Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR)

The challenges faced by Victoria’s rural and regional towns are multifaceted and persistent. Environmental threats, such as droughts and natural disasters, pose significant risks, while
social issues like housing shortages, unemployment, mental health struggles, and limited access to specialised care contribute to compounding pressures.

This is why Helen Macpherson Smith Trust has offered financial and practical support to a long-range, ambitious program developed by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR). The Trust has committed $1.5 million in support, over five years, to assist three Victorian communities.

The Trust’s core strategy has always included supporting communities and education, even as grants have transitioned to larger, longer-term support to achieve the most meaningful impact.

The FRRR’s program, “Investing in Rural Community Futures Victoria” (IRCF), works through a model of Trust, Time and Tenacity, which connects with HMST’s values, and trust-based approach. The Trustees believe in listening to communities, social leaders and others who understand what rural and regional towns need, and to offer them the support they need.

The Trust knows the IRCF program works because its effectiveness has already been proven over five years in several New South Wales rural communities, achieving significant outcomes across social and economic benchmarks. These measures include First Nations collaboration, youth engagement, financial growth, cultural, heath and employment impacts as well as the development of local not-for-profit ecosystems to develop local expertise, confidence and strategy for success.

The Trust is working alongside the Jack Brockhoff Foundation, the William Buckland Foundation and The Ross Trust to bring the program to Victoria, with a five-year, $5 million investment to develop local not-for-profit leaders, strengthen support systems and to develop local capacity-building projects. Aged care, health, youth engagement and other social issues are being tackled collaboratively and with long-term purpose, guided by FRRR’s on the ground expertise. Systems and structures, teamwork, strategy and investing in people can all make a dramatic difference for communities, activating local networks and supports, offering flexibility in meeting evolving needs, bringing locals and established experts together.