Mental health boost for Warren-Blackwood communities

Mental health and wellbeing initiatives across the Warren-Blackwood region have received major support, with organisations sharing in almost $400,000 in national funding.

The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal has awarded $392,884 to 25 not-for-profit and community-led projects across Australia in round 11 of its In a Good Place program.

Among the recipients was the Bridgetown Community Resource Centre, which received $20,000 to deliver accredited mental health first aid training to Community Resource Centre staff across the region.

The training aims to strengthen crisis response capability and ensure front line community workers are better equipped to support people experiencing mental health challenges.

The Bridgetown-Greenbushes Suicide Prevention Network received $20,000 for its Blackwood Rural Wellbeing Expansion Project.

The funding will support the employment of a part-time coordinator to strengthen the sustainability of community-led mental health initiatives across the Blackwood region, with a particular focus on rural men and farming populations.

In Manjimup, the Southern Forests Food Council received $20,000 for its Southern Forests Farmer Resilience and Wellbeing Program, which will establish shared wellbeing messages and a farmer wellbeing advocate program to strengthen support networks across the district’s farming community.

FRRR head of grants Jill Karena said local groups were best positioned to respond to challenges facing their regions.

“Local not-for-profit groups are deeply connected to their communities, engaging directly with local people, so they are best placed to understand the pressures communities face and deliver the support that’s needed,” she said.

“People living and working in remote and rural areas deserve the same timely access to preventative and early intervention mental health support as those in our cities.

“Unfortunately, distance and a lack of services mean many communities are left without timely non-clinical support or even the referral pathways they need.

“That’s why we’re backing local organisations that are delivering on-the-ground support, filling service gaps and making it easier for people to find local support, when and where they need it.”

The FRRR has also opened another round of funding through the In a Good Place program, with local not-for-profit organisations and community groups invited to apply for grants of up to $20,000.

A total of $300,000 is available through two streams: community wellbeing and farmers and farming communities.

Applications are now open and close on August 18 at 5pm AEST, with funding to be announced in early December.