Suncorp Group and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) have jointly awarded $316,822 to support disaster recovery and future risk mitigation in communities impacted by natural disasters since 2019.
The grants, issued through the Rebuilding Futures program, aim to enhance long-term resilience at the community level.
The initiative is designed to help towns and regions affected by events such as floods, bushfires, and storms by funding locally led projects that address disaster readiness and recovery.
This marks the program’s first funding round to include two distinct streams – one focused on community initiatives and another dedicated to infrastructure upgrades paired with expert guidance.
Under the first stream, 14 projects across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia have received over $227,000 to support community-driven disaster preparedness initiatives.
In Main Arm, NSW, residents will host a one-day event featuring training on UHF radio use, sandbagging techniques, chainsaw safety, and information sessions on home modifications for flood resilience and renewable energy.
In Brukunga, SA, a fire-prone town, funding will be used to develop fire resilience strategies and improve public spaces to strengthen recovery and preparedness efforts.
Victoria’s Goulburn Valley region will deliver workshops for local sports clubs focused on emergency planning, local hazard awareness, and preparedness education.
A project in Pingelly, WA, will commission a mural celebrating emergency responders, designed to engage the local community and encourage volunteer participation.
Lisa Harrison, Suncorp’s consumer insurance CEO, said community groups play a critical role in shaping local recovery efforts.
“Recovery takes many forms and we are proud to be able to provide these grants to the community groups that know what is most needed on the ground. It’s not always easy to access support, so we are pleased to be able to partner with FRRR to ensure that funding reaches the groups and services that really need it,” she said.
The second funding stream, totalling nearly $150,000, includes financial support and specialist advice for resilience-focused infrastructure improvements.
Three community organisations will receive both funding and technical guidance to enhance the durability of key facilities.
Ellendale Community Hall in Tasmania has been awarded $49,000 to upgrade its infrastructure so it can function as an emergency support centre. Improvements will include better internet connectivity, weatherproofing, upgraded facilities, and emergency bedding and storage.
Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s lead for disaster resilience and recovery, said the funded projects demonstrate how community-based planning can strengthen preparedness.
“The thing that really jumps out for me is how these projects reflect each community’s unique context and their future thinking on responding to challenges with support that connects and equips their communities with skills, knowledge, and resources,” she said.
The Rebuilding Futures program follows the introduction of Haven, Suncorp’s new digital platform that allows homeowners to assess weather-related risks tied to their properties.
By inputting an address, users receive a personalised video and downloadable report summarising exposure to events such as cyclones, fires, floods, and severe storms.
The tool is publicly available and extends Suncorp’s earlier MyHome initiative by translating complex risk data into practical guidance for property resilience. Haven supports the insurer’s broader focus on encouraging disaster readiness across the housing sector.
