More than $190,000 in grants will be shared among 12 volunteer emergency service organisations in remote, rural and regional communities, to help strengthen their emergency response capabilities - including one in the Adelaide Hills.
Funded through the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewals program, Volunteer Emergency Services Fund, the funds were supported by a private donor and were available for communities impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires in NSW, Qld, SA and Vic.
The grants range from $2996 to provide a rural fire service brigade with wet weather personal protection equipment, to $25,000 for equipment to maintain low bushfire fuel loads in a high risk area.
The Mt Lofty Group Operations Support Brigade will receive $23,577 for upgrades in technology and increased access to support volunteer development, learning and organisational operations.
RELATED READING:
FRRR chief executive officer Natalie Egleton said the VESF program was important for dedicating funding to local initiatives that were a priority of volunteer first-responders.
"Programs like this are vital for fire-affected communities to ensure long-term resilience and preparedness. In this round, we saw requests for support to purchase and upgrade emergency equipment, technology and communications systems, as well as wellbeing activities," she said.
"With funding provided for the purchase of emergency support vehicles, personal protection equipment and maintenance equipment, these organisations are now better placed to save lives.
"While this is the last round of grants through the VESF program, it has allowed us to learn more about what these groups need and respond effectively.
"It has bolstered the response capacity of many organisations and FRRR have built new connections in communities with whom we look forward to continuing to work with through their long-term recovery. FRRR's Strengthening Rural Communities program continues to offer bushfire recovery grant opportunities."
