Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR) is offering Small Network Grants of up to $50,000 to community organisations in the rural regions of NSW Far West for projects designed to enhance local drought preparedness.
Supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, through the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative, the Small Network Grants program can fund simple, one-off, or seed-type initiatives designed to strengthen community networks and capabilities in these agriculture-dependent regions.
FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead, Nina O’Brien, said that these grants will support regions that have been identified as being at risk of drought and the impacts of a changing climate.
“With the support of the Australian Government, grassroots groups including NSW Far West can now apply for grants of up to $50,000 to strengthen their networks and capabilities in ways that best suit their communities.
“From previous programs, we know that social networks are critical to drought resilience because they promote a sense of belonging by providing opportunities for a diverse range of community members to connect and participate.
“Events, such as field days or practical workshops, are effective tools for improving mental health and wellbeing, because they give participants the opportunity to connect with their neighbours and learn skills to address the local risk factors associated with a changing climate. So, we look forward to seeing the projects that come forward,” Ms O’Brien said.
FRRR wants to hear from groups with projects that fit into one of these five categories:
Networks: Initiatives to strengthen the capacity, capability, and coordination of professional, social or community networks.
Community Events: Field days, conferences, forums, summits, and seminars that facilitate professional, social and community connection to build understanding of drought and climate change associated risks.
Training: Initiatives to improve skills and capacity in community risk management, planning and project delivery in relation to drought.
Community Infrastructure: Small scale community infrastructure projects to improve connectedness, wellbeing, and facilities.
Development and Learning: Initiatives to facilitate professional, personal and leadership related development and learning to support drought preparation.
Applications are open and will close November 14, with successful applicants announced in March. There will be a second round of the program, which is expected to open in February with funds announced in June.
Applicants are invited to join a webinar to learn more about the program and the eligibility requirements on Monday October 9 from 12pm AEDT.
Registrations can be made via the FRRR website which can be found at https://frrr.org.au/smallnetworks-grant
