Community grant funding awarded to support people hit by drought
Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN) has awarded funding to more than 20 community groups and organisations across the region to help those who have been hit by drought.
The first round of the Community Wellbeing and Drought Support grants will go towards community resilience programs, community events, mental health first aid for farmers and community dinners.
WNSW PHN CEO Andrew Harvey said he had been impressed by the range of applications.
"We received many high-quality applications for grant funding and are proud to be able to support a range of services and programs that will help improve resilience, support and improve mental health and connect communities across western NSW," Mr Harvey said.
"Running a community grants program has allowed us to work with people who are living with the impact of the drought every day and allocate money where it will be most beneficial."
The grants are funded by the Australian Government's Empowering our Communities initiative which facilitates community-led projects to support mental health, social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention initiatives for people living in drought-affected areas.
"Some of the great initiatives we will be funding include a Resilience and Renewal conference for women and youth in agriculture held in Condobolin, a Mission Australia program aimed at reducing loneliness, events to bring together communities in Wilcannia, Condobolin, Marthaguy and Brewarrina and more resources for NALAG to help people experiencing depression, anxiety or stress through their Blue Healers program," Mr Harvey said.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the WNSW PHN grant funding will be beneficial for communities in his electorate.
"I am pleased that grants have been awarded to foster community resilience and mental health initiatives in Western New South Wales," Mr Coulton said.
“Made possible by the Federal Government’s Empowering our Communities initiative, these grants will fund extra support for front-line services, helping those who need it most. I look forward to seeing these programs evolve.”