2016 archived FRRR Media Releases

Student at Campania High School in Tasmania developed practical construction skills, thanks to a $1,600 grant from the REAPing Rewards program, funded by the Caledonia Foundation.

A further 30 not-for-profit and community organisations across cotton growing regions will benefit from a $5,000 boost just before the festive season, as the 2016 Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities grants are awarded again. $450,000 has now been distributed over the last three years across New South Wales and Queensland.

ANZ and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) have today announced that $275,000 in grant funding will be shared between 26 community groups from across regional Australia, while another three groups will receive IT equipment, as part of the 2016 ANZ Seeds of Renewal program.

FRRR has announced the recipients of the latest funding to support ageing rural Australians. Thanks to our generous donor partners, 27 community groups in NSW, Qld and VIC will share more than $300,000.

The NSW Government has announced the recipients in the second round of the Innovation for Community Impact program. Seven community groups have received between $24,000 to $50,000 to fund capacity building projects to address big issues in their local communities across the Hunter, Central Coast and the Mid North Coast regions of NSW.

This issue of eNews details some of the activities and events that FRRR staff attended over the past month, connecting with donors and communities. It's also full of program news and updates, and of course some great grants in action, from Wagin in WA, Biloela in Qld, Heywood in Vic, and Narromine in NSW.

FRRR today invited applications from community groups in rural, regional and remote areas for the 30th round of its Small Grants for Rural Communities program. This is FRRR's broadest program and provides grants of up to $5,000 to address local needs with locally driven solutions.

FRRR and VBAF work collaboratively with communities impacted by natural disaster, and with those organisations that work with the community in the recovery process, to provide support and assistance for medium-to-long term recovery. Grants are now available to support communities affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

Kellerberrin Little Learners is an innovative early learning program for children aged zero to five years. With a lack of funding, the Kellerberrin District High School principal applied to the REAPing Rewards program and received an $8,000 grant, funded by Third Link Investments, to help cover the coordinator's salary. The Shire of Kellerberrin also supported the process, providing superannuation funds and the Kellerberrin District High School provide the venue, as well as access to photocopiers and some resources and play equipment.

FRRR has partnered with Domino's Pizza Enterprises to launch a new small grants program to benefit rural, regional and remote communities. Grants of up to $5,000 are available to community projects that support education and youth initiatives, leadership and entrepreneurship and natural disaster recovery and preparedness.

The 2016 ANZ Seeds of Renewal program officially opened today, with ANZ committing $250,000 in grant funding for education and employment projects in rural, regional and remote Australian communities. The grants aim to build local capacity, increase access to employment and develop greater community participation.

In a desperate bid to buck the declining population trend in their community, Wycheproof Vision wanted to do something practical to increase school enrolments, sporting club memberships, and to help rebuild the local economy. A $4,000 ANZ Seeds of Renewal grant was used as seed funding to kick start the $1 Rent a Farmhouse project, which has helped transform the small town.

FRRR today announced that its Caring for Ageing Rural Australians grant program has opened. Funds are available to assist community-based, not-for-profit groups to undertake projects and programs that encourage older people living in country towns to age in place and remain healthy and active. There are funds available for projects in Victoria, and for a smaller number of projects inf Qld and NSW.

A grant from the Small Grants for Rural Communities program has helped make it easier for volunteers working on bushfire recovery on the Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas in Tasmania to access the tools and safety equipment they need.

FRRR today announced grants to 23 groups for projects that support the ongoing recovery of communities affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. While it's now more than seven years after the fires, new needs continue to emerge and communities are still working hard to recover.

In partnership with the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund, FRRR has released funds to support ongoing engagement with school or transition to employment for young people who were affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

We recently implemented a new organisational structure that has a state-focused, rather than program-based, leadership team. We believe that having a designated contact for each state will deepen our presence and networks, and help to better design and build on our grant programs to deliver greater benefits to grass-roots community groups. This change also allows us to better utilise the wide range of skills of our talented team members.

Philanthropy Australia and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal welcome today's announcement by the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Christian Porter MP, of $160,000 in grants to help celebrate and communicate the power of partnerships during this year's Community and Philanthropy Partnerships Week, which will be held from 5-11 December 2016.

The third round of Heywire Youth Innovation grants opened today, with more than $100,000 on offer to help communities adopt one of eight ideas developed at the Heywire Regional Youth Summit. Communities can apply for up to $10,000 to adapt, adopt and act on one of the ideas.

FRRR is delighted to have received a personal donation from His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales to support communities in Western Australia that were impacted by the bushfires over Summer

The Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal (FRRR) has awarded 38 community groups across Australia more than $280,000 in grants to fund education initiatives, through the fifth round of its REAPing Rewards program.

FRRR's Patron in Chief, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) and Lady Cosgrove hosted 45 Heywire winners, plus FRRR directors, donor partners and ABC Radio executives at a reception at Government House, kick-starting Heywire 2016.

In line with its commitment to providing support for the medium to long-term recovery, FRRR has made six grants totalling nearly $60,000 to rural and regional communities affected by natural disasters in 2013.

The FRRR / McEwen Foundation partnerships grants for strengthening Goulburn Valley communities are open for applications for the 2016 round.

Our CEO Natalie Egleton wrote to the major papers to draw readers' attention to the fact that disaster recovery efforts continue long after the headlines have moved on. This was published Monday 4th January in the Daily Telegraph's Letters to the Editor.