A share of $1,579,380 is being awarded to more than 150 not-for-profit organisations in rural and regional areas across Australia to strengthen communities.
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Awarded through Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal's flagship Strengthening Rural Communities program, the grants will fund projects that address a range of diverse needs, including fostering community connectedness and wellbeing, as well as supporting ongoing COVID and disaster recovery and preparedness.
The grants in SA range from $800 for an upgrade to lighting and heating and cooling for the Blyth Community Hall to $24,746 to support community recovery and foster connection to First Nations culture in a flood-impacted region by constructing a community cultural garden at a regional school.
FRRR's place portfolio lead Jill Karena said that the Strengthening Rural Communities program has been a consistent support for local NFPs in rural places, helping to fill funding gaps needed to get projects off the ground or sometimes bring them to conclusion.
"FRRR's small grants have supported rural Australia for the past 23 years," she said.
"Within our Strengthening Rural Communities program alone, we have awarded nearly $18 million in small grants since 2019 and the program's flexibility is one of the key reasons why it continues to be so popular.
"Flexible funding means that we can support projects that meet a wide range of needs, reflecting what the community sees as a priority.
"For some, this may be a new roof for the town hall, for others it may be an event to bring people together, and for others it could be mental health first aid training."
She said virtually every part of Australia was recovering from one or more disasters, from the pandemic to floods, bushfires or drought - and many have experienced successive or even overlapping events.
"The cumulative effect means that even within the same region, there are people working to respond and support recovery, while others are putting planning and training in place to build their resilience and prepare for the next, inevitable, event," she said.
"Grassroots organisations, which are often led by volunteers, play an important role in the vitality of rural Australia, because they drive the projects that maintain and sustain their communities.
"But to do this, they need funds.
"We're honoured to play a small part in helping rural Australia thrive and we encourage others to join with us to support local initiatives that really do make a difference."
The projects funded in SA are:
- $8085 to Port Augusta's Clean Hands and Hygiene in The Salvos Hub to improve participant safety and enhance organisational capacity at a community drop-in centre by upgrading the kitchenette facilities.
- $10,000 to Kingscote's Technology and Ecology: Student and Community-led Oyster Reef Restoration to enhance connection to the environment and deepen understanding of biodiversity by implementing a student-led citizen marine science program.
- $24,487 to Brukunga's Preserving Heritage and Enhancing Community Spaces: Transforming Brukunga to enhance opportunities for community connection and recovery in a bushfire-impacted region by upgrading a community hall and garden.
- $22,380 to Mount Torrens' Community Hall Comfort for Connectedness and Recovery to increase opportunities for community connection and enhance the process of recovery after bushfires by installing heating and cooling at a community hub.
- $24,746 to Berri's Reconciliation Cultural Garden to support community recovery and foster connection to First Nations culture in a flood-impacted region by constructing a community cultural garden at a regional school.
- $14,364 to Murray Bridge's 2024 Lower Murray Heritage Rally & Tractor Pull to foster community connection and economic recovery in a flood-affected region by improving facilities for a historic tractor festival attracting statewide visitors.
- $22,500 to Mannum's Restoration of Lighting in Mary Ann Reserve to enhance opportunities for recovery and social connection in a flood-impacted town through installing solar lighting at a community reserve.
- Other projects can be viewed here.
