Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund

FRRR has a long history of supporting disaster preparedness and assisting affected communities to recover. We have facilitated support to communities preparing for disaster events and recovering from the 2021 NSW floods, 2019/20 bushfires, 2019 North Queensland floods, Cyclones Debbie (2017), Oswald (2013), Yasi (2011), and Larry (2006) and subsequent flooding, the 2013 Blue Mountains bushfires, the Victoria Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, and the ongoing drought in parts of every state in Australia. 

More frequent and intense climate disasters, including prolonged droughts and intense dry periods, mean we need to be more proactive in funding communities to assist with their preparedness activities, and to have funds available to support them through the medium to long-term aftermath of a disaster.

That’s why we created a perpetual Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund (DRRF) within FRRR’s DGR1 endorsed Public Fund, the returns from which will be granted out to communities to support disaster preparedness and disaster recovery.

Natural disasters disproportionately affect rural, regional and remote areas, where the capacity to invest in preparedness or fund recovery is limited.

FRRR believes that there needs to be greater focus on preparing for disasters at an individual and community level, and investment in locally-led approaches that build preparedness and resilience in concert with regional strategies and plans.

With disasters increasing in frequency – including more localised, yet nonetheless devastating events – FRRR wants to be able to provide support for recovery – when and where it’s needed, which is often long after the headlines have moved on to something else.

The DRRF fund ensures that donated funds reach grassroots community organisations across remote, rural and regional Australia, who collectively make up the social fabric of these communities, and who often miss out on receiving disaster donations.

How does the fund work?

Donations are pooled and invested to ensure that remote, rural and regional communities affected by natural disasters can access flexible, fit-for-purpose funding to support local preparedness and recovery efforts, when it’s needed.

All donations and gifts are pooled together and donors will be kept informed of the Fund’s value and the impact of grants made possible with their donation.

FRRR’s Board and its Finance & Audit subcommittee will safely steward funds over the long-term. The funds will be invested conservatively, alongside FRRR’s existing corpus funds, with the returns used to support communities. This means donations to the Fund will be leveraged time and time again, ensuring they keep having an impact, rather than being spent once.

Six reasons to support FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund

  1. FRRR can reach community groups in rural, regional and remote Australia that often don’t have the capacity to fundraise locally, and due to their tax status, can’t access philanthropic support.
  2. We rigorously assess the organisations and projects that receive grants.
  3. All grant recipients have to report back on how they used the money, and what they achieved.
  4. FRRR’s administration costs are low.
  5. Every gift made will grow over time and continue to benefit communities in perpetuity – your donation will be a gift that keeps on giving.
  6. FRRR is trusted, known, respected, enduring, and well governed. You can be assured that your donations will be managed with care and directed to local community groups and not-for-profit organisations, for local projects, supporting local people.
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Further information

Contact the FRRR Partnerships team on 1800 170 020 or via email to make a lasting difference by joining with other donors who are passionate about rural communities and provide a helping hand in times of need.

Our Generous Partners

The Disaster Recovery and Resilience Fund is collaboratively and generously supported by the following donors:

  • 1666 Foundation
  •  .au Domain Administration
  •  adidas
  •  ALS Limited
  •  Apex Club of Ulverstone
  •  Arup
  •  Ascodama Pty Ltd as Trustee for The Handsome Tours
  •  Aussie Farmers Foundation
  •  Australian Philanthropic Services
  •  Bijal Joshi
  •  Bowness Family Foundation
  •  Capricorn Foundation
  •  Channel Foundation
  •  Darville Foundation
  •  Dawkins Family Gift
  •  Doc Ross Family Foundation
  • Dolce & Gabbana
  • Dr George Jacobs
  • Elders Limited
  • First Sentier Investors
  • Frasers Property Foundation
  • Geraldine & Mike Roche
  • Go-To Skincare
  • Haymes Paint
  • Herbert Smith Freehills
  • Levins Family Foundation
  • Linda Grace
  • Luerssen Australia
  • Mark Nelson
  • Metricon Homes
  • Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
  • One Tomorrow Charitable Fund, a sub-fund of Australian Communities Foundation
  • Orica Payroll
  • Peter Baudish
  • Qudos Bank
  • Rex Airlines (Regional Express)
  • Rio Tinto
  • Ross Video
  • Sanil Rege
  • Shaw and Partners Foundation
  • Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation
  • The Caledonian Foundation
  • The Ross Trust
  • The Unsworth Foundation
  • The Velo Project
  • Tonkin + Taylor Group
  • Wilson Asset Management
  • FRRR and Private Donors
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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.