COMMUNITY organisations in the Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island and on the Yorke Peninsula are now able to apply for grants of up to $20,000 to help support their continued recovery from the devastating bushfires across the 2019-20 summer season.
The grants are part of the state government's $2.6-million Bushfire Mental Health Project, which is delivering targeted assistance over four years to people living in bushfire-affected communities.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said the state government was continuing to support local communities and community-led mental health projects in regions affected by the 2019-20 bushfires.
"While people feel stress and grief after a major disaster, sometimes the impact is not obvious straight away and the recovery can be an extended process," he said.
"These grants aim to fund locally driven projects that help communities connect with each other and build resilience through their recovery to meet any longer-term impacts head on."
RELATED READING: Water funds available for KI farmers
RELATED READING: Resilience shines through KI fire recovery
Wellbeing SA chief executive Lyn Dean said projects must be community-led, build connectedness, and increase the ability of people in the community to recognise and support each other's mental health and wellbeing.
"The successful projects in the first round of grants were diverse in nature, ranging from a program that provided additional support for people caring for animals impacted by the fires, to first aid sessions that provided mental health information tailored for children," she said.
"The previous projects proved that there is no single way to build resilience and improve mental health and wellbeing, and we are encouraging all local community groups, volunteer organisations, charities, schools and councils to apply.
"Wellbeing SA is also co-investing with Country SA PHN to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people on KI. Young people will be able to access support to engage in wellbeing and social connection activities through Headspace."
- Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
