Community organisations in the Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island, and the Yorke Peninsula are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $20,000 to help support their continued recovery from the devastating bushfires across the 2019-20 summer season.
The second round of the Strengthening Community Wellbeing after Bushfires grants is part of the Marshall Liberal Government's $2.6 million Bushfire Mental Health Project, which is delivering targeted assistance over four years to people living in bushfire affected communities.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the Marshall Liberal Government is continuing to support local communities and community-led mental health projects in regions affected by the 2019-20 bushfires.
"While people feel stress and grief after a major disaster, sometimes the impact is not obvious straight away and the recovery can be an extended process," Minister Wade said.
"These grants aim to fund locally driven projects that help communities connect with each other and build resilience through their recovery to meet any longer-term impacts head on."
Wellbeing SA Chief Executive, Lyn Dean, said projects must be community-led, build connectedness, and increase the ability of people in the community to recognise and support each other's mental health and wellbeing.
"The successful projects in the first round of grants were diverse in nature, ranging from a program that provided additional support for people caring for animals impacted by the fires, to first aid sessions that provided mental health information tailored for children.
"The previous projects proved that there is no single way to build resilience and improve mental health and wellbeing, and we are encouraging all local community groups, volunteer organisations, charities, schools and councils to apply.
"Wellbeing SA is also co-investing with Country SA PHN to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people on Kangaroo Island. Young people will be able to access support to engage in wellbeing and social connection activities through Headspace."
The second round of the bushfire grants are open from today and local communities impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires are eligible to apply.
For more information, visit openyourworld.sa.gov.au/bushfiregrants or contact Wellbeing SA on 1300 292 220.
