FDF Communities – Community Impact Program (Australia)

The Community Impact Program, delivered by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) with support from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Communities Program, provides funding to strengthen social resilience and drought preparedness in agriculture-dependent communities across Australia. The programme supports locally led projects that improve community connections, leadership, wellbeing, and capacity to adapt to drought and climate challenges.

Eligible not-for-profit organisations can access grants of up to $150,000 to deliver community-driven initiatives in selected rural, regional, and remote areas.

About the Community Impact Program

The Community Impact Program supports rural and regional communities to prepare for drought by strengthening social capital, community networks, leadership capacity, and local resilience.

The programme is funded through the Future Drought Fund Communities Program and delivered by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). It focuses on helping agriculture-dependent communities develop long-term solutions that improve their ability to respond and adapt to drought impacts.

The initiative supports locally designed projects that reflect the unique needs, challenges, and opportunities of different regions across Australia.

Program Objectives

The Community Impact Program aims to:

• Strengthen community resilience to drought.
• Improve social connections and community wellbeing.
• Build local leadership and skills.
• Increase community capacity to adapt to environmental and economic changes.
• Support drought preparedness activities.
• Encourage collaboration between community organisations.
• Improve access to community resources and services.

The programme prioritises projects that create lasting benefits rather than short-term responses.

Key Focus Areas

Social Resilience and Community Connection

Projects should help communities:

• Build stronger relationships.
• Increase participation in local activities.
• Improve communication and collaboration.
• Strengthen community networks during times of stress.

Drought Preparedness and Adaptation

Supported activities may help communities:

• Understand drought and climate-related risks.
• Develop local preparedness strategies.
• Improve planning and decision-making skills.
• Strengthen community ability to respond to future challenges.

Leadership and Capacity Building

The programme encourages:

• Leadership development.
• Training opportunities.
• Community learning activities.
• Increased local capability to manage change.

Inclusion and Participation

Projects are encouraged to involve:

• Young people.
• First Nations communities.
• Diverse community groups.
• Local organisations and networks.

Why It Matters

Agriculture-dependent communities often experience significant social and economic pressures during drought periods. These challenges can affect:

• Community wellbeing.
• Social connections.
• Access to services.
• Local leadership capacity.
• Long-term community sustainability.

By investing in social resilience, the Community Impact Program helps communities build stronger support systems and improve their ability to adapt to future drought conditions.

Supported Project Activities

Eligible projects may include:

Community Network Development

Examples include:

• Strengthening local and professional networks.
• Creating partnerships between community organisations.
• Improving collaboration across regions.

Community Events and Engagement

Projects may support:

• Community gatherings.
• Events focused on drought awareness.
• Activities that encourage social connection.

Training and Skills Development

Funding may support:

• Leadership training.
• Drought preparedness workshops.
• Planning and resilience-building activities.

Community Facility Improvements

Small-scale improvements may be supported where they:

• Increase community connection.
• Improve accessibility.
• Strengthen local participation.

Learning and Development Initiatives

Projects may include:

• Knowledge-sharing activities.
• Community education.
• Local resilience planning.

Expected Community Outcomes

Successful projects should contribute to:

• Stronger community networks.
• Improved communication and collaboration.
• Increased awareness of drought risks.
• Better access to community facilities and services.
• Greater participation from community members.
• Improved local leadership.
• Stronger place-based solutions.

Over time, these outcomes aim to increase social capital and improve the wellbeing of agriculture-dependent communities.

Funding Information

The Community Impact Program provides:

• Maximum grant amount: Up to $150,000.
• Regional funding pool: $900,000 available in each participating region.

Funding is available through a collaborative grant-making process where communities work with FRRR to identify priority projects.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must:

• Be a not-for-profit organisation.
• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Incorporation Certificate.
• Be identified in the relevant Regional Roadmap.
• Deliver projects benefiting agriculture-dependent communities.
• Operate in remote, rural, or regional Australia.

Eligible organisations may include community groups, local not-for-profit organisations, and other community-based entities working to strengthen drought resilience.

Participating Regions

The programme will operate across 12 dedicated regions in Australia.

Projects must align with local priorities identified through Regional Drought Resilience Plans or community-developed roadmaps where relevant.

How the Program Works

The Community Impact Program follows a community-led approach.

Step 1: Regional Collaboration

Local organisations work with FRRR to identify:

• Community needs.
• Priority challenges.
• Opportunities for collaboration.

Step 2: Development of a Community Roadmap

Communities create a shared roadmap outlining:

• Priority projects.
• Desired outcomes.
• Local resilience goals.

Step 3: Project Funding Application

Eligible organisations apply for funding to deliver projects identified through the roadmap.

Step 4: Project Delivery and Impact

Funded organisations implement activities that strengthen:

• Social connections.
• Leadership.
• Community capability.
• Drought preparedness.

Community Leadership Activities

In addition to grants, the programme offers optional Community Leadership Activities delivered by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.

These activities aim to improve:

• Leadership skills.
• Community collaboration.
• Local decision-making capacity.

Tips for Strong Applications

Applicants should:

• Clearly demonstrate community need.
• Show how the project improves drought resilience.
• Explain community involvement in project design.
• Highlight collaboration with local organisations.
• Demonstrate long-term benefits.
• Connect activities with regional priorities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Proposing projects unrelated to drought resilience.
• Failing to demonstrate community benefit.
• Creating activities that duplicate existing programmes.
• Not involving local communities in planning.
• Providing unclear outcomes or unrealistic budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Community Impact Program?

The Community Impact Program funds locally led projects that strengthen drought preparedness, social resilience, and community connections in agriculture-dependent Australian communities.

2. Who manages the programme?

The programme is delivered by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) with funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Communities Program.

3. How much funding can organisations receive?

Eligible organisations can apply for grants of up to $150,000.

4. Who can apply for funding?

Not-for-profit organisations with an ABN or Incorporation Certificate that are identified in the Regional Roadmap and support eligible rural and regional communities can apply.

5. What types of projects are supported?

Projects may include community networking, drought awareness events, leadership training, resilience workshops, community facility improvements, and local capacity-building activities.

6. Are young people and First Nations communities included?

Yes. The programme encourages projects that actively engage young people and First Nations communities.

7. What is the main goal of the programme?

The goal is to build stronger, more connected, and better-prepared communities that can adapt to drought and future climate challenges.

Conclusion

The Community Impact Program provides important support for agriculture-dependent communities across Australia to strengthen drought resilience through locally led action. By investing in social connections, leadership, skills, and community capacity, the programme helps rural and regional communities prepare for future challenges and build stronger long-term futures.