The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Rebuilding Regional Communities (RRC) stream gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities.

Recognising the impacts of COVID-19 on communities, the Australian Government has partnered with FRRR to distribute $5 million from 2022 to 2024 to support community-led initiatives.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Enhance the process of recovery of remote, rural and regional communities from the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Reduce social isolation and foster stronger, more resilient remote, rural and regional communities; and/or
• Sustain local remote, rural and regional organisations and their work.

Eligible projects will have a focus on recovering from or adapting to the impacts of COVID-19 in remote, rural and regional communities and may include:

• Supporting, training or attracting volunteers;
• Events and activities to reconnect the community;
• Enhancing community spaces to increase community use;
• Developing services and support to assist vulnerable people, and people experiencing disadvantage;
• Purchase of equipment or resources to strengthen organisations that support communities.

Projects funded must align with one or more of the following charitable outcomes:

• Bringing people and community organisations together to foster stronger, more resilient communities;
• Fostering and celebrating a sense of identity, diversity and cultural connection within the community;
  Supporting diverse groups within remote, rural and regional communities including, but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse, those living with disability, and LGBTQIA+;
• Improving community health and social wellbeing;
• Enabling people to develop skills, knowledge and confidence to lead and contribute to the prosperity and renewal of their community;
• Building a sustainable volunteer base and/or supporting the wellbeing of volunteers;
• Celebrating and resourcing volunteer-led efforts;
• Increasing access and inclusion for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including remote communities;
• Enhancing places where communities gather;
• Promoting connection to place and enabling initiatives that champion a community’s social, cultural or economic aspirations;
• Reducing the divide on access to digital technology and connectivity for remote, rural and regional communities;
• Enabling locally-led responses within rural, regional and remote communities endeavouring to reduce the impacts of the changing climate within their community.