The Supporting the Mental Health of Australians Affected by Bushfires measure is a Commonwealth-funded initiative aimed at ensuring people and communities have access to the coordinated and tailored support needed to help them recover from the effects of the 2019-20 bushfires.
Under this measure, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) is offering the Supporting Communities in Recovery community grants program. We invite local organisations in bushfire affected communities to apply for grant funding for grassroots community activities that aim to strengthen social connectedness, emotional wellbeing and resilience, assisting communities to recover and heal.

Who can apply?

Individuals, organisations and community groups based within bushfire-affected areas* in the Murrumbidgee region are eligible to apply. Appropriate community groups may represent particular geographic areas, cultural groups, ages, networks and/or those with frontline staff and volunteers impacted by bushfires, e.g. church-affiliated groups, Aboriginal or migrant groups, playgroups and children’s groups, groups for older people, men’s groups, sporting groups, local community associations, school-affiliated groups, firefighting brigades, charities, animal welfare and wildlife organisations. Funded organisations will need an ABN in the organisation’s name. Individuals who do not have an ABN will need to partner with an organisation who is willing to provide their ABN and take legal and financial responsibility for the activity.

*Bushfire affected communities located in the following declared natural disaster local government Snowy Valleys LGA, Greater Hume Shire LGA, Cootamundra- Gundagai Regional LGA

Applications for Round 4 will open Monday 1 November 2021, closing midday Monday 21 March 2022 (or until funding exhausted). This is an open grants program and can be applied for at any time during the funding period. Please allow up to 15 business days for assessment after application has been submitted. Activities funded during this round will need to be completed by 30 June 2022.

What can the grant funding be used for?

This funding is for grassroots community-focused health and wellbeing initiatives. Activities may target a broad geographical community impacted by bushfires and/or specific population segments, including (but not limited to) children, youth, older people or cultural groups.

The types of activities that may be considered appropriate include:

• bringing the community together to support social skills, connectedness and build networks and friendships through group activities, e.g. community barbecues, regular coffee mornings, community meetings;
• projects that are recovery focused and aim to build on the community’s and members’ resilience, healing and capacity building;
• sharing information about available community resources and services and how to access them, including printing and photocopying information sheets and other items for dissemination;
• assisting community members to identify peers or family members who may need referral to professional and other services to address trauma or distress;
• engaging proactively with bushfire affected people in remote or isolated areas;
• initiatives offering comfort, reassurance and assistance to communities and individuals to address practical needs and return to normal routines; and/or
• practical advice and skills development, e.g. for parents to help provide support for their children, addressing particular needs of isolated older people, or future bushfire planning and preparedness.

Applicants should ensure each question in the application form is completed, including sufficient details about their organisation/group and proposed activities. This will assist with prompt assessment of the application and avoid the need to request further information or clarification.

Applications will be assessed through an evaluation process. Successful applicants will need to enter into a grant agreement with MPHN.

If the application is successful, funding will be paid directly into the bank account provided following the return of signed grant agreement documents. Successful applicants will need to complete a short evaluation report at the completion of their grant that describes the outcomes achieved.

MPHN reserves the right to directly approach communities in relation to grant program support where necessary to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of grant funding across all bushfire affected areas. 

For enquiries about the Supporting Communities in Recovery grants, please contact Maja Asmus: recovery@mphn.org.au or (02) 6923 3155.