Applications are now open for round two of the Commonwealth Government’s ‘Supporting Communities in Bushfire Recovery’ scheme.
Grants of up to $10,000 are available to support local communities in funding grassroots, community-focused health and wellbeing initiatives. The grants are provided through Healthy North Coast’s PHN program, an Australian Government initiative. Healthy North Coast Chief Executive Julie Sturgess said round one of the bushfire recovery program was proving a great success. A number of events funded under round one have either already been held, are under way, or are scheduled to take place later this year.
“The aim is to help build social connection, mental wellbeing and resilience in our communities,” Ms Sturgess said.
“This supports healing and recovery from the impact of the 2019-20 bushfires. We have been inspired by the diverse range of initiatives creating local solutions for local needs.”
Successful applicants for round one funding have included:
- Container of Dreams – a workshop series on tiny house building for people in the Kyogle, Clarence, Tenterfield, Tabulam, Drake, Pretty Gully and Ewingar areas, designed to empower participants and instil the confidence they may need to rebuild their own lives.
- Bowra’s Big Bash – a family fun day at Bowraville featuring music, rides, market stalls and more.
- ReVibe Music Workshop Tour for Bushfire Affected Communities – Mad Proppa Deadly will take a mobile music studio on the road to deliver music workshops for Aboriginal people from Wauchope to promote recovery and resilience, rebuilding community vibe and spirit.
- OzGreen – an independent not-for-profit organisation that operates in Australia and globally and works in partnership with local organisations and communities. They have been funded under their headline initiative, Youth Leading the World (YLTW), to help young people living in the Bellingen Shire and on the Dorrigo Plateau to recover from the effects of the bushfires. YLTW equips young people with solution-focused tools to tackle sustainability challenges, generate a vision and innovate action plans.
Not-for-profit organisations, associations and community groups in bushfire-impacted locations in Northern NSW and the Mid North Coast are invited to apply for round two funding. Funding is available for:
- Social connection activities to strengthen individual and community connections and build supportive relationships.
- Mental wellbeing activities to promote mental wellbeing, healing and recovery after trauma.
- Resilience activities to help the community build its ability to recover from and prepare for future natural disasters.
To apply, visit: hnc.org.au/bushfire-support-grants
ABOUT HEALTHY NORTH COAST
Healthy North Coast delivers the North Coast Primary Health Network Program on behalf of the Australian Government. We work alongside community members and health professionals to improve access to well-coordinated quality health care. Our aim is to work together to transform the health care system and reduce health inequities.
Our work begins by gaining an understanding of health care needs of the North Coast. This needs assessment involves our community, clinicians and service providers and is available for all to use. We use this information to work with health professionals and community members to find gaps and facilitate local solutions.
We do this by commissioning services – this is a new way of all of us working together to design services that best meet our community’s needs.
Our priorities are
- Better mental health and emotional well-being
- Closing the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
- Improving our population’s health and well-being
- Building a highly skilled and capable health workforce
- Improving the integration of health services through electronic and digital health platforms
- Improving the health and well-being of older people
- Strengthening community alcohol and other drugs treatment services
For more information, go to: hnc.org.au