Another $150,000 delivered to support bushfire affected communities

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) has delivered more than $150,000 in funding to assist bushfire affected communities as part of its third round of Bushfire Recovery Grants.

A total of 20 activities and initiatives have been funded to support wellbeing and resilience, including school holiday music programs, drum circles, series of high teas, free community yoga sessions, support for events bringing farming communities together as well as training including Seasons for Growth.

Acting MPHN CEO Julie Redway said the grants recognise the significant ongoing impact the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis has had on individuals and communities in our region and congratulated the successful grant recipients.

“We’re pleased to be able to support these outstanding local initiatives, and we are looking forward to seeing these wonderful programs deliver much needed wellbeing activities to the bushfire impacted communities when COVID-19 restrictions ease,” Ms Redway said.

The grants, which have been made possible as part of the Australian Government’s Supporting Communities in Recovery program, support activities that aim to strengthen social connectedness, emotional wellbeing and resilience, assisting communities to recover and heal.

“To help communities to recover from the impact of the bushfires, we are providing grants for activities aimed at bringing the community together in a positive way,” Ms Redway said.

“This might include activities to build social connectedness and improve mental health or workshops designed to provide practical advice for parents to support their children post-bushfires.”

The two previous rounds of the program delivered almost $150,000 of Bushfire Recovery Grants funding to 2019/2020 bushfire impacted communities in the Murrumbidgee region, bringing the total grant funding to almost $300,000.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency should call the Mental Health Line 1800 011 511, Lifeline 13 11 14 or call 000. Or to access the Head to Health website visit www.headtohealth.gov.au.

For more information about the bushfire recovery grants visit www.mphn.org.au/bushfire-recovery-grants.