The Community Partnership Grant is one way that Flinders Rural and Remote Health SA is investing in local rural communities.
The 2022 grant round saw eight community groups receive $2,000 to support projects that benefit local rural and regional communities within the local government areas of Flinders University Rural and Remote Health SA located campuses. Regions include the Riverland, Barossa Valley, Hills Mallee Fleurieu and Greater Green Triangle.
Last week, four groups across the Barossa and Hills Mallee Fleurieu regions were presented a “cheque” for their local projects.
In the Barossa, the Rotary Club will be rolling out a health and safety awareness program on street banners across the region to create awareness and highlight community issues including driver safety and domestic violence. The banners will be placed in strategic locations and rotated from town to town.
Also in the Barossa, the Nuriootpa Futures Association will use their funding to run a series of open community swim sessions with a qualified instructor, to provide tips for those undertaking lap swimming, or learning to swim. Following the swim session, morning tea will be provided by the Nuriootpa Pool Working Group, encouraging social connection.
The Rotary Club of Murray Bridge’s project is to assist people in the region suffering from dementia, supplying individually selected music playlists and headsets to patients. Demand for the service has grown beyond Murray Bridge to Mannum, Meningie and in the future, they hope to include Lameroo and Pinnaroo. The Rotary Club’s Sub-committee managing the project are actively interacting with the retirement homes and individuals referred to them and tailoring the music to the individuals need. Early reports from those involved are positive.
In Tailem Bend, the Tailem Bend Community Centre (TBCC) staff and volunteers are using their funding to prepare home cooked meals with fresh produce (some from the community garden) and deliver to community members in need, across a region spanning more than 35,000 square kilometres and servicing six local government areas. TBCC have seen an increase in people needing food relief, increased loneliness and those sleeping rough and the grant is assisting the centre help those vulnerable members of the community.