Community groups and not-for-profits are invited to apply for grants from a funding pool of $200,000 for initiatives that improve mental health education, build community connections to foster wellbeing and assist local non-clinical services.
These grants are for local organisations to help their community build up the knowledge, skills and networks to support their mental health and wellbeing, and to make sure locals know they don’t need to go it alone.
FRRR head of granting Jill Karena said when you lived in the country or on a remote property, it could be especially tough to put up your hand and ask for help when you were not in the best place mentally.
“There are so many great things about living life on the land, but limited access to information, resources and services, as well as the geographical isolation, can make it particularly difficult to look after your mental health,” Ms Karena said.
“This is one of the reasons why community groups are so important to the vitality of remote, rural and regional Australia. Because they are on the ground in these communities and out talking to farmers, running wellbeing programs and filling the gaps in mental health services.
“Mental health is a whole-of-community concern. This funding enables NFPs to provide locals with resources and opportunities to connect, develop skills, increase understanding and reduce stigma. They can also use the grants to create safe spaces where people can have honest conversations and be heard.”
Thanks to FRRR’s donor partners, there are two streams of funding available:
Community wellbeing: for projects that focus on strengthening the general mental health and wellbeing of people in remote, rural and regional communities.
Farmers and farming communities: for projects specifically supporting the mental health and wellbeing of farmers and the communities they live in.
The types of projects IAGP grants have previously funded include volunteer training in mental health first aid, community events that encourage locals to connect and feel less isolated, inviting a guest speaker to share their mental health journey and personal wellbeing strategies with the community, and setting up an accessible safe space where locals can talk about their own mental health concerns with trained peer volunteers.
“Together with our funding partners, we look forward to being inspired by the project ideas put forward by NFPs and community groups who are out on the ground, proactively supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their local community,” Ms Karena said.
FRRR will host a free, online grantseeker workshop on Thursday, January 22, for NFPs and community groups wanting to learn more about the program. To register, visit FRRR’s website.
Applications are currently open and close on February 19 at 5pm.
Funding will be announced late June.
To learn more and apply, visit: frrr.org.au/funding/in-a-good-place.
