• NAB Foundation helps to build community resilience as Australia faces disaster season
• 57 grants awarded to community groups to improve disaster resilience and recovery
• Four recipients receive an additional $25,000; Black Duck Foods (VIC), Indigenous Connection Pty Ltd (NT), Mornington Shire Council (QLD) and ReForest Now (NSW)

Australian community groups preparing for disaster season have been given a boost from the NAB Foundation, with more than half a million dollars granted to help local projects.

The NAB Foundation Community Grants program has identified 57 groups that will receive up to $10,000 for their community-led projects. This follows the biggest round of applications to date, with more than 170 groups applying under three categories including ‘readiness’, ‘recovery’ and ‘future-proofing’.

NAB Group Executive for Personal Banking Rachel Slade there was a strong need for financial support in local communities as Australians faced more frequent natural disasters.

“Building resilient communities is vital to ensure we keep a happy, healthy and thriving country and economy,” Ms Slade said.

“It’s great to see this funding go towards a range of projects – from environmental restoration and emergency planning to new infrastructure and equipment – that will make a real difference to how Australia manages natural disasters.

“We know how important each local project is because our teams are part of the communities they serve. They are proud to be supporting their region.”

The NAB Foundation Community Grants program to was designed to help local communities strengthen their resilience and enhance their recovery efforts, which can take several years after a disaster has occurred.

In addition to core funding, four of the 57 grant recipients were chosen by a poll of NAB colleagues to receive an additional $25,000. The recipients chosen in this round were:

• Black Duck Foods (VIC)
• Indigenous Connection Pty Ltd in research partnership with the CRC for Developing Northern Australia (NT)
• Mornington Shire Council (QLD)
• ReForest Now (NSW)

The NAB Foundation Community Grants program is part of NAB Ready Together, an initiative that helps customers, colleagues and their communities withstand natural disasters. Since 2021 more than 300 projects across Australia have so far benefited from $3.6 million worth of community grants.

Building stronger communities across Australia

Indigenous Connection (IC) Director Nicole Thompson said IC enables relationships in remote communities throughout Arnhem Land and the Kimberley region of far north WA.

“At our core is knowledge. Knowledge for country, culture, people and community,” Ms Thompson said.

“With the support of the NAB Foundation Community Grant, Indigenous Connection will work with our Cultural Knowledge Providers to develop Emergency Management Plan readiness.”

Mornington Shire Council Mayor Kyle Yanner said funding from NAB-foundation will support the purchase of trees and installation of irrigation, which will create soil stability following extensive cyclone damage.

“In January 2021, Cyclone Imogen made landfall directly over Mornington Island, causing torrential rain, widespread flooding, massive waves, and tides. During and after this cyclone many trees came down and soil washed away,” Mr Yanner said.

“‘Greening-up’ Mornington Island, will enhance the natural beauty of the Gununa township and surrounds, add shaded, as well as make ensuring that our island is more resilient to future natural disaster impacts.

“The NAB Foundation provides funding opportunities for communities, such as Mornington Island, without which, Mornington Island would struggle to find resources to undertake projects that are vital to the community. This funding to plant trees is literally ‘a breath of fresh air’!”

CEO of ReForest Now Maximo Bottaro said support from NAB will go towards improving “Banyula – Many Trees” near Byron Bay, which already has 260,000 trees planted of 187 rainforest species.

“NAB’s contribution will connect the existing planting to the edges of the Wilson’s River. Almost a kilometre of the river side will be planted with flood resistant trees,” Mr Bottaro said.

“In tangent with the owners and the local university, SCU, we have been using this amazing project to demonstrate what regenerative farming can be. Many people are being inspired to do the same on their land.

“For our charity like ours, community grants create job stability for 45 local people as we can apply for them throughout the year. They also allow us to target important projects that we think should be funded.”

The details

• A complete list of NAB Foundation Community Grant recipients can be viewed on NAB’s grant recipient page.
• More information on NAB Foundation’s grant programs can be found via nab.com.au/nabfoundation.
• Beyond financial funding, for more than 20 years, NAB colleagues have led one of the largest corporate volunteering and giving programs in Australia. In 2022, NAB colleagues contributed more than 21,000 hours of volunteer work.
• Applications for community grants are assessed on their relevance to the program aims of natural disaster resilience and recovery, feasibility, with a preference for smaller, community-led projects and are reviewed by NAB leaders from each state or territory.