$600,000 available to build back better for community disaster resilience
FRRR and insurer Suncorp are inviting applications for projects that support medium to long-term recovery and preparedness of communities impacted by disasters between January 2019 – December 2025. Funding is available to enable locally led recovery initiatives that address the impacts that disasters have had on community wellbeing and physical infrastructure, as well as to strengthen preparedness for future disaster risk.
The Rebuilding Futures program, funded by Suncorp, welcomes applications from not-for-profit groups (NFPs) in eligible disaster impacted communities. Grant opportunities are offered in two streams with specific criteria based on government disaster declarations. A total of $600,000 is available; $300,000 for each stream to support grants up to the value of $25,000.
- Stream 1: Disaster Resilient Communities – for any remote, rural or regional community identified in a government disaster declaration between January 2019 and December 2025.
- Stream 2: Disaster Recovery Support – for QLD communities impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred from 1 to 16 March 2025 or the Western Queensland Trough, that caused widespread rain and flooding across Western Queensland, between 21 March and 19 May 2025.
All projects must either directly support the local community to recover from a disaster or strengthen a community’s efforts to prevent or prepare for the risk and impact of a future disaster. Additionally, all applications need to demonstrate at least one of the seven critical dimensions of building community resilience, which were identified by FRRR in partnership with the University of Sydney: Inclusion; Networks; Communication; Information; Self Organising Systems, Local decision making; and/or Resources.
FRRR Program Manager, Danielle Griffin, says that the program is deliberately open to funding many different types of projects because FRRR recognises that every community will be unique in where it’s at in the recovery or preparedness cycle.
“Over the last six years the experience of severe disaster and climate related disruption has increased across remote, rural and regional Australia. This grant program provides funding opportunities for the critical medium to long-term period, when immediate relief and response support is no longer available but communities are ready to rebuild community assets, address social issues related to the disaster, or have learnings to apply to future prevention and preparedness.
“We recognise that many communities have been impacted on multiple occasions and are vulnerable to future risks. We want to support projects informed by local decision making that can strengthen resilience with practical resources, social connection, infrastructure that’s built back better, and better systems,” Ms Griffin said.
Suncorp’s Chief Executive Consumer Insurance, Lisa Harrison, said the insurer is proud to support projects that help local organisations recover from extreme weather and build back stronger.
“Because every community recovers differently, we are proud to back grassroots groups that have their fingers on the pulse of local needs,” Ms Harrison said.
“Accessing help isn’t always straightforward. That’s why we value our collaboration with FRRR, working together to ensure this funding lands exactly where it can do the most good.
“These organisations do the heavy lifting to prepare their communities for the future and, together, we are committed to helping them build back stronger and stay ready for whatever the next season brings.”
Applications close Thursday 16 April, 5pm AEST for funding awarded in June 2026.
GRANTSEEKER WEBINAR
Learn more about eligibility criteria and what’s required for a strong application at FRRR’s Rebuilding Futures Grantseeker Webinar: Tuesday 10 March, 12.00pm-1.00pm AEDT.
Register at: https://events.humanitix.com/rebuilding-futures-2026-grantseeker-workshop.