption, navigate transition and create sustainable futures. We also want to see the nation acknowledge their relevance and importance.
We do this through a combination of granting, capacity building, leveraging our networks and partnerships and sharing our knowledge and insights.
This manifests in applying a community-led, place-based philosophy, with a preference for supporting smaller, more remote and less resourced communities most vulnerable to the effects of market failures.
Our model
From our work over the last 25 years, we know that local leaders are best placed to respond and adapt to the changes and opportunities coming their way. However they need access to funding and support to address these issues in a way that makes sense, no matter where their community is in its development lifecycle.
Through well-informed investment in people and organisations that are in and of their place, we believe we can stimulate ideas that lead to actions, both big and small, and drive vitality.
FRRR’s model is layered, and more than money. We carefully and strategically harnesses our resources and capabilities to help local leaders achieve sustainable long-term outcomes through granting and capacity building; sharing insights and learning; and brokering and leveraging to unlock more funding and opportunity for those communities. By working in this way, FRRR can partner with and support communities in ways that make most sense for their context to:
- Seed & Strengthen: building capacity and supporting ideas and projects to fill gaps that will make a long-term difference to the community;
- Adapt & Evolve: supporting communities to manage through change and disruption, and take advantage of new opportunities; and
- Innovate & Renew: backing communities to find new ways, try new things and sustain momentum.
We’re committed to strengthening resilience and sustainability in the intersecting areas of People, Place, Disaster Resilience & Climate Solutions.
People
Strengthening local not-for-profits, community groups and volunteer-led efforts, by enhancing opportunities for leadership, networks, and skill development. We have a particular focus on enabling the next generation of leaders and supporting First Nations self-determination.
Place
Despite many common experiences, no two places are the same and their needs, aspiration and opportunities are intrinsically driven by their context. This calls for tailored responses to celebrate vibrant cultures, encourage self-generation, and improving access to health, sustainable social and physical infrastructure to drive effective development.
Disaster Resilience
Drought, disasters, extreme heat and invasive diseases and species are growing in frequency, duration and severity, increasing the complexity of life in rural Australia. It behoves us to support both disaster preparedness and recovery efforts, especially in the medium to long-term.
Climate Solutions
Communities across the country, in some of the most remote places, are working on responses and solutions that will build climate resilience and foster new ways of living, working in, and benefitting from the productivity of remote, rural and regional Australia.
How we work
We target the following cross-cutting themes:
- Helping communities respond to climate, generational, population, industry and energy transitions;
- Growing and investing in the next generation;
- Closing the gap and supporting First Nations self-determination;
- Building disaster resilience; and
- Enhancing the liveability of remote areas.
We’re committed to strengthening resilience and sustainability in the intersecting areas of People, Place, Disaster Resilience & Climate Solutions to address areas of greatest inequity, adjustment and disruption, and vulnerability.
People
Strengthening local not-for-profits, community groups and volunteer-led efforts, by enhancing opportunities for leadership, networks, and skill development. We have a particular focus on enabling the next generation of leaders and supporting First Nations self-determination.
Place
Despite many common experiences, no two places are the same and their needs, aspiration and opportunities are intrinsically driven by their context. This calls for tailored responses to celebrate vibrant cultures, encourage self-generation, and improving access to health, sustainable social and physical infrastructure to drive effective development.
Disaster Resilience
Drought, disasters, extreme heat and invasive diseases and species are growing in frequency, duration and severity, increasing the complexity of life in rural Australia. It behoves us to support both disaster preparedness and recovery efforts, especially in the medium to long-term.
Climate Solutions
Communities across the country, in some of the most remote places, are working on responses and solutions that will build climate resilience and foster new ways of living, working in, and benefitting from the productivity of remote, rural and regional Australia.
We believe that doing these things and focussing on these areas helps to create vibrant, adaptive and sustainable remote, rural and regional communities and leads to sustained community-led momentum, not just outcomes, in these areas:
- Improved access to, and use of, community infrastructure;
- Greater geographic and social access to services and amenities;
- Enhanced community capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters and other shocks;
- Improved environmental health and biodiversity;
- Reinforced strength and resilience of remote, rural, and regional economies;
- Communities that are equipped to successfully navigate climate change and energy transition;
- Strengthened individual and community physical health and wellbeing;
- Cultural vibrancy, connectedness, and inclusiveness in communities;
- Built the capability of remote, rural, and regional organisations to support their communities;
- Empowered community members to influence and lead local priorities and actions; and / or
- Lifelong learning, education, and/or training.