Albanese Labor Government putting communities first with launch of drought program

The Albanese Labor Government is helping build social resilience to drought across regional and rural Australia with funding opening for the Future Drought Fund’s $36 million Communities Program.

The program will be delivered through the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) with applications opening this week.

The program will offer a mix of grants and capacity building activities across the country, including leadership development, and will provide communities with support to boost their drought resilience and social cohesion.

The first two grant elements - Small Network Grants and the Regional Drought Resilience Plan Social Outcome Grants - opened this week.

This program is part of the Albanese Labor Government’s wider rural support and drought resilience funding which has helped Australian farmers to prepare, adapt and respond to a range of hardships and issues including drought.

For more information and to apply, visit Future Drought Fund's Communities Program - Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) or Future Drought Fund Communities Program.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:

“We know our rural and regional communities impacted by drought are doing it tough, which is why we continue to work with them to boost their resilience.

“We heard loud and clear from the farming industry at our recent National Drought Forum about the importance of building long-term resilience to drought – both on farms and throughout communities, which is exactly what this program will support.

“These grants under the FDF Communities Program will provide regional and rural communities with the flexibility to access support that can be tailored to their individual needs.”