Supporting communities outside of our big cities to thrive

Joint Media Release from the Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories and the Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health

MEDIA RELEASE | Friday 22 September 2023

The Albanese Labor Government continues to invest in regional, rural and remote communities to make them more resilient, sustainable and liveable.

In partnership with Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), 58 locally led groups across the country will share in over $900,000 in grants.

The funding will support the continued recovery from COVID-19 in our regions, strengthen community resilience and preparedness for hotter, drier and higher risk weather in spring and summer, and help businesses reduce their operating costs.

Fourteen regional community groups will benefit from large grants of up to $50,000, including:

  • In Wilcannia, New South Wales, where $50,000 will address educational disadvantage through an innovative program to upskill adults in the community, empowering them to help teach early language and literacy skills.

  • In Portland, Victoria, where nearly $39,000 will create a safe drop-in space for vulnerable people to receive support and resources to help them reconnect with their community.

Forty-four regional community groups will benefit from smaller grants of up to $10,000 including:

  • In Pegarah, Tasmania, where $10,000 will strengthen mental health and wellbeing after the COVID-19 pandemic in the remote island community by delivering in-person mental health and suicide prevention outreach services.

  • In Dundee Beach, Northern Territory, where $10,000 will purchase age-appropriate play-based learning resources and equipment for a preschool playgroup to tackle educational and social disadvantages caused by isolation.

The funding is part of the Albanese Government’s $5 million investment from 2022 to 2024 in the Rebuilding Regional Communities stream of FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program.

For the full list of funded projects and more information about other grants awarded through FRRR’s SRC program, visit: https://frrr.org.au/news

Sara Johnston