65 local projects set to strengthen rural communities
FRRR has awarded $763,234 in funding to 65 locally-led initiatives that will empower remote, very remote, rural and regional communities to be more vibrant, resilient and sustainable places to live, work, learn and invest.
The funding is thanks to FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) grant program and will support initiatives worth nearly $1.7 million. Delivered via SRC’s three streams of funding, these grants will empower and enable not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) to support local people and places by diversifying local economies, so communities can better withstand and thrive through transitions; address the unique service gaps that people in the outback face; and deliver critical services and training before, during and after disasters.
More than $436,000 has been delivered through SRC’s Small & Vital stream, for 50 practical projects that meet a wide range of local needs. Twelve projects will share $176,966 through the Prepare & Recover stream to help communities recover from disasters and build resilience for future critical events. Three NFPs will share $150,000 via the Larger Leverage stream for digital solutions initiatives that will strengthen their community’s disaster resilience and recovery.
Jill Karena, FRRR’s Head of Granting, said the projects funded this round show just how resourceful and committed remote, rural and regional not‑for‑profits are.
“Local groups know what their community needs and they’re stepping up with practical, well‑thought‑out solutions. We’re seeing everything from upgrades to halls and safe community spaces, to initiatives that improve accessibility, boost digital skills and strengthen volunteer capacity so essential local services can continue,” Ms Karena said.
She said many organisations are also finding new ways to stay connected and support people who are more vulnerable or isolated.
“In remote areas, social and geographic isolation can be a real challenge. It’s encouraging to see communities designing projects that help people come together, access services and feel genuinely supported by those around them.”
Ms Karena said the breadth of applications also reflects the major transitions underway across rural Australia, including the shift from mining to renewable energy.
“Communities are adapting with extraordinary resilience,” she said. “Local groups are thinking ahead, looking for opportunities to diversify their economies and working hard to ensure a fair transition for everyone. While these grants are only one piece of a much larger puzzle, they give communities the backing they need to plan for the future, strengthen local organisations and build long‑term stability.”
FRRR accepts applications to the SRC program year-round, with funding awarded quarterly. Community groups and NFPs are encouraged to review the guidelines and apply via FRRR’s website or at www.ninjatest-frrr.madeneat.dev/src.
More partners required to meet increasing demand
The SRC program is made possible thanks to the generosity of FRRR’s donor partners, including individuals, foundations and corporations. However, the demand for this program continues to exceed the funding FRRR has available – especially in light of the increasing frequency of disasters across remote, rural and regional communities.
While FRRR’s current disaster appeal has raised nearly $80,000 to support communities impacted by bushfires in Victoria and wide-spread flooding in Queensland, more funds are needed. To help FRRR fund more community-led projects, including preparedness and recovery initiatives, please visit www.ninjatest-frrr.madeneat.dev/donate.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRC Round 27 - March 2026 | ||||||
| NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
| Small & Vital | ||||||
| Blicks Community Inc | Blicks Bulletin 2026 – Community Connection Enhance local awareness and connection by delivering a monthly newsletter. | Hernani | $10,000 | |||
| Clarence River Historical Society Inc | The Mary Tindal Watercolour Restoration Project Restore an album of 32 historically significant watercolours to ensure they are preserved for future generations. | Grafton | $10,000 | |||
| Educar Foundation Limited | Central West Max Potential Youth Leadership 2026 Program Deliver a 22-week youth leadership program to build confidence, resilience and connections. | Mudgee | $7,950 | |||
| Highlands End-of-Life Project Inc | The Highlands Community Hospice Service Support a new volunteer-led organisation to deliver end-of-life in-home care by providing training, equipment and travel costs. | Uralla | $9,985 | |||
| Little Plains Hall Committee | Little Plain Hall Community Food Co-operative & Emergency Resilience Hub Upgrade Enhance food security and emergency preparedness by converting a hall kitchen into a food co-op and resilience hub. | Elands | $10,000 | |||
| Mann River Mens Shed Inc | Rain Water Tank Solutions Improve water-security and bolster fire-fighting capacity by installing a fireproof rainwater tank with free community access. | Glen Innes | $3,700 | |||
| Margaret Jurd College (NSW) Ltd | MJC Yarning Circle – Outdoor Learning Space Partner with local Elders to create a yarning circle that strengthens student wellbeing and cultural connection. | Tuncurry | $10,000 | |||
