Guidelines Now Available For Preparing Australian Communities Program – Local

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education

A key component of the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $600 million Preparing Australia Program has been launched, with the guidelines for the first stream of the program now available.

The program is part of a multi-million-dollar suite of recovery and resilience initiatives the Australian Government has introduced to help the nation prepare for natural disasters and build stronger communities.

In May 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the $600 million Preparing Australia Program in response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, to bring a greater focus to disaster risk reduction.

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie is urging eligible communities to now familiarise themselves with the $150 million Preparing Australian Communities Program – Local ahead of the opening of applications on December 10.

“The $150 million Preparing Australian Communities – Local will support projects that help communities to be better prepared for future disasters and lessen their impacts,” Minister McKenzie said.

“Grants from $20,000 to $10 million will be available for eligible projects that help to assess and plan for disaster risk, increase capacity and raise awareness of disaster risk, or deliver resilient infrastructure.”

“The Preparing Australian Communities Program – Local has been developed in consultation with all levels of government, emergency service agencies, and industry bodies across Australia. The Australian Climate Service has provided disaster risk advice to inform the design of the program.”

“The program will target locally identified projects that will improve the resilience of communities in the social, economic, natural or built environment.”

“We have released the guidelines now to give applicants time to discuss their projects with their communities and prepare their applications.”

“The grant guidelines contain important information about the program’s eligibility and assessment criteria. There are three eligible activity categories – planning, awareness and capacity, and infrastructure.”

“Project and activities could include community scale flood and bushfire risk assessments, communications initiatives that build awareness, and infrastructure to mitigate disaster risk like levees, bridges or community refuges.”

“I encourage communities to collaborate, think about their disaster risk and check the guidelines to start preparing an application now.”

“We know that we achieve better outcomes when local groups and local people work together.”

Guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions, a sample application form, and support resources are available at www.business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/preparing-australian-communities-local-stream

Applications will open on 10 December 2021, with successful projects to commence by mid-2022.

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