Our Well-Being Grants program officially launched in January 2019 and funded community-led initiatives that supported the mental health, well-being and resilience of farming communities affected by drought. These grants were funded through the Federal Government's 'Empowering Our Communities' (EOC) initiative.

Through the grants process we received over 80 Grant Applications, resulting in more than $1 million dollars in funding across 37 successful grants. These projects have ranged from community gardens, to pop up social events, theatre productions, musters and mental health workshops to name a few. We have been blown away by how dedicated and passionate people are about the mental health of their local communities, and are in awe of the work they do.

While funding for this program officially ended on 30 June, our drought affected communities are still very much in need and we will continue to support them through our funded projects, many of which have been extended to June 2021 as a result of the pandemic.

Due to the ground work we laid throughout this project and the relationships we built, we are in a great position to continue to support these communities as they navigate their way through recovery from the ‘Black Summer’ fires, recent floods and now COVID-19. In addition to supporting the community through our EOC projects and other services, we are also looking forward to expanding our community assistance through bushfire recovery initiatives which will include a grants component. We look forward to telling you more about these in the coming months. 

I would like to once again acknowledge our community’s resilience. Not only have we been amazed by people’s dedication to their community, but we have also been astounded by their ability to adapt and move forward. We have experienced our share of challenges as a region, but I have no doubt that whatever the future holds - we will continue to band together to support and service those who need us. 

To keep up-to-date with the status of our grants, you can visit our grants page.

If recent events have caused any concern for you or someone you know, visit www.mentalhealthhelp.com.au