| Walcha Business Group Inc | Connected at the Crossroads – Walcha Foster inter-generational connection through a series of youth-led food, music, and art experiences. | Walcha | $10,000 | |||
| Warren Chamber Music Festival Inc | SING Warren Community Choir 2026: Outreach and Encourage Project Strengthen older residents’ social connections by supporting rehearsals and performances of a community choir. | Warren | $4,200 | |||
| Wentworth Shire Council | Pooncarie Hall Floorboards Rejuvenation Program Extend the life of a vital community hall used for social connection and emergency response by refurbishing floorboards. | Pooncarie | $10,000 | |||
| Yuluwirri Maayirr Rural Education Through Art Indigenous Corporation | Building Culture, Skills and Belonging for Rural Young People Deliver a series of workshops in arts, cooking and crafts to support skills building and connection for Aboriginal, multicultural and LGBTQIA+ youth. | Wee Waa | $9,000 | |||
| Larger Leverage | ||||||
| Mango Communities Inc | Matong Digital Resilience Hub – Post-Storm Community Recovery Through Digital Inclusion Provide digital access and skills training for older adults to support connection and strengthen community resilience during disasters by providing IT equipment, Starlink and solar with battery back-up. | Matong | $50,000 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - General Disaster Preparedness & Recovery | ||||||
| Burringbar District Sports Club Ltd | Complete Amenities Area and Kitchen Storage Cupboard Provide kitchen storage and amenities upgrades to strengthen an evacuation centre’s capacity to support the community during emergencies. | Burringbar | $10,085 | |||
| Taree Universities Campus Ltd | Reimagining the Floodline: A Community Art Project for Recovery and Renewal Support flood recovery through art therapy workshops and public murals that foster resilience and connection. | Taree | $9,286 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - 2025 Tropical Cyclone Alfred | ||||||
| Taree Old Bar Surf Life Saving Club Inc | Emergency Call Out Team Equipment and Rescue Storage Upgrade at Taree Old Bar SLSC Provide secure lockers and rescue gear to deliver faster, safer responses during emergencies. | Taree | $9,684 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - 2021 Flood Recovery | ||||||
| Pappinbarra Progress Association | Valley Beacon: Radio for Safety and Resilience in Pappinbarra Enhance emergency management by installing a UHF base station with 10 handheld radios for reliable emergency communication. | Pappinbarra | $5,459 | |||
| NORTHERN TERRITORY | ||||||
| Small & Vital | ||||||
| Indigenous Education Foundation Ltd on behalf of Milingimbi & Outstations Progress Resource Association | Voices of Country: Strengthening Yolŋu Cultural Transmission for Future Generations Bolster intergenerational knowledge transfer in a very remote community by digitally recording cultural practices. | Milingimbi | $9,972 | |||
| St John Ambulance Australia NT Inc | Tech for our Volunteers Supply tablets and headphones to support remote volunteers in training and service delivery. | Katherine | $9,500 | |||
| The Trustee for Karrkad-Kanjdji Trust | Homeland School Company: Digital Capability at Gamardi Outstation Support on-country education in very remote First Nation community by providing essential IT equipment for a new primary school. | Maningrida | $9,917 | |||
| QUEENSLAND | ||||||
| Small & Vital | ||||||
| Chinchilla Meals on Wheels Association Inc | Operation Generator – Chinchilla Meals on Wheels Enhance the capacity of a meals on wheels kitchen to support vulnerable community members during disasters by installing a generator. | Chinchilla | $8,000 | |||
| Dalby Chamber Of Commerce & Industry Inc | Dalby and Surrounds Community Plan Undertake community consultation workshops to support the development of a community plan. | Dalby | $10,000 | |||
| Georgetown Bush Races | A Seat at the Table Promote social connection by providing tables and chairs for a range of events in a very remote community. | Georgetown | $10,000 | |||
| Mount Larcom and District Show Society Inc | Emergency-Ready Community Hub: Cooling, Storage & Shade Upgrades for the Mt Larcom Showgrounds Support community during disaster and enhance showground events by purchasing a commercial fridge, large eskies and marquees. | Mount Larcom | $10,000 | |||
| Mundubbera Show Society Inc | Poultry for the Generations Encourage participation and support the sustainability of an agricultural show by replacing ageing poultry display cages. | Mundubbera | $10,000 | |||
| Quilpie Shire Council | Cook + Connect – Quilpie Foster health and wellbeing in a very remote community by supplying equipment and ingredients for a Cook and Connect program. | Quilpie | $4,280 | |||
| Remote Animal Assistance Ltd | One Health Workshop in Pormpuraaw Enhance human health in a very remote community by providing a workshop on animal and human health, hygiene and disease prevention. | Pormpuraaw | $9,997 | |||
| Volunteering North Queensland Inc | Stronger Together Hinchinbrook Grassroots Training Project Deliver a series of capacity building workshops to strengthen remote volunteer groups in a region recovering from flood. | Ingham | $10,000 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - 2023 Tropical Cyclone Jasper | ||||||
| Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club Inc | Emergency Connectivity and Disaster-Hub Readiness Upgrade for Forrest Beach SLSC Enhance a clubhouse with tables, chairs and reliable internet connectivity to provide a safe coordination point and a gathering space during disasters. | Forrest Beach | $6,047 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - General Disaster Preparedness & Recovery | ||||||
| Mount Perry Rural Fire Brigade | Volunteer Firefighter Safety Pack Equip Rural Fire Brigade volunteers with vehicle recovery gear to enable safe self-rescue during emergency response activities. | Mount Perry | $10,000 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - 2025 Tropical Cyclone Alfred | ||||||
| Tamborine Village Lions Club Inc | Keeping People Connected with Power Strengthen community preparedness by purchasing emergency generators to maintain refrigeration and communication during power outages. | Tamborine | $3,998 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - 2025 QLD Floods | ||||||
| Murweh Shire Council | Improving Community Safety Through Satellite-Enabled Floodway Monitoring Across Remote Western Queensland Improve safety in very remote communities by delivering more reliable and comprehensive flood warnings and faster disaster response through a trial of satellite-based flood and traffic monitoring. | Charleville | $25,000 | |||
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Small & Vital | ||||||
| Hardwicke Bay & District Progress Association | Rebuild our Memorial Wall Provide a place of reflection and connection by building a new commemorative wall in a remote township. | Hardwicke Bay | $8,000 | |||
| Mardawi Aboriginal Corporation | Weaving Strong Futures: Empowering Ngarrindjeri Promote wellbeing and connection for First Nations women and young people through a series of culturally led, weaving, yarning, and creative enterprise workshops. | Murray Bridge | $10,000 | |||
| TASMANIA | ||||||
| Small & Vital | ||||||
| Lions Club of Queenstown | Kitchen Upgrade Upgrade a kitchen and bathroom to provide a fit-for-purpose community venue and a welcoming social space for participants and volunteers. | Queenstown | $7,300 | |||
| Queenstown Serenity Food Garden Inc | Promoting Food Resilience and Social Interaction Promote social connection and improve food security by establishing a community garden to increase access to healthy, quality food in a remote region. | Queenstown | $9,793 | |||
| VICTORIA | ||||||
| Small & Vital | ||||||
| Apollo Bay Community Voice Inc | Looking Ahead – Shaping our Future Strengthen community resilience by building capacity and collaboration among volunteer groups through a consultant-led roundtable program. | Apollo Bay | $8,000 | |||
| Baw Baw Shire Council on behalf of Ellinbank Recreation Reserve Committee | Upgrade to Floor at Ellinbank Social Room Increase safety and opportunities for community connection by upgrading floor coverings at a key community hub. | Ellinbank | $10,000 | |||
| Burgoigee Creek Landcare Group Inc on behalf of Bowmans Murmungee Hall Committee | Community Connections Dance Around Enhance access to wellbeing activities and foster intergenerational social connections through monthly dance events hosted in rotation across four communities. | Everton | $7,700 | |||
| Clonbinane Community Action Group | Kids@Play Promote the health and wellbeing of young children and youth living in Mitchell Shire by delivering a school holiday arts program. | Clonbinane | $3,000 | |||
| Committee for Drouin | Drouin Community Garden Build skills, social connection and food literacy by developing a community garden. | Drouin | $10,000 | |||
| Committee of Management of Dunrobin Public Hall and Reserve Inc | Keeping the Critters Out Improve the safety and usability of a community hall by pest-proofing floors and walls. | Dunrobin | $10,000 | |||
| Grampians Produce Inc | Harvesting Grampians: Online Guide to Local Food Enhance capacity of a food program by establishing an online platform to promote local produce and build knowledge for residents and visitors. | Stawell | $9,922 | |||
| Harcourt Progress Association Inc | Family Play Space: Community House Improve community connection and early childhood development by installing child-safe gates and fencing to securely expand a playgroup space. | Harcourt | $9,961 | |||
| Indigo Shire Council on behalf of Community Assets Committee | Resourcing our Community Hall Improve a facility by purchasing durable, easy-to-move tables that support social and volunteer activities for older people. | Yackandandah | $2,200 | |||
| Kyabram Development Committee Inc | Commemorating 150 years of Kyabram Strengthen community and cultural connections by commemorating local history with public events, a time capsule, and a 150-year celebration. | Kyabram | $10,000 | |||
| Lancefield Neighbourhood House Inc on behalf of Lancefield Men's Shed | Social Facility Improvement Provide year-round comfort and usability for seniors at a Men’s Shed by installing a split-system air conditioner and repairing walls with insulation, encouraging new members. | Lancefield | $8,263 | |||
| Meredith Community Centre Inc | Seed to Salad: Healthy Food, Healthy Community Establish a community garden to strengthen intergenerational connections, improve seniors’ access to fresh local food, and support a kitchen pantry and meals program. | Meredith | $6,098 | |||
| Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation | Seeding Online Indigenous Education Place Enhance organisational capacity for First Nations engagement by upgrading a website co-designed with Djarra youth, ensuring access for community members, students and teachers. | Castlemaine | $9,950 | |||
| Nhill Neighbourhood House Learning Centre Inc | Bridging Languages, Building Futures Strengthen organisational capacity to deliver English language education programs by purchasing an interactive whiteboard system. | Nhill | $10,000 | |||
| Northern District Community Health | Giant Games on the Move: Active Play to Community Strengthen young people’s participation in local events and promote play based learning through the provision of games and activity equipment for use at community gatherings. | Kerang | $10,000 | |||
| Pomonal Men's Shed Inc | Community Projects Across the Board Build skills and engagement of Men’s Shed volunteers by providing materials for community projects that strengthen local bushfire recovery efforts. | Pomonal | $6,717 | |||
| Port Albert Progress Association Inc | Skills & Leadership Development Program Strengthen volunteer connection and skills by engaging a facilitator to deliver governance, finance, marketing and event management workshops in Port Albert. | Port Albert | $10,000 | |||
| The Trustee for The Salvation Army (Victoria) Property Trust | Commercial Air Systems – Colac Aid Room Support community health and wellbeing by improving food relief operations through the installation of an air conditioner in a pantry storage room. | Colac | $7,538 | |||
| Upper Murray Family Care Ltd | UMFC Alchemy Choir Increase support for people living with dementia and improve quality of life by providing equipment and administrative resources to deliver a choir program. | Wodonga | $10,000 | |||
| Waminda Inc | Community House Upgrades Upgrade furnishings and technology in a community house to support local learning and increase access to programs, activities and workshops. | Benalla | $10,000 | |||
| Woor-Dungin Inc on behalf of Benalla Aboriginal History Group | Reckoning: Truth-Telling Promote community understanding and engagement through a series of forums, truth-telling workshops and a film production that shares First Nations perspective on local history of Aboriginal resistance. | Benalla | $10,000 | |||
| Yarrawonga Neighbourhood House Inc | Community Learning – Allied Health Training Enhance organisational capacity to deliver aged care education programs and support local career development by providing specialised training beds and mobility equipment. | Yarrawonga | $10,000 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - General Disaster Preparedness & Recovery | ||||||
| Gellibrand Community House Inc | Gellibrand Hall Emergency Power Enhance bushfire preparedness and improve communication infrastructure by installing a battery solar system at a central community hub. | Gellibrand | $12,409 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - 2019/2020 Bushfire Recovery | ||||||
| Genoa District Community Group Inc | Solar Panels to Reduce Power Expenditure Improve bushfire preparedness at a community-owned fire equipment shed by installing a solar battery system to establish a sustainable energy solution. | Genoa | $10,000 | |||
| WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Small & Vital | ||||||
| Borden Primary School Parents and Citizens Association Inc | Borden Primary School Nature Playground Upgrade Support the physical and mental development of children living remotely by replacing unsafe school playground equipment. | Borden | $10,000 | |||
| Corrigin Historical Society Inc | Dusty Boots Easter Heritage Festival Corrigin 2026 Foster community connection and celebration by purchasing recording equipment to capture oral histories and children's activities at a Heritage Festival. | Corrigin | $5,325 | |||
| Larger Leverage | ||||||
| Circulanation Ltd | Remote OpShop Digital Pathways – Expanding First Nations Women’s Digital Leadership Support locally-driven Aboriginal economic development by funding travel and refurbished computers for op-shop staff in remote First Nations communities to enable them to participate in digital‑literacy training and mentoring. | Broome | $50,000 | |||
| Pandanus Park Aboriginal Corporation | Pandanus Park Community Tele-Centre Digital Inclusion Project Establish a very remote, culturally-safe digital hub by providing IT equipment, solar, building repairs, and capacity building to build the community’s digital access and literacy. | Willare | $50,000 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - General Disaster Preparedness & Recovery | ||||||
| Wuggubun Aboriginal Corporation | Wuggubun Emergency Recovery and Resilience Roadmap Support a very remote First Nations community to prepare for future disasters via a two year initiative providing emergency response equipment, tools and disaster preparedness training, and a community preparedness plan and activities. | Kununurra | $50,000 | |||
| Prepare & Recover - 2022 Ex Tropical Cyclone Ellie Flooding | ||||||
| Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Stronger Together: Planning a Culturally Safe Hub for Disaster Response and Community Recovery in Derby Design a culturally safe disaster response hub for a community centre to ensure emergency preparedness and safe storage of cultural assets. | Derby | $24,998 | |||