May 10, 2023
Five local community groups will receive more than $387,000 to deliver projects in the South and North Burnett and Darling Downs, thanks to the Federal Government’s Future Drought Fund.
The funding is being distributed by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF), which announced the recipients on Tuesday:
- BIEDO (Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation) – Ag Tech in Action in the Burnett. Strengthen community and social connections through events and provide opportunities for young people to build knowledge in innovative approaches to drought preparedness, connect with current networks and develop youth specific networks in the North and South Burnett, Cherbourg and Bundaberg council areas – $69,007
- Burnett Catchment Care Association – Sharing models of Successful Groups. Deliver community-led drought preparedness through networking events that build social connections, share innovative approaches to drought resilience and drive local action through peer-to-peer support and a communities of practice approach in the Burnett Region with possibility of working with Toowoomba & Western Downs Groups – $62,401
- Momentum Health Building Healthier Communities – Building Healthier Communities. Enhance capability, co-ordination and collaboration between community networks and organisations that can be drawn upon in times of drought by training local leaders, creating resources and delivering workshops focussed on wellbeing in the South Burnett, Western Downs & Goondiwindi – $92,499
- Queensland Murray Darling Catchment Ltd – Water and Climate Drought Education. Delivering water and climate drought education for schools in Darling Downs and Burnett – $73,412
- Red Earth Community Foundation – Strengthen drought preparedness and drive local action in the Darling Downs and South Burnett regions through the co-ordination of Community Impact Program activities and evaluation administration – $38,746
- Red Earth Community Foundation – Strengthen community capacity and leadership through the design and delivery of the Cherbourg Community Leadership Program with Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council to build knowledge and skills to address local challenges caused by drought – $51,388
An FRRR spokesperson said that over the past three months, FRRR and ARLF had worked closely with the Red Earth Community Foundation to identify projects such as events, training and workshops which local groups in the region could implement:
- To create opportunities for communities to identify and adopt innovative and transformative ways to build drought resilience,
- Develop a change in awareness of and attitudes to drought preparedness at the community level, and
- Learn and share innovative ways to build drought resilience.
The spokesperson said Red Earth would collaborate over the next few months with the other four grantee organisations to deliver the drought-preparedness projects.
“The overall aim of this program is to facilitate increased social connection, strengthen network opportunities, build leadership skills, and link capacity building opportunities to ensure widespread local benefit so that communities are better prepared for the future,” FRRR’s Nina O’Brien said.
“The program was deliberately designed to be flexible, allowing a bespoke approach in each region that reflects the unique conditions in each area.
“The projects that we’re funding have broad community support. As part of their development, we paid for a facilitator to support the local lead organisation to help bring key stakeholders into the conversation and to make sure that the projects align with local priorities and connect with investments already happening at the community level.
“We look forward to continuing to walk alongside these local groups as they implement their projects over the next two years.”
[UPDATED with correction]
