Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) – Bushfire Recovery Grants

This program seeks to provide support to local organisations in bushfire affected communities for grassroots community activities that aim to strengthen social connectedness, emotional wellbeing and resilience, assisting communities to recover and heal. It forms part of the Supporting the Mental Health of Australians Affected by Bushfires measure which 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.

The objective of the program is to promote any or all of the following:
- Social cohesion, connectedness and supportive friendship and relationships.
- Community wellbeing, resilience, mental health healing and post-trauma recovery for communities.
- Information about services and where to seek assistance when needed.
- Assistance to identify and support distressed or struggling peers or family members.

Grants of up to $10,000 (GST exclusive) are available.

Eligible applicants include individuals, organisations and community groups based within bushfire-affected areas of:
- Snowy Valleys LGA
- Greater Hume Shire LGA
- Cootamundra- Gundagai Regional LGA

Appropriate community groups may represent particular geographic areas, cultural groups, ages, networks and/or those with frontline staff and volunteers impacted by bushfires, such as:
- 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
- Wildlife organisations

Funded organisations will need an ABN in the organisation’s name.

Eligible 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.
- 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).

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Initiatives that duplicate existing activities and services.
- Activities that are more appropriately funded under another grant program or funding source.
- Communities that were not impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires.
- Communities outside the Murrumbidgee PHN region.
- A proposal submitted by an applicant who resides outside of communities impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires.
- Activities that are difficult to link to bushfire recovery.
- Initiatives that would require ongoing funding.
- Alcohol purchases for community or other events.
- Projects that subsidise commercial activities (e.g. ongoing business operational costs).
- Capital works or construction, including refurbishment, repair or maintenance of existing community infrastructure.
- Purchasing of assets (i.e. buildings or vehicles).