The latest round of the Disaster Ready Fund is now open to applications from organisations in the ACT to support projects that will boost disaster resilience and preparedness.
Round 3 of the Federal grants, worth $200 million a year, opened in mid-January.
The fund aims to support Australians to manage the physical, social and economic impacts of disasters caused by climate change and other natural hazards.
A wide range of innovative ACT projects have received funding during the fund’s first two rounds, including multilingual emergency workshops, climate-adaptive home improvements and First Nations partnerships in disaster resilience.
ACT Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Dr Marisa Paterson, encouraged eligible organisations with new proposals to help strengthen resilience against natural disasters to apply for funding.
“The Disaster Ready Fund has already made a significant impact in the ACT, with 22 projects receiving Federal investment over the past two rounds,” Minister Paterson said.
“These projects will help Canberrans prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters.”
The government welcomes project proposals from local organisations that will benefit the territory for consideration for submission.
The ACT Government has access to a baseline funding allocation of $7.5 million a year for eligible Disaster Ready Fund projects, and access to the greater funding pool.
Previous ACT projects to receive Disaster Ready Fund support include:
- Workshops and one-on-one sessions educating Canberrans from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds about minimising disaster risk and impacts
- A project to provide thermal-backed curtains to low-income and vulnerable households to increase resilience to heatwaves and extreme cold
- A partnership between the ACT Government and First Nations peoples to reduce risk and enhance culturally led initiatives
“These projects demonstrate our commitment to inclusive and comprehensive disaster preparedness,” Minister Paterson said.
“We’re seeking to build on this foundation to further strengthen our community’s resilience.
“With the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters due to climate change, it’s crucial that we continue to invest in preparedness and mitigation. The Disaster Ready Fund is a vital tool in our ongoing efforts to protect Canberrans and build a more resilient ACT.”
Disaster Ready Fund Round 3 applications close on 2 April.
More information about the Disaster Ready Fund is available on the NEMA website.