Applications Now Open for the Final Round of the Community Wellbeing and Resilience Grants

The grants are funded through the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care as part of the response to the 2022 floods. Funds can be used to deliver activities that encourage social cohesion, connectedness, community wellbeing, resilience and mental health healing of affected communities.

To date, the program has awarded 44 grants worth over $250,000. Wentworth Healthcare CEO, Lizz Reay, said a huge variety of funded Grants are making a difference to these communities. “The Community

Wellbeing and Resilience Grants build on existing and emerging connections and allow communities the opportunity to choose their own way to respond to the losses, anxiety and distress they have experienced.”

“Funded activities thus far have been diverse. Some examples include a series of free concerts with afternoon tea and music appreciation talks supported by the Macdonald Valley Association, a series of Scroll Saw Workshops including a demonstration and exhibition run by Hawkesbury Woodcraft, and meditation sessions hosted by the Women’s Cottage in Richmond. Activities have been delivered in areas that were directly impacted by the multiple floods that occurred last year,” said Ms Reay.

“We see huge benefits from these programs in affected communities. New friendships are formed, and residents get the opportunity to connect with local services that they may not have known about or felt comfortable reaching out to,” she said.

“Residents who participate in these programs report a greater sense of belonging and strengthening of ties with the broader community. This helps ensure that when the next disaster hits, they don’t feel alone and have a whole community network to lean on,” she added.

Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, said recovery from disaster takes time and different things are useful at different stages.

“We know how important community connections are to people’s wellbeing and I’d encourage groups who know their community well to consider applying for this grant round to the Hawkesbury’s next stage of recovery and resilience,” said Ms Templeman.

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