Priority Funding Needs

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Your support puts communities in control.

Our programs are designed to provide support for what each community tells us they need. After all, these community groups are on the ground, and they are best-placed to know what will really make a difference.

They deserve better support and have a huge range of projects that need funding. Sometimes it can be very basic things like a split system air conditioner for the public hall, so community activities like play groups or training can continue on even the hottest or coldest days. Other times, it can be to assist communities recovering from natural disasters, such as purchasing new equipment to support volunteer emergency responders or supporting children and families impacted by bushfires to process complex emotions resulting from trauma.

The sections below outline the areas of greatest need right now, including supporting community recovery from the recent Tropical Cyclone Alfred Severe Weather Events.

Get in touch with FRRR’s Partnerships team to discuss how you can make a meaningful difference to remote, rural and regional communities, or click on the headings below to explore our priority funding needs.

FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Small & Vital grants program gives thousands of small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia access to funding for a broad range of community needs.

Grants are available for grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities. Many of the small community organisations that apply find it difficult to secure grants for their projects or, in fact, are ineligible for some types of funding, so the Small & Vital grants stream plays an important role in sustaining and revitalising communities.

SRC grants can be used to support a range of community-led initiatives such as:

  • Increasing community connection by installing shade and lighting over the BBQ area at the town’s park.
  • Enhancing physical and mental health of farmers by promoting a community fitness group.
  • Supporting the delivery of playgroups, early learning and parenting support programs, or building pre-school nature playgrounds;
  • Initiatives that support lifelong learning, education and/or training for people in remote, rural and regional communities.

In essence, SRC grants allow communities to apply for funding for whatever they need – as long as it is has a broad charitable community benefit.

Importantly, the SRC grants program provides much more than funding. The knowledge, reach and flexibility of FRRR’s SRC team means we understand the unique needs of rural and remote communities. We support communities’ volunteer capacity and seek to assist them to attract additional funding. SRC grants provide a mechanism for future vibrancy and vitality. Significant donations to SRC can be tracked, with outcomes and impact reported back to donors.

In recent years, Australia has witnessed a high number of diverse and overlaid disasters and climate impacts that have adversely affected remote, rural and regional communities. Most recently this has included Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which caused significant damage across northern NSW and south eastern QLD.

FRRR recognises that small and remote areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change and disasters, and experience capacity challenges in responding to and preparing for disasters where often, existing disadvantage is exacerbated. That is why our programs focus on building resilience and strengthening communities, and actively seek to support a more prepared and climate resilient remote, rural and regional Australia through investment in social & built capital and environmental health.

FRRR Prepare & Recover grants are designed to support communities in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate-related impacts, or recover from existing disasters in the medium to long-term timeframe, generally one to ten years after a disaster.

Donations can be made to this stream at any time.

The FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants play a vital role in bringing the voice and ideas of young people to life. In collaboration with the ABC, FRRR provides grants to enable communities to take action on the ideas generated by young Australians who attend the annual Heywire Regional Youth Summit.

Through FRRR’s grants, our mentoring, experience and networks, these projects can make a huge difference in the lives of young people in remote, rural and regional Australia. FRRR ensures the voice and lived-experience of young people is present across the grantmaking process, involving Heywire alumni in the assessment of grant applications and proviing an internship experience with FRRR.

Takeover is a place-based storytelling and capacity building program – a partnership between ABC and FRRR – that empowers young people to share their voices and supports them to play an active role in shaping their community’s future. Young people come together in their local community and through a series of facilitated workshops, are connected with local not-for-profit groups, to bring their ideas for change to life.

n a Good Place is a national grants program that provides support for community-driven initiatives that reduce social isolation, and increase social participation. Local community groups design and undertake initiatives that focus on strengthening mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable community members who are at risk of, or are experiencing, mental health issues.

There are now two streams within the program:

  •  Community wellbeing for projects focussing on mental health and wellbeing within remote, rural and regional communities; and
  •  Farmers and farming communities for projects specifically supporting mental health and wellbeing of farmers and the communities they live in.

Locals are the best people to make the important decisions about what is needed in their community.

FRRR is inspired and driven to support the needs and aspirations of remote, rural and regional communities.

Fundraising Accounts are one of the ways we can provide support to not-for-profit organisations and Community Foundations by offering them a fundraising mechanism to help them fund their projects and initiatives. A donation to FRRR can provide DGR-1 tax deductible receipts for donors who wish to support these organisations.

Tailored Grants offer flexibility outside of FRRR’s granting programs. They’re one-off grants made in partnership with donors who wish to target specific activities, causes or locations outside FRRR’s regular programs or grant rounds.

Click through the options below to learn more or contact Jeanice Henderson on j.henderson@frrr.org.au.

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“FRRR is a welcome change from standard funding practices. It is clear that they truly care about what each local community needs and are guided by local place-based organisations to inform funding decisions. Thank you.”

SRC Grant Recipient

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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.