Healthy North Coast is inviting communities affected by the 2019-20 bushfires to apply for grants of up to $10,000.
The grants are to fund grassroots community-focused health and wellbeing initiatives. They are being made available through Healthy North Coast’s PHN program. The funding is under the Commonwealth’s ‘Supporting Communities in Recovery’ initiative.
The Government has made the funding available to help the recovery of towns and villages impacted by last summer’s bushfires. It is also intended to help with the emotional healing of community members.
The grants, which are available until 31 March 2021, are open to local organisations in bushfire-affected communities for activities that promote:
- Social cohesion, connectedness and supportive friendship and relationships.
- Community wellbeing, resilience, mental health healing and post-trauma recovery.
- Information about services and where to seek assistance, and/or assistance to identify and support those in distress.
Organisations and community groups based in or operating within the following local government natural disaster-declared areas are eligible to apply to Healthy North Coast for funding:
- Port Macquarie – Hastings
- Kempsey
- Nambucca
- Bellingen
- Coffs Harbour
- Clarence Valley
- Richmond Valley
- Kyogle
- Lismore
- Ballina
- Byron
- Tenterfield (Tabulam, Upper Tooloom, Urbenville)
Community organisations that may be eligible for the grants include Aboriginal or cultural groups, church-affiliated groups, playgroups and children’s groups, groups for older people, women’s groups, men’s groups, youth groups, sporting groups, local community associations, school-affiliated groups, firefighting brigades, charities, animal welfare and wildlife organisations.
Grant applicants must include an ABN in the organisation’s name. All applicants will be assessed for eligibility and to ensure their proposed activity meets the program’s objectives. There are two levels of funding available:
- Level 1: up to $1,500 (GST excl) – available for new community gatherings or activities that enable communities to continue the journey of healing and recovery.
- Level 2: $1,501 to $10,000 (GST excl) – for wider-ranging or more comprehensive projects.
To apply for a ‘Supporting Communities in Recovery’ grant:
- Complete the online application form here, or
- Download and complete the paper-based form and email to [email protected]
More information on the ‘Supporting Communities in Recovery’ grants, including detailed eligibility and assessment criteria, is available here or by emailing: [email protected]
*The Supporting Communities in Recovery program is an Australian Government initiative funded through Mental Health Support for Australians Affected by the 2019-20 Bushfires.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we live and work, the Bundjalung, Arakwal, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Githabul, Dunghutti and Birpai Nations, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future.
