Activating regional, rural and remote communities

The Albanese Labor Government continues to invest in the liveability, sustainability and resilience of regional, rural and remote communities – with over $470,000 in grants flowing to 55 local-led projects across the country.

Delivered through the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal’s (FRRR) Strengthening Rural Communities program, the grants will support local organisations to uplift their communities, following significant disruption from COVID-19.

From workshops and education programs that will increase community engagement, to improving equipment and facilities at community hubs, – these small-scale projects will be high impact, including:

·         At Beechworth (Victoria), where $10,000 will be used to boost economic and cultural recovery after COVID-19 by holding a festival showcasing public art installations at 15 key locations throughout Beechworth.

·         At Numeralla (NSW), where $9,673 will support the installation of reverse-cycle air conditioning at Numeralla Hall to improve the comfort of this community space.

·         At Dalwallinu (Western Australia), where $10,000 will help vulnerable residents reduce post-pandemic debt by expanding intensive financial counselling to additional Wheatbelt communities.

·         At Wonga Beach (Queensland), where $9,658 will promote post-pandemic social connection by equipping Wonga Beach Primary as a community hub with a defibrillator and outdoor entertaining equipment.

·         At Kingston (South Australia), where $10,000 will support weaving workshops and the creation of a public artwork, led by local First Nations artists – promoting social connection and creative recovery.

·         At Cygnet (Tasmania), where $10,000 will support the Cygnet Living History Museum to purchase new cabinets for the display of cultural artefacts – celebrating and enhancing connections to local history.

·         At Katherine (Northern Territory), where $10,000 will support Camp Quality to deliver educational puppet shows in remote schools – enhancing the wellbeing of children affected by cancer.

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

The full list of funded projects and additional information about other grants awarded by the FRRR can be found at: www.frrr.org.au/funding/place/src-rebuilding-regional-communities/

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to funding our regional, rural and remote towns to ensure they can thrive following the difficult COVID-19 period.

“We are committed to supporting local community organisations, which are vital to the health of any town.

“By supporting this diverse range of projects, our Government is also ensuring the improvement of health and education outcomes – particularly for First Nations people – in our regions”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain:

“When we back local ideas and invest in local priorities, we get better outcomes in our communities, which is why we’re pleased to deliver over $470,000 towards these 55 diverse projects outside of our big cities.

“Our regional areas are known for their strong sense of community and we’re committed to strengthening this following the COVID-19 disruption, by improving community facilities and getting engaging workshops and education programs off the ground.

“These projects will support regional, rural and remote organisations to expand their services, and are a key part of the Albanese Labor Government’s continued commitment to activating regional economies.”

Quotes attributable to FRRR Place Portfolio Lead, Jill Karena:

“The Strengthening Rural Communities program has been a consistent support for local organisations in rural places, helping to fill funding gaps needed to get projects off the ground or bring them to conclusion.

“FRRR’s small grants have supported rural Australia for the past 23 years. Within our Strengthening Communities program alone, we have awarded nearly $18 million in small grants since 2019 and the program’s flexibility is one of the key reasons why it continues to be so popular.

“Flexible funding means that we can support projects that meet a wide range of needs, reflecting what the community sees as a priority. For some, this may be a new roof for the town hall, for others it may be an event to bring people together, and for others it could be mental health first aid training.”