From February 2022 until February 2024, a special funding stream to support communities adversely affected by the COVID pandemic is available.
The Rebuilding Regional Communities stream runs in parallel with the Bushfire Recovery and Small & Vital streams within the flagship Strengthening Rural Communities program.
Funding is now available in remote, rural and regional areas in all States and Territories. A total of $5 million will be provided nationally from 2022 to 2024 through two funding tiers:
Grants up to $10,000 (always open) for communities with fewer than 50,000 people; and
Grants up to $50,000 (offered twice a year until November 2023), for communities that are classified as remote, rural or regional as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Australian Geography Standards.
Grants are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that assist communities to recover from and adapt to the impacts of the COVID pandemic. Funds can support community-led, place based initiatives that:
Enhance the process of recovery from the COVID pandemic for remote, rural and regional communities;
Reduce social isolation and foster stronger, more resilient remote, rural and regional communities; and/or
Sustain local, regional, rural and remote organisations and their work.
Round 20 will consist of Micro-grants ONLY.
Round 20 will open 5 December 2023 and close 26 February 2024.