Bushfire Recovery Fund – Victoria

Landscape following the Mallacoota bushfires

The Bushfire Recovery Fund grant program aims to build the capacity of local organisations playing a central, coordinating or networking role in the recovery of Victorian communities affected by the 2019/20 bushfires. The program will fund organisational initiatives for up to three years to enhance, improve, or sustain their operations, and ultimately strengthen the process of community-led recovery in the medium and long term.

This grant program is by invitation only. An ongoing process of community stakeholder engagement in the declared fire-affected areas in the state of Victoria is informing the development of relationships and funding opportunities with a variety of community organisations. Please see below for grants awarded to date.

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Program Aim

The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and the Sidney Myer Fund have partnered with FRRR to realise the collaborative benefits of sharing the experience, understanding and networks of both organisations to build the capacity of community organisations that are supporting recovery in Victorian communities impacted by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20. We believe directing funding for this purpose is critical to support backbone community organisations by enabling capacity and capability to operate in challenging economic, emotional and ecological conditions. By supporting the objectives of groups that are engaging with their communities on recovery needs, we aim to contribute to informing practice on engaging and encouraging aspirational development projects that support resilience and longer-term recovery from the bushfires.

This grant program is not open for public application. The intent of this approach is to encourage invitees with a supported process and a high likelihood of success, avoid oversubscription of unqualified applications, and reduce the burden on applicant organisations. However, organisations who consider this opportunity to be aligned to their situation should contact FRRR to discuss their needs

 

How much funding is available? Are there priority areas?

Funding of $950,000 has been made available for this grant program to support around eight or nine capacity building projects for up to three years.

Grants will be made to organisations that are:

  • Locally governed and led and based in the beneficiary community/ies;
  • Fostering local partnerships that help to strengthen grassroots support;
  • Not duplicating existing local services or programs.

A broad range of charitable projects that may build an organisation’s capacity to enhance, improve or increase their operations will be considered under this program, including:

  • increasing resourcing and delivery capacity
  • seeding, piloting or extending youth, education and training initiatives
  • assessing the feasibility of not-for-profit initiatives.

Funds may contribute to:

  • support staffing costs
  • enhancing policies and procedures
  • training for committees volunteer development
  • IT infrastructure, materials, equipment, or facilitation support.

 

For more information on the Bushfire Recovery Fund grant program, please contact Philanthropic Services Manager Danielle Griffin.

 

Inspiration - Past Projects

Partner Update – April 2025

In this issue we share with you highlights from our 25th Anniversary partner event held in Melbourne last month. We’ve recently published a report on our 25 years of delivering local solutions for lasting impact. There’s also a handy list of other reports on our website and links to our shared insights in articles on…
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Backing the Future for rural youth in QLD

FRRR and VFFF are inviting applications from eligible individuals for grants of $50,000 through the Backing the Future program. The funding supports people aged 18+ to develop innovative ideas that enhance the lives of people aged 12-30 in remote, rural and regional Queensland.
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Facilitators farewelled as South Coast IRCF program culminates

As the Investing in Rural Community Futures program culminates in the South Coast communities, one of the biggest impacts has been the growth in the people that have delivered the program.
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Community-led wellbeing project gains momentum

The Bega Valley Data Collective had support through the Investing in Rural Community Futures program to develop a community-led wellbeing framework aimed at empowering the community to thrive.
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Mental health in the Mallee

The small farming community of Pinnaroo in the Mallee region of SA is tackling the health and wellbeing of local residents head on, using a $20,000 IAGP grant.
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Not-for-profit report cards enhance drought resilience

Not For Profit HQ Limited received a $50,000 grant via FRRR through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative - Community Impact Program.
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Amplifying young voices in Bay & Basin

An IRCF grant helped create lasting change for youth when Uniting - Firefly Bay & Basin partnered with Sanctuary Point Community Pride Inc.
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Partner Update – December 2024

This issue highlights the lasting impact of community-led recovery efforts following the Black Summer bushfires, with inspiring stories of resilience in our Black Summer Bushfires: Five Years On video playlist, and a report on the $26M in donations distributed. Plus we share updates on new appointments, advocacy efforts, conference participation, travel highlights, awards, and the…
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Report confirms NFPs far stronger five years on

Significant impacts and lessons of a five-year pilot program aimed at building collective NFP sector capability revealed in FRRR report.
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$19.3M delivered into regions still recovering from Black Summer bushfires

FRRR's report, Black Summer Bushfires Five Years On reaffirms the need for disaster recovery funding for the medium to long-term.
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Amy Crawford

Amy Crawford has an extensive career in complex public policy and its intersection across government and communities.

Amy is the Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), representing 537 councils across the nation. Amy holds over 20 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service. She has a deep understanding of federal government policies and structures, with over 10 years’ service in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and has worked for the federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. Amy has shaped a wide range of policies and programs including regional development, telecommunications, immigration, emergency management, social policy and pandemic preparation.

Amy is a Board Director of Austroads and represents ALGA on the Public Skills Australia Industry Advisory Group, and the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee. She is also a Board Director for the Canberra Youth Theatre which provides voice for Canberra’s youth through intelligent and challenging theatre.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) from the University of Queensland, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumnus of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. Amy was appointed to the FRRR Board in January 2025.

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Kylie Hansen

Kylie brings leadership and management experience from across academic, corporate, not-for-profit, social enterprise and impact investment sectors, having deep dived into a myriad of specialisations and systems. Her six tertiary qualifications are equally as diverse and complimentary, covering commerce, politics, international development, community development, project management and law. Her breadth and depth of experience enables her to draw on a number of disciplines and innovative ways of working and thinking, and she is well recognised as consistently delivering work and services of a high quality.

Kylie uses her strong background in sustainability, governance and impact measurement to support collaborative initiatives across sectors oriented at improving social outcomes, and to support socially conscientious businesses to articulate their social impact. As founder and director at Impact Seed she has been instrumental in developing the impact measurement, evaluation, learning and ESG practice which advises numerous corporates, and is passionate about supporting First Nations empowerment particularly in the context of regional economic development.

Kylie is also a Director of the WA Social Enterprise Council, a member of the B Council (B Lab Australia and New Zealand), and a Governor of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

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Hon. John Anderson AC

The Hon. John Anderson AC is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from NSW, who served in the Australian Parliament from 1989 to 2008.

He was a senior Cabinet minister in the government led by John Howard (1996 to 2005), including six years as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister.

In the latter role, Mr Anderson played in important role in FRRR’s history, working closely with Baillieu Myer AC and others on a proposal to establish a philanthropic organisation to benefit rural Australia. The concept was discussed at the National Regional Summit in 1999 and FRRR was established shortly thereafter.

Mr Anderson currently hosts a regular podcast, where he is in conversation with thought-leaders from around the world, and is a regular media commentator.

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Regina Cruickshank

Partnerships Specialist (WA)

Regina supports FRRR as the WA Partnerships Specialist. With over two decades of experience in partnerships and marketing, she has a deep understanding of Western Australia’s social impact landscape. She brings a strong passion for leveraging purpose-built networks to create positive change.

Regina previously worked with Playgroup WA and founded a Health Promotion Charity dedicated to supporting Social Emotional wellbeing for underserved communities. She’s excited about the opportunity to connect with partners and explore ways to make a meaningful difference in WA.

She lives in Perth with her family and enjoys mindful moments of connection to Country, whether on horseback, on foot or underwater.

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Anna Palmer

People and Culture Manager

Based in Central Victoria, Anna is a senior Human Resources, Organisation Development and Industrial Relations professional, with significant private and public sector experience across every facet of people and culture leadership.

Her most recent roles have been with Don KR in Castlemaine and Mount Alexander Shire Council. She has also held senior HR roles with Victoria Legal Aid and the TAC among many others.

From Mildura originally, Anna has postgraduate qualifications in Change Management and a Masters in Organisation Dynamics.

Anna is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts to balance her creative pursuits and work as an HR professional.

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Philippa Twaddle

Management Accountant

Carolyn joined the FRRR team in March 2017, and is responsible for providing executive support to the CEO, effective coordination of the FRRR office and general administrative support to the management team. A key responsibility is supporting the administration of FRRR’s Donation Account Services.

She has over fifteen years’ experience working in local government in the Tourism and Arts Sector, Civic and Event Management and Community engagement.

Carolyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Librarianship, majoring in psychology, and grew up on farming communities in Cohuna and Echuca and currently lives in Bendigo.