Disaster Resilience Grants

News

The outcomes of the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) Round Two and the All West Australians Reducing Emergencies (AWARE) programs are now available.

Please check out the Successful projects section under the relevant grant programs on the Disaster Resilience Grants webpage.

Information on the DRF Round Three will be coming soon. Round Three will provide up to $200 million of Australian Government funding in 2025-26.

For general enquiries about the Disaster Resilience Grants programs please contact DisasterResilienceGrants@dfes.wa.gov.au

About the Disaster Resilience Grants

The frequency and severity of natural hazards are increasing in Western Australia (WA). These events become disasters when they result in significant impacts to our WA communities, economy or environment.

Disaster resilience is a shared responsibility including all levels of government, businesses, the non-government sector, and individuals. Strategic investments across built, natural, social and economic environments will help communities to better prepare and mitigate the impact of natural hazard disasters, resulting in safer and resilient communities.

All West Australians Reducing Emergencies (AWARE) program

Purpose
The annual AWARE competitive grant program aims to enhance West Australia’s emergency management arrangements by investing in capacity building and preparedness activities at a local level.

Funding
A total of $200,000 per financial year is available to projects that build emergency management capability.

Eligibility
Only West Australian Local Governments are eligible to apply for AWARE grants. Local governments are encouraged to collaborate and submit joint applications.

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the Eligibility check in the Grant Guidelines before proceeding with their application to ensure the proposed project meets all the program requirements.

Status
The 2024 Round of the AWARE program closed on 1 July 2024. $225,436 in AWARE funding was allocated across 19 local government projects. The list of the projects is available under the Successful AWARE projects section.

Frequently Asked Questions
Contact

Disaster Ready Fund

Purpose
The Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) is an Australian Government initiative that will deliver up to $200 million in funding over five years from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028, to fund projects that support natural disaster resilience and risk reduction. The DRF will focus on building community resilience through disaster prevention, rather than response and recovery. It will support the planning and construction of infrastructure and systemic disaster risk reduction projects.

Eligibility
Anyone can develop a DRF proposal, however only Australian state and territory governments are eligible to submit projects to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for potential funding. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is the Lead Agency for Western Australia and is responsible for coordinating application for the DRF. DFES will engage and support government and non-government organisations to develop and submit applications for funding to NEMA.

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the program objectives and eligibility criteria in the Round Guidelines before proceeding with their application to ensure the proposed project meets all the program requirements.

The first round of funding supported a wide range of preparedness activities such as bushfire mitigation works and community education programs, including firewise landscaping, a bushfire virtual reality program and a family-centred disaster resilience gallery as well as upgrading vital infrastructure such as evacuation centres to safeguard WA communities during disasters.

Successful projects
Contact

Disaster Ready Fund Round Two

DFES as the coordinating Lead Agency for Western Australia and Indian Ocean Territories (IOTs) actively engaged with organisations across the State and IOTs prior to DRF Round Two, by working on identifying projects, as well as providing support and advice to develop strong applications.

The application process was conducted as a two-stage process. In preparation for DRF Round Two, DFES accepted Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from government and non-government organisations across WA. Details of the EOI process were communicated across all levels of government, social sector services through WA government and emergency management (EM) partner websites, emails, newsletters and through various state and local EM committees and reference groups. DFES also delivered four webinars for the social services sector, local governments, and state government agencies to promote the DRF and provide guidance and information on how to prepare and develop competitive grant applications. EOI process closed on 22 January 2024.

The Round Two of the DRF Program opened for applications on 22 January 2024 and closed on 20 March 2024. Although prospective applicants were encouraged to submit their EOIs, the opportunity to apply for WA DRF was open to all and not limited to EOI applicants.

Status

Successful projects under Round Two of the DRF were announced on 28 August 2024.

Applications Open

22 January 2024

Applications Close

20 March 2024

Assessment

May – June 2024

Funding Delivered

Later in 2024

Project Funding Agreements executed, and projects commence

Early 2025

The above timelines are provided as a guide and are subject to change.

Frequently Asked Questions
Successful projects
Feedback and opportunities for improvement from NEMA
Contact

Details for Round Three will be available here when announced.

Emergency Response Fund Program

The Emergency Response Fund (ERF) was established on 12 December 2019, upon commencement of the Emergency Response Fund Act 2019 (ERF Act). Under the ERF Act, the Commonwealth Government may draw up to $50 million each financial year to build resilience to prepare for or reduce the risk of future natural disasters. Under the ERF, the following programs were established.

National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program (NFMIP)
Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program (CERMP)
Status
Successful projects
Contact

National Disaster Risk Reduction (NDRR) Grants Program

The Western Australian Government has a National Partnership Agreement with the Commonwealth to fund projects that deliver on the priorities and goals of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework (NDRRF). The NDRR aims to increase WA communities’ resilience to disasters through enhanced preparedness for, reduced exposure to, and minimisation of the effects of one or more natural hazards. The NDRR supports projects that:

• take action to reduce existing disaster risk

• minimise creation of future disaster risk

• equip decision-makers with the capabilities and information they need to reduce disaster risk and manage residual risk

In Western Australia, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services administers the NDRR on behalf of the State.

Status
State Level Project Fund (SPLF)
Successful projects
Contact

National Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP)

Purpose
The National Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP) was a Commonwealth funded program that focused on reducing communities’ vulnerability to natural hazards, and addressed priorities outlined in the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience. From 2010 - 2011, the NDRP replaced the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program, the Bushfire Mitigation Program, and the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund, with the focus on community resilience.

A National Partnership Agreement (NPA) 2015 - 2019 with the Commonwealth allocated a total of 9.4 million to boost community resilience and to reduce disaster risk.

Status
Successful projects
Contact

Contact

For all enquiries please email DisasterResilienceGrants@dfes.wa.gov.au