• 2018 Annual Review

• Chair's Message
• CEO's Report
• Our Impact
  • Building community resilience
  • Supporting lifelong learning & education
  • Acting on environmental challenges
  • Building economic strength and sustainability
  • Developing organisational resilience & capacity
  • Promoting health and social wellbeing
  • Contributing to a culturally vibrant community
• Our Donors & Partners

Chair's Message - Extract

The extensive and protracted drought across much of eastern Australia throughout 2018 has increased awareness of the challenges for communities in regional and remote areas. Adverse seasons demand special attention, but the challenges of distance and smaller population require constant assistance towards comparative opportunities in education, health and employment and even more so for the Indigenous and socially disadvantaged.   

In addition to general assistance, particularly by small grants to communities of fewer than 5,000 people, specific programs have been implemented by FRRR to address the medium to long-term impact of fire, drought and other natural disasters.

To ensure the effectiveness of our programs, a significant research project funded by the Sidney Myer Fund has enabled FRRR to analyse all 26,000+ grant applications received since incorporation (to December 2016) and to identify where grants have been made and the support communities have requested. The study confirmed the important role of philanthropy and the positive impact of small grants to supporting communities, as well as shaped future focus areas for FRRR.

This financial year our granting was again widespread and beneficial - 673 communities were supported with nearly $7.2 million in grants - half a million dollars more than the previous year. Grant impact studies show that on average every dollar FRRR grants is leveraged by community organisations, local businesses and individuals to achieve an additional three dollars in-kind or through additional fundraising. This makes FRRR’s contribution to community wellbeing even more significant.  

To our donors and partners who make this granting possible, on behalf of the Board and FRRR team I extend our sincere thanks for your generosity – it is appreciated particularly by the many grant recipients.

Beyond FRRR are the thousands of local leaders and community members with whom we work and who do so much to progress their towns and districts across Australia. FRRR is honoured to work with you.

Rt Hon Ian Sinclair AC 
Chairman

To read the Chairman's full message, please click here. 

We acknowledge and extend our appreciation to the Dja Dja Wurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land on which our Foundation is located in Bendigo, and to the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which our programs are assessed and delivered. We pay respect to their ancient and continuing cultures, their connections to the land, and to the Elders, past, present and emerging.