Deadline: 05-Jun-24
Applications are now open for the Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Prepare & Recover program that supports communities in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts, or recover from existing disasters.
Grants are available for a broad range of initiatives to strengthen the capacity and capability of local people, organisations, networks, and systems that help communities to be informed, skilled, connected and resourced for the future.
Specifically, SRC Prepare and Recover will support communities to focus on disaster preparedness for any innovative project, event, initiative, training, network, or service that improves the ability of local people and communities to build preparedness to manage the impact of future disasters.
Projects that enable a focus on community-led resilience building through strengthening local inclusion, networks, communication, information sharing, self-organising systems, local decision making, resourcing, tools and support will be prioritised.
Specifically, SRC Prepare & Recover will support communities impacted by the following disasters:
- 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires;
- 2021 NSW storms and floods;
- 2021 WA Tropical Cyclone Seroja; and
- 2022 flood events across regions of NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC and WA;
- 2022/23 Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie and associated flooding across regions of WA and NT.
Aims
- SRC Prepare & Recover aims to support projects that:
- Assist communities prevent and prepare for, respond to, or recover from disasters, weather events or climate impacts;
- Demonstrate broad community benefit, are locally determined, support collaboration and build capacity for the future;
- Build networks or resources so that local communities can share information, increase climate related knowledge, and strengthen social connection;
- Aim to ‘build back better’ infrastructure following a disaster event, accounting for historical and future climate risks;
- Recognise First Nations knowledge and strengthen cultural practices to foster healing, connection and care for Country; and
- Have limited ability to attract funds from other donors or government.
Funding Information
- Organisations can request up to $25,000 per round in the SRC Prepare & Recover program.
Types of Projects Supported
- FRRR funds projects aligned with the following types of charitable projects and outcomes:
- Bringing people and community organisations together to foster stronger, more resilient communities;
- Fostering and celebrating a sense of identity, diversity and cultural connection within the community;
- Supporting diverse groups within remote, rural and regional communities including, but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse, those living with disability, and LGBTQIA+;
- Improving community health and social wellbeing;
- Enabling people to develop skills, knowledge and confidence to lead and contribute to the prosperity and renewal of their community;
- Building a sustainable volunteer base and/or supporting the wellbeing of volunteers;
- Celebrating and resourcing volunteer-led efforts;
- Increasing access and inclusion for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including remote communities;
- Enhancing places where communities gather;
- Promoting connection to place and enabling initiatives that champion a community’s social, cultural, or economic aspirations; and
- Reducing the divide on access to digital technology and connectivity for remote, rural and regional communities.
What can be funded?
- A broad range of charitable activities are considered under this program, including:
- Delivering, or providing projects, events, programs, initiatives and services;
- Purchasing or hiring equipment and materials;
- Community infrastructure;
- Activities and resources that will strengthen your organisation or local networks (capacity building);
- Community resource development;
- Staffing and running costs for the organisation where required to deliver the activity.
What can’t be funded?
- There are several areas that they can’t fund through this program:
- Projects that support core business and areas of responsibility of Federal, State and Local Governments;
- Solely ongoing core organisational operational costs (e.g. rent, utilities, regular wages, loan repayments);
- The encouragement or advancement of sport, recreation and social activities are not considered charitable activities under Australian law. Applications from sporting organisations need to clearly demonstrate charitable outcomes and benefit to the wider community that are above and beyond the sporting activities of the club;
- Overseas travel and overseas projects;
- Prizes, gifts, trophies or awards;
- Political lobbying;
- Projects that primarily benefit private business, a sole trader, or private interests;
- Projects solely focused on animal welfare; and
- Initiatives relating to pandemic recovery, mice plagues, other environmental disease, economic disruptions, or other events causing significant community impacts.
Eligibility Criteria
- To apply, your organisation must meet the following criteria:
- Applicant organisations must be a not-for-profit organisation with either an Incorporation Certificate and/or an ABN. If you are unsure if your organisation is a registered not-for-profit (for example, if you are a Co-operative, Other Unincorporated Entity, Public Company or Trust), please contact FRRR;
- Project must be for charitable purposes and offer clear public benefit;
- Organisations with or without DGR endorsement are eligible;
- Organisations can submit one application per grant round;
- Projects must benefit communities in remote, rural or regional Australia.
Ineligibility Criteria
- You will be considered ineligible if the:
- Application is submitted by individuals, sole traders, private or commercial businesses (as per the submitted ABN);
- Application is submitted by an organisation that is not a legal entity, without the written consent of the governing / partnering body who holds the ABN / Incorporation number;
- Application is submitted without required financial information (see additional information on the second tab);
- Final report/s from any FRRR grants awarded in the previous seven years have not been acquitted (delivery organisations should check with legal organisation to see if there are any outstanding final reports);
- Application is for a project or activity that has already occurred / is occurring prior to the announcement of funding;
- Application is incomplete. NOTE: Due to the volume of applications received, applications are assessed based on the documentation received at the time of application. FRRR is unlikely to follow up missing documentation after applications have been submitted.
For more information, visit FRRR